How the Sea Holds My Scars

By Silvana ‘Nana’ Ivandic-Määttä for totheoceans.com Goes Balkan- program

Some years ago, I faced one of the biggest health issues of my life. I broke my hip badly. Suddenly, my active sporty lifestyle with swims, long daily walks and hiking stopped in a one blow. 

I felt mentally and physically down. I went to operation to the hospital. After, the next phase was the long and demanding recovery process.

It was a challenge. A tormenting battle to be able to win oneself with endurance for pain and days passing. 

In a way, I was kind of also lucky as being so close to the sea when this otherwise horrid experience took place. 

I knew my teacher and my lifetime friend – the sea – would help me again. Now I needed the sea to help me with a severe and demanding healing process as before the sea had given experiences of meeting dolphins, taking journeys, swimming, living by the water.

I had difficulties to even walk on a ‘dry’ land. In a way, it had to be learned again. Slowly, day by day, walking in shallow sea water helped me to move and strengthen my muscles. 

With every single step, the sea was leading me to my main goal: to get stronger in my legs. More confident with each next move. Sea gave me hope. I trusted the process – even it was very hard.

The scent of salt and pine forest calmed my soul. The waves gently massaged the body and soul with water droplets in the air. 

As days and practise passed, swimming – or even just being able to move or walk through the sea – felt easier, thanks to its density. Noticing positive results in my body gave more stength and motivation to continue to heal.

Even as a child, I already discovered how much the sea helped me, when having wounds from falling. They healed in no time. Putting my scratched body into the sea was painful. The sea salt felt made the open wounds feel even itchy at first, but sea water and its minerals helped me fast.  

And yes, I did then fall while climbing the rocks, jumping into the sea , scaring myself on corals, having wounds from fishing hooks. But as a child, you feel you love forever and are safe within fun adventures outdoors.

Considering that the sea has the same pH as healthy blood, it then contains all the essential minerals and trace elements to be a high-quality and almost free source of mineral nutritients.

I studied and learnt that by spending time at the sea every day the body receives rare trace elements that are generally lacking in everyday modern diets. Fresh seawater promotes the exchange of minerals and toxins between the body and the water.

Another benefit of swimming in open sea waters is that the sea has a large electromagnetic energy field, naturally recharging and balancing the human energy system. 

This significantly contributes to the process of renewal, as I felt on my body!

The sea air is filled with negative ions, which also help detoxify the blood and tissues and facilitate the rapid removal of waste.

The Mediterranean climate, wind, sun, aromatic plants and the presence of essential oils always energize me and give relief from everyday stress. 

Sea helped me to recover fast and in many ways made me stronger again by being aside in this difficult experience of illness and a hard recovery. 

After all, the sea was always my source of inspiration anyway. Like a contemplative friend and a teacher in so many ways – from an early age through all phases of life. 

This journey with the sea is still ongoing and I believe, will last all my life.

I can only hope, that many could recognize the importance of preserving the sea through my blogs here. To feel the sea life and its benefits are more important to them. The value of the connection with the vast seas and oceans, is vital for our existence.

For me, every time I slip into the sea, is like returning home.

Silvana Ivandic-Määttä (Nana)

See the link of information of sea water healing effects:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMJlt3VOrtM

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