Whenever I go to work, I often find myself waiting on a particularly obstinate customer or someone spills something all over me or I almost trip and drop everything I am carrying. Those are the tough days where I almost seriously consider quitting right then and there. Dealing with people day in and day out is not exactly ideal, especially when they always think they are right and I am trained to agree with them. It is difficult not arguing with a customer after they condescend me. But then I go to my happy place.

Whenever I argue with my mom or find myself at odds with my brothers over their excessive use of the bathroom, I have a hard time controlling my temper. It is hard to be lectured about my supposed questionable decisions without talking back. It is even more difficult to not turn around and lecture my brothers about their own questionable decisions. But, as with any tough, seemingly unbearable situation I am in, I go to my happy place and I think of nothing else.

The beach is my happy place because it is extremely calming. The blue skies and the crystal ocean soothe me while my remembrance of the waves bring to my mind a sense of tranquility that I can find nowhere else. The thought of this place brings back a wave of memories, no pun intended. I remember family vacations, adventures with friends, and my own Senior Week. I think of all of the fun I have had there.

Even the bad memories bring me feelings of fondness. I reminisce about the time I walked barefoot on the board walk and got a nail in my foot as well as the time I ate too much candy from Candy Kitchen and got sick in my hotel room. Even these not so great memories make me feel better because no matter what happened at the beach, I was still at the beach. When I get ready for work everyday, I think about how often I will be able to go to the beach with the money I will make and suddenly the future cruel, unmerciful customers do not seem like that big of a deal. Whenever my mom wakes me up at 6 am and forces me to drive my little brother to school, I remember the beach and all the fun I had with her there and her endless lectures and complaints become background noise.

Anyone who has been to the beach and watched the sunrise on the shore understands the feeling of contentedness that washes across them whenever they recall the view. It was like something out of a picture and they probably bring back a snap shot memory of it whenever they are frustrated or lost or upset because it is so calming. It reminds them that the good times will always outshine the bad times and that there is something to look forward to in the future. A single memory of the beach can get people through a particularly tough day and will even help them have a great attitude doing difficult work. The beach is powerful; it is a holy land of sorts that breeds positive vibes and happiness. This is why the beach is my happy place.