Life comes back to the Ocean

For many days, I felt myself pining for the feeling of being at the beach, looking out into the vast expanse of the Atlantic Ocean. Life in the suburbs of the nation’s capital can become hectic even during the slow turning tides during quarantine. The ocean and water always seem as if it’s calling my name and tempting me. Previously, I would resist this urge and accept being out of the mysterious oceans, rivers, and lakes, until recently. Over the last two weeks, I have swum in the Potomac river over 6 times, more than the past 6 years living in Arlington. Although the river is brown and murky, due to sedimentation and runoff from farms upstream, the health of the river has improved significantly in the past 20 years. The water has a physical, mental, and emotional cooling effect that I never get tired of. However, many young people don’t fully understand or care for the health of the environment that they themselves enjoy being in. While swimming, I saw a group of teenage boys’ litter multiple cans and pieces of waste onto a bush bordering the riverbank. While confronting them about this unfortunate practice, they didn’t care about how their actions affected the river environment and other kids’ enjoyment, yet they reluctantly placed their cans in a nearby bag. Some people believe that individual action won’t make a noticeable impact. This is not true. By taking action you are pushing governments, organizations, and others to care about ocean and human health. When millions take individual action, incredible change is inevitable. Setting an intention (how you want to feel) is a powerful tool to begin to drove change and feel good. So, take up this call to action and repeat this aloud with me “I intend to be an Ocean Guardian and take action towards boosting OHHH!”