I used to find myself torn between two worlds: one with crashing waves and briny ocean air, and another, filled with quiet lakes, rugged cliffs, and sprawling boreal forests. Summers by the sea gave me a saltwater soul, but the rugged beauty of the Upper Midwest grounded me. These contrasting biomes are much more than just environments – they are elements woven into the fabric of who I am.
Growing up by the ocean, I barely gave her a second thought. She was simply there, a backdrop to lazy afternoons of soaking in the sun and watching the tides roll in and out. Though I took her for granted, the ocean had become my subconscious confidante. In spite of myself, the ocean taught me to let go, begin again, and find calm in the chaos of change.
Surprisingly, life’s current carried me to Minnesota and asked me to trade sandy beaches for dense forests and frozen winters. At first, the shift was quite jarring and the landscape felt awkward and unfamiliar. But, over time, I found myself relaxing into its hushed beauty and discovered a different kind of wonder.
The seasons here are fierce and unapologetic, shifting from serene to tempestuous in an instant, much like the ocean’s moods, and with little warning. Lake Superior possesses the distinct ability to rival the Atlantic’s fury, crashing her waves against the rugged North Shore cliffs in protest and sinking ships with relative ease. It’s a different kind of force, but she stirs the same awe.
Once I acclimated to my new landscape, the rustling of trees, shimmering lakes and fiery sunsets began to provide me the same solace that I’d once sought by the sea. I began to take notice of flora and fauna I’d not seen before and found green spaces where I can commune with the elements in a way that feels almost transcendent.
The ocean and forest may seem like opposites, but their duality has shown me the wisdom in transformation and the need for continuous cycles of bloom, decay, and renewal; Together, they conspired to gift me with the knowledge of humility.
I’ve come to understand it’s not about choosing one terrain over the other, but in finding my synchronicity with the natural world, wherever I may be. These diverse places have profoundly influenced how I navigate life and will continue to shape my growth within it, regardless of my geography.