Weekly Half Mermaid Journal Edition 8
Quotes we loved:
“For me, writing is a way of thinking. I write in a journal a lot. I’m a very impatient person, so writing and meditation allow me to slow down and watch my mind; they are containers that keep me in place, hold me still.”
Ruth Ozeki
"The ocean has always been a salve to my soul…the best thing for a cut or abrasion was to go swimming in saltwater. Later down the road of life, I made the discovery that salt water was also good for the mental abrasions one inevitably acquires on land.”
Jimmy Buffet
Sunrise Swim, Seaford. Photo by Margarita Breed.
Journaling questions we are pondering:
Being in the open water and journaling are practices that bring us pause. Is there another space in your life where pause is needed and would serve you well? What would it take for you to be able to pause more often?
This week’s blog post:
An Ocean of NOW
….It dawned on me how easy it was in the last few months to become lost in despair, fear and the uncertainty the pandemic brought. How quickly thought patterns and habits become self imposed constraints that are difficult to recognise let alone unshackle from.
….There is something to be said about how the ocean and being in its presence , can help reveal and dismantle mental constructs, expose them for what they are - our own creations.
One new thing we learnt this week:
Did you know that the swimming competition in the first modern Olympics, was held in open water? Banned by the last Roman Emperor Theodosius the First in 393 AD as a celebration of pagan values and therefore anti christian, it is a wonderful irony that when re established in 1896, the swimming events were held in nature, in the bay of Zea, located at the eastern coast of the Piraeus peninsula in Attica, Greece.
A modern view of the Bay of Zea, Attica, Greece. Photo courtesy of the Greek Marinas Association.
What we are listening to:
Michael Muller on Swimming With Sharks and Moving Towards Fear.
This Rich Roll podcast, whilst covering Michael’s incredible career in photography in the upper echelons of Hollywood, his extensive travel from a young age, trauma and PTSD; the focus of the episode is fear, diving with and photographing sharks, technology as a medium for education and healing and environmental advocacy.
Fave quote from the episode: “Do not let fear control your life. You are either in fear or faith (trust) and if you trust…you will see results”.
Link to the episode is below, you will find the Rich Roll podcast on all platforms.
What is new at Half Mermaid (was Journal update)
We are working on some exciting ideas. As a small budding venture, timing, logistics, investment size needs careful thinking through to make sure we don’t let us and you down. Thank you for being so patient.
Important note:
HalfMermaid is not a licensed mental health service and not a substitute for professional mental health assessment, treatment or advice. The journaling prompts and guides offered, are general in nature. If you are struggling, please see a healthcare professional or call the mental health support line in your locality.
Till next week….
Swim. Coffee. Journal. Live. Love. Repeat.
Half Mermaid, PO Box 4012, Doncaster Heights 3109, Melbourne Australia