Like most kids, my boys, Davis, (8) and Coale, (3), love spending time at the beach. Fortunately, both my husband and I have family living on the North Carolina coast. The beach has always been a place to escape the wonderful chaos of our everyday—the busy rhythms of the household, work and school responsibilities, community involvement, and the list goes on! There’s just something about the beauty of the skyline at sunset—the ocean sounds, the smell of the salt air, and the warmth of the sand and sun—that is calming, yet freeing, and resets this writer’s soul.

As I discover coastal beauty on new levels, one connecting thought that has become more and more intriguing to me is the image of a mermaid. A mythical and captivating representation that is half woman and half powerful fins, she simultaneously illustrates both beauty and strength in uniqueness. The mermaid isn’t destined to model other sea creatures yet adapts and makes her home within the same vast oceans, sending a message of grace, confidence, and resilience that is perhaps unexpected. The way she carries herself, while with differently beautiful purpose, also seems to unmistakably caution against underestimation.

Beauty is relative and highly dependent upon perspective— “in the eyes of the beholder,” as it’s often said. Admittedly, the beach hasn’t always been so beautiful to me. At one point not so long ago in my adult life with Cerebral Palsy, (or CP,) my mind automatically homed in on the unpredictable nature of a walk in sandy terrain, the inevitable battle with stiff muscles that would result from hours of sitting in the heat, and the likelihood of receiving an awkwardly shaped sunburn as a parting gift. In all honesty, seeing ‘beauty’ as primary within a place that took so much energy to experience, and felt like an obstacle course, was near impossible at times. Fortunately for me, time eventually changed the view.

CP is a chronic neuromuscular condition that impacts the brain’s ability to communicate effectively with a person’s muscles. How CP specifically presents itself depends upon which areas of the brain are affected. In my case, navigating challenging terrain, both indoors and outdoors, and maneuvering with stability in generally unpredictable situations, represent my greatest obstacles. Thanks to my mobility service dog (and co-author,) Leonard, the lenses through which I now see beach encounters have changed significantly. Like an artist who suddenly finds clear meaning and purpose in abstract splatters of paint on a canvas, today, I see this experience with fresh, adventurous eyes—reading deeper between the obstacles and discovering its beauty anew.

Similarly, perceptions about one’s personal beauty, whether focusing on inward or outward qualities, can, and often do, experience their own evolution. Even in early childhood, our perceptions about what is ideal or what constitutes ‘beautiful’ begin to be molded, shaped, and eventually internalized, by how we experience the world around us. I make the case that a true understanding of beauty is equal parts what we are taught to believe by those making core contributions to our personal development and what the world convinces us to believe. Our challenge as we mature is to tease out the right balance between these two elements—both developing a solid hold on our personal convictions about beauty and interweaving a strong inner ‘filter’ that enables us to be steadily confident and resilient about ‘our unique beautiful’ against the noise created within the larger world. This line of thought echoes what I would assume to be the social-emotional dilemma of a mermaid trying to steady her sense of self among the many other creatures in the sea. She is unlike any other inhabitant within, and yet, she too belongs to those waters…. Or, does she?

What does all of this have to do with my writing ‘why?’

Writing has become one of the most valuable ways for me to use my voice to create new lenses for others—to encourage them to look beyond the surface and usher into their minds a sense of, not only deeper beauty and strength, but also healthy inquisitiveness and progressive optimism. Writing is a universal connection point—a bridge—between me and the rest of the world. Many people can relate to being unfairly judged or misunderstood because of ‘surface-only’ perceptions that place too much value on what is visible from the outside and on what society views as most ‘typical’ or ‘acceptable.’ When approached with unapologetic curiosity, respect, and an open mind, the written word breaks down walls and allows the purest truth to pierce through superficial understanding.

Writing is my art—a dichotomy between quiet elegance and unshakable conviction. Words are powerful catalysts that ebb and flow like the ocean’s waves. Whenever I put pen to paper, I aspire for a unique balance between personal authenticity and uninhibited imagination, with an eye toward social awareness. As an author called to confidently ‘dig deep’ (into the sand, perhaps,) my underlying goal is to cut through the ‘noise’ in obstacles that readers of all ages contemplate, encouraging new ideas and mobilizing positive changes in perspective. Like the inevitable breath of ocean air on a perfect day at the beach, writing should comfort, inspire, and energize. It should move us forward in humanity, while at the same time, honoring key milestones in the journey we’ve already taken.

So, pull up a beach chair and settle in for a good read. It’s my hope that you’ll enjoy the view and see something new that moves you. Maybe you’ll spot a mermaid in the distance.