A thought for today by Isak Dinesen (pen name of Karen Blixen), The Deluge at Norderney, Seven Gothic Tales, 1934:

“The cure for anything is salt water — sweat, tears or the sea.”

This post doesn’t have a lot to do with sailing or cruising [that’s why it’s in the ‘Personal Ramblings’ section, but there’s a brief portion about the ocean in here, if you’d like to read on…

A very dear friend shared this quote with me a few months ago, but something made me really think about it today. I initially focused on the sea portion of that, but today I really focused on the entire quote. I haven’t read the short story this came from, The Deluge at Norderney, but I did check out a synopsis of it and learned it’s a story of self-discovery. There’s characters in the story that maintain their sense of humor and build camaraderie with one another, all the while knowing that they will soon die. I was unable to find the full text of the story online, but it sounds like a good read.

Sweat…I’m no stranger to sweat, and I can certainly appreciate the idea that working hard, or working out hard (thus producing sweat) can have curative properties. Oftentimes, I find myself feeling much better about how things are going when I get some good old-fashioned elbow grease going on a project. Working like this tends to help me clear my mind.

Tears…I read somewhere [can’t remember the source] that crying is like ’emotional perspiration’ in that it’s a good method of cleansing the heart and mind. Tears are probably something we don’t think about often enough to consider the benefits. Tears remove toxins from our bodies and help us see more clearly [literally, and maybe figuratively]. Don’t we always feel better after a good cry?

The Sea…This is the most abundant salt water available and definitely has healing abilities. Breathing in the salty air is so refreshing and cathartic. At once, it’s relaxing and rejuvenating. I certainly cannot to  have that sensation of being on the water every moment of every day. I’m feeling refreshed right now with just the thought of a sea-salt breeze rushing over the bow and striking me in the face!

Peace be with you all.