Beach or Shore? 5 Convincing Reasons why Beach Preservation is your Responsibility Too

This blog post looks at the some of the reasons why taking care of the beach is your responsibility too. The beach is your

• Sweet spot, your place of enjoyment, connection, serenity
• Culture spot
• Wellness
• Environmental guide
• place for Sustainability and Social Responsibility

Imagine…

Growing up in a Caribbean beach town and getting accustomed to the beautiful sights of the bay each day as I climbed the hill to school.

Picturesque!

The beach is a part of daily life and a place I took for granted.

Those who came for a short swim in the early morn or late afternoon, those visitors who stayed all day, working adults sitting on the grassy area during their lunch break or even taking a stroll after work before heading home, all visible from the nearby vantage point. (It's actually closer than it looks)

You may be able to resonate with and are familiar with scenes from my experience.

But the beach is so much more than just a place of relaxation.

Even though that was many sunrises or sunsets ago, you and I, can keep the positive memories alive by preserving and promoting sustainability.

So why is taking care of your dream spot, the beach/shore, your responsibility?

It is your place of

1. Passion, peace and serenity

There you are - imagining , daydreaming all day, every day

I see you,

As your ears perk up with interest at the mention of any beach activity or the grimace when you hear of the destruction to the beachfront
caused by development or natural disasters.

I know how you’ve structured your life as a mature woman, factoring your beach time into your busy schedule.

The feel of the water and the swishing sound of the waves as they seem to jostle each other to reach the shore
The sand at the water’s edge, deep enough to enable focused muscular movement yet compact for an easy effortless walk, leaving momentary traces of footsteps

A place of freedom, regardless

Have you ever gone to the beach and just sat on the sand?
I mean not go into the water at all?

You are not alone.

It's my STOP, DROP EVERYTHING and GO NOW place.
Yes, it has a pulling.

Common sense and well-intentioned theories seek to explain how being in a physical place or just teleporting there in deep thought can have such profound effects -

So…

Are you numbered with the many thousands who flock to beaches and shores?

2.Your culture spot

A few years ago I took my elderly mom to the beach.
She was having challenges walking and was comfortable just sitting on the shore right by the water’s edge.

She thoroughly enjoyed the adventure of being tossed to and fro by the shore waves. She was convinced that it was just as good as a refreshing, relaxing spa experience.
A few other older persons were hanging out in the same location and had similar opinions.

It is fair to say that the lifestyle and livelihood of many islands, countries and societies such as Hawaii and Bali are built on and dictated by the activities of the ocean.

So the beach is a treasured area.

The shore is their area of commerce, entertainment, and it's the entrance and exit to their main food source. Fisher folk and those who operate businesses on the shore or live nearby, will attest to this truth

because

I guarantee that its a place where you can easily find someone with whom to chit-chat and interview as behave like an informal tour guide. The atmosphere itself is a conversation starter.
And you may experience the goodness of people, sharing and playing as you form lasting friendships.

Additionally,

Growing up in a seaside town, your routine includes at least one hour at the beach on weekends. Iykyk!

3.Your Wellness zone

Do you know anyone whose health has improved after moving to a coastal environment?

Just inhaling the salty sea breeze helps to clear blocked nasal passages and relieves some respiratory illnesses. It is natural halotherapy, which is therapy that involves inhaling salty air.

Better yet, taking a dip in the ocean clears your congested nostrils, similar to using a saline solution

So it's not just the sea breeze.

Now here's another reason to justify being rooted on the shore. Being at the water's edge is just enough immersion for the seawater to address various types of skin issues too.

My mom, like many others believed, in the medicinal powers of seawater especially in the early morning even though she would not venture further than knee deep.

It's a part of beach wellness

Additionally, the wide open space is suitable for all forms of beach exercises, sports and games which help to build your physical body, keeping you toned, supple and healthy. Aquatic exercises at the shoreline, stretching, jogging and building sandcastles are just some of the fitness activities

Sure, a good place to free your mind. It's mental health therapy

Sometimes you are unable to go there physically because it is not practical. However, you close your eyes and with your vivid imagination of all the benefits (heat, summer, sun, blue skies) poof like Aladdin, you are sitting on the shore.

...the mental wellness begins

4. Environmental guide

By preserving beaches, we contribute to the overall health of the marine and coastal environment.

Do you know of a once pristine shoreline that has been destroyed because of human activity? Ironically the familiar beach I grew up seeing, was not ideal for swimming due to an uneven coastline. You are quickly surprised by sudden drop in depth. Anyways...

Whether or not you think climate change exists can be examined against the reality of the extent of the natural disasters, in this case, to that special beach

Are seas rising?
Are beaches disappearing?
What effect do these have on land areas?

Can you recall that approximately two years ago some houses along the East Coast of the USA were overtaken by storm surges and eventually claimed by the ocean?

These occurrences are guides in coastal town planning and coastal development as climate change continues

Do you know why erosion worsens after a natural disaster?
Because nothing is done. Full stop.

Damage caused by long periods of inactivity can be astounding...

O, what happens when the coastlines recede, or when beaches disappear?

That would be of concern for countries and economies which depend mainly on tourism

We can examine our environmental practices and ensure that our daily activities will reduce the effects of climate change on our beaches

What is causing large amounts of seaweed or sargassum to be taking over the beach?
Recent news reports have shown large beach and shore areas in the Western United States, which have been affected.

Help by any simple action can lessen, stagger, or halt environmental degradation.

5. For sustainability and social responsibility

Have you noticed?

People who come to the beach and leave their garbage and possessions right there?

No, I know you are not that person

You know that improper garbage disposal and flooding cause vast amount of debris to be washed into the ocean. This garbage includes plastics and other non-biodegradable objects.

And that kind of non-biodegradable trash washes up onto beaches the world over.
Yep, the sea does NOT keep trash

I have gone to the beach, at locations not assigned as public beaches and which are not monitored by agencies and sure enough... I wouldn't feel good trying to enjoy the beach. So my friends and I do the responsible thing, which is, cleaning up the beach

There are mammals and shore creatures which make the shore their habitat. For others, its their reproductive area. Think of how your actions cause harm to marine life and beach creatures.

Aren’t we supposed to leave the planet in a better state than which we found it for future generations to enjoy the same pleasures and have an great experiences?

You can be an active participant in beach sustainability

So that means as part of our social responsibility, we take the opportunity to educate. Education is the first step because inactivity stops progress .

All of the shoreline is not monitored daily for trash collection so if you wish to have clean beaches, you should not leave any. Moderation is key.

Conclusion

Why should you care?

Because tomorrow you may want to come to relax, sunbathe, laze or chat with your friends on a clean beach.
You wish to maintain the image of perfection you have created.

You care about your peace of mind.

So

Take the initiative to show and teach the younger generation so they can understand the importance of beach preservation.

We can form family clean-up groups and do it without fanfare, examine the type of waste we produce, and educate others.