Save the Sea

If someone asked me where my favorite place on earth was, without hesitation I would say the beach. This is so cliché, everyone loves the beach. But I am different from everyone, I love the beach in a different way then everyone else. I can sit on any beach for hours on end. During the summer, I leave beach block, I spend every day there. Some mornings I would get up early and watch the sunrise over the ocean, while some nights I would walk down the shoreline with the water hitting my feet.

When the tide is low like this is my favorite time
 to walk on the beach. 

After reading The Touchy-Feely (but Totally Scientific!) Methods of Wallace F. Nichols by Michael Roberts, I realize that my feelings towards any beach, are not extreme or bizarre. They are actually completely normal. There is a certain kind of person with these beliefs, that there is somethings special about the ocean. These people are Nichols' target.

Nichols believes that by understanding how we feel around water, we will have an easier time finding solutions to conserve the ocean. Nichols, who is a biologist, is trying to get this idea in motion. He "envisions cognitive neuroscientist constructing detailed models of brain activity for experiences like sitting on a beach, then using their findings to drive public policy." Basically, Nichols is trying to find proof that emotions drive our behavior. In doing this, he can use emotions to save the ocean.

I like Nichols' attitude towards his idea. He is not in it for the fame and fortune, he really just wants to conserve the ocean. Nichols is a down to earth man. He is smart, but not too smart for his own good. He has social skills and knows how to express his beliefs and hypothesis to people so they understand. Nicholas is like you or me, a normal person, only he is using his
skills to save the sea.

It is Nichols personality and my love for the beach that drew me to this article. Nichols is onto something great. There is no calming place better than the beach. Had Nichols been doing research about something less occuring in my life, I probably would not agree with his carefree, laid back, and lack of scientific proof approach. Not only do I agree with Nichols' argument, but can relate to it. My love for the ocean drew me to this article.

 If we keep polluting the ocean and treating it like it is no big deal, pretty soon that luxury will be gone.
 I really hope that we can make changes in the way we act to conserve the ocean. If not, we are all really going to regret it.

For more information about Nichols visit: http://wallacejnichols.org