balanced and coordinated. It allows your brain to go into what is called a default mode. That’s when you begin to do self-referential thinking, which is innovative, insightful and creative thinking. And that’s when people feel like they have that “aha” moment. What does that mean for the people who live here that have this all the time? Do we appreciate those feelings more? Or less? In all aspects of our lives we acclimate to the world around us. We can become used to being by the ocean. I find that when people on our coast go away and then come back, they appreciate it more and see the ocean through a kind of new eyes. You can do that without going away, too. You can say, “You know, I am going to appreciate the Outer Banks more just by deciding to.” Just paying attention to when you get in the water is stress reduction. Cortisol levels are dropping. You are boosting your creativity and you are protecting your brain in a sense. You are building memories, which become nostalgia. And if you are out there with someone, you are building social connections. And this could apply to any activity in or near the water? Yes, even walking on the beach and having a conversation with a co-worker or friend or family member — or someone you are falling in love with — that context enhances your relationship. So how can we benefit more from it? One of the things I talk about is access to the water. And access means physical access. When you get there, access also means it’s not polluted. The third key to access is perception. What we are finding recently is that you may get to the edge of the water — you have access, the water is healthy — but you have a smart phone in your hand and you are afraid to get it wet or stolen. That perception keeps you out of the water. If we really want to have these benefits, we need to turn things off, put them away or leave them at home. We need to be aware of that and say, “This is why I’m here. I am going to the beach to have some contemplative time and if I bring my technology with me, then that’s less likely to happen. I won’t be getting my Blue Mind on.”
Our Outer Banks community is really connected in other ways, too. Could we attribute that to the fact that we are surrounded by water? It certainly plays a role. Being surrounded by water, you better know your neighbor. But also, research is finding that when you experience awe and wonder, it changes your brain. It sets you up for compassion and empathy and the feeling that there’s something bigger than ourselves — one with our island, one with the ocean. Those are real feelings that are special and rare. They are increasingly rare because people have their heads down in their screens and are not learning how to experience solitude. So one of the things a place like the Outer Banks can offer — if it’s done mindfully — is it can be a place where people can go to experience awe and wonder and solitude. That’s a gift.
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“Just paying attention to the water is stress reduction.” — Dr. Wallace J. Nichols
What should we do to protect that gift? I would say you know what to do. There are some people that make a living off of the things that mess it up, and that’s where the friction comes in. But step back from anything political — any agenda or black-and-white argument — and ask, “What should we do?” Deep down you know. Not even deep down but right in the front of your brain, right in your rational prefrontal cortex. You take care of what you love — really take care of it. Lean in and passionately take care of the living island. Get in touch with your blue mind. Get in touch with the emotional, the social, the cognitive benefits of living where you live and work to protect that — and remove the things that mess it up.
Ed note: The preceding interview was edited for space, flow and clarity. To read the entire discussion — including how Nichols’ Blue Marble Project hopes to pass along ocean awareness to every human — go to www. outerbanksmilepost.com.
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