Travelling to the seaside - for all
'I do like to be beside the seaside’ – John Glove-Kind – song by Mark Sheridan
We all like being by the seaside, especially at this time of year in Australia.
We are all looking for meaningfulness in life – through relationships and purpose.
How do you achieve this, if your passion has been impacted by mobility restrictions?
Your connectedness, your choices and optimism enables outcomes of happiness, well being, sense of identity and meaningfulness.
What if you ‘I grew up on the beach, so it’s actually my Centre. It’s my soul. It’s something that is part of…who I am and identify with.’ Katie, but you no longer can enjoy the benefits of living by the sea? Personally I know I would be shattered.
As mentioned in my Newsletter on Volunteering - I’m part of a panel who reviews the University of Sunshine Coast’s Research Papers on Healthy Aging and one of our reviews was ‘Assistive Technology to access the Sunny Coast beaches.’
I was proud, emotional and wanted to jump in boots and all when I understood what had already been achieved. It was like the feeling you get when your kids show empathy for ’older people ‘ and also repeat words you have shared with them when they were much younger. (Often wondering if the message got through) All the Gold in the world doesn’t compare.
So I’m hoping that the research will bring more awareness to the general community to allow everyone to lap up the benefits of the waves.
Who couldn’t do with more dopamine (happy hormone), vitamin D, inspiration for creativity, calmness, better sleep, vitamins and minerals from the seawater (natural skin cosmetic) immune system boost, social connectedness and healthier lifestyle?
Let’s make it possible for everyone. As Jimmy said ‘The chair needs to live your life, not you live accordingly to suit your wheelchair. ‘
Let’s make sure society is more inclusive and give Douglas ‘The way the water feels on my skin, smelling the ocean breeze, feeling the sea spray, and the ‘roar of the waves. ‘ You’re part of society. You’re at one with nature again, and that’s what we’re all trying to do connect with our environment.
There was a conference of Australian Rehabilitation and Assistive Technology Association in the Gold Coast in November 2024- ‘Sun, Sea and Assistive Technology: The Rising Tide of Innovation and Inclusive Technology.
For information on the research please click the link below.
Healthy Ageing Community Alliance
When you are close to the ocean you often take all benefits for granted. When I first retired and moved to the Sunshine Coast in 2021, I would do an early morning beach walk. Not knowing many of the other walkers, I plugged my ears into music, and took off in full stride along the boardwalk out to the rock wall and then stopped unplugged, admired the view inhaled and listened. I had forgotten I was retired and no longer had to do everything full throttle. So I slowed down on my way back ventured down onto the sand and waded through the water. I admired all the early morning surfers (when the waves and tides were good)
Did you know when the waves were pumping is where you’ll find most local tradies/surfers -so don’t expect them to turn up early or at all that day. What a life!
I know these early morning walks worked their magic on me.
Let’s put more sparkle in everyone’s eyes from the meaningfulness restored and the sun shining on the ocean and nature working powerfully on their beach travel and adventures and connectedness.
Why not join me 2025 to review more research papers on healthy aging, so you too can get your dopamine hit from contributing positively to our society. Also I’m sure you’ll learn heaps in the process.
As the saying goes – ‘ In the long run, curiosity-driven research just works better… Real breakthroughs come from people focusing on what they’re excited about.’ - Geoffrey Hinton. ‘Research has shown that the best way to be happy is to make each day happy.’ - Deepak Chopra
So let’s all travel to the sea, and dip our toes in the sand and seawater and reap the benefits.