I’ve always loved the water. At an early age it was playing with a water hose or a sprinkler in the backyard, later it was life by the pool, early adulthood it was life on the beach or snorkeling. Now, I’ve found my true zen place.
After the tragedy of losing my husband and son in a terrible accident, I had a hard time relaxing, finding peace or even controlling anxiety. I started yoga and meditation and begin to experience peace and relaxation. It was a lot of work but I was able to be still, focus, and let go a little. Throughout learning to meditate and relax I found that nature was where I really felt connected. It was a connection to God that truly let me feel His power, the power of something much larger than this universe. I felt small yet connected, disconnected from the world yet connected to life, I felt like I was truly in the moment yet attached to heaven. It’s a strange feeling that is hard to explain. It took a lot to get to that place and I realized that few ever really experience that kind of peace and zen.
Late last year I decided to take up scuba diving, something I had wanted to pursue for quite some time. I had always loved snorkeling and wanted to go deeper. For me this was a hobby that would merge perfectly with my passion for traveling. I finally finished my certification in April and headed to Cozumel in June for my first dive trip. What I experienced was far beyond a hobby.
That zen peaceful feeling that I had worked so hard to achieve while meditating happened almost instantly. Sure I had to get over the initial moments of figuring out how to descend and equalize but truly it was nearly instantly. I was in complete awe. There was a whole new world below the surface that I had not been able to quite capture through snorkeling. It was an instant peace. I’m not sure what all to attribute that feeling. I think it was a combination of absolute beauty, being so close to all of the sea life, excitement of all the inexperienced, being disconnected from the busy life above, no electronics (except the dive computer), no sound except my own breathing, and feeling absolutely weightless.
Zen is often defined as the feeling or place of absolute peace where you are relaxed and not worried about anything. Diving was just that. I had found my zen place. Diving was a spiritual experience. It was almost emotional. I remember getting choked up a little and had to remind myself that crying underwater may not work. I had truly found heaven underwater. I was totally at peace and absolutely the most relaxed I had been in 5 years. I can’t wait to get back underwater and experience that feeling again. I instantly fell in love with the experience and the feeling.
Whether you are recovering from tragedy, grieving a loss, needing to escape a busy life, trying to find peace or just need a way to relax, find your zen place. If you don’t know where to start, I highly recommend heading beneath the surface into the deep blue waters of the ocean. There is absolutely nothing like it. As my friend Jeremy said, “And just like that, the call of the deep has captured another soul”.
What captures your soul? Where is your zen place?
