We Become Our Journey

Last week, my family went on vacation. It was a lovely time, filled with opportunities to connect with nature.

When it came time to leave our rental, my children were kind of sad. They’d had a great time, and were not ready to leave.

I don’t know if it encouraged them or not, but I shared that parts of the beach had actually become a part of them, and they’d be taking it home.

The sea air they breathed incorporated nutrients into their bodies. Minerals from the air such as magnesium, potassium, and iodine now flow through their system.

They absorbed minerals and nutrients from the ocean when they played in it. Magnesium, potassium, calcium, sodium, magnanese, cobalt, and boron are now in their bodies, along with tiny microorganisms that can act as natural antibiotics. Their skin microbiome now includes microorganisms that were not there before.

It really is amazing to think about.

Our bodies are made up of things we’ve collected along our journey. We are not an island, and need exposure to the world around us to live and grow.

We are the ocean. We are the sky. We are the water. We are the air.

My children left behind parts of themselves, too. Whether it be skin cells that are naturally sloughed off, or pieces of hair. These things contain their DNA, and they are now being integrated into the ocean environment we visited.

We leave little pieces of ourselves wherever we go.

I think remembering this can make life feel more meaningful. It brings a sense of connection, to me at least. I always hope to remember just how integrated this world and its inhabitants truly are. All of it is sacred.