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Hello Claire. I'm still trying to put into words what my connection to the sea means to me. I grew up in a landlocked country, Zimbabwe where we swam a lot in pools. But I've lived on the coast and when I moved back to the UK 4 years ago, I knew I would not survive if I didn't live very close to the sea. So I moved to the Isle of Wight. I started all year round sea swimming and a finally feel like I've come home to myself. In the sea I can release unwanted energies and connect to the sea's rhythms, just by being in the water. I've also connected with so many other like minded souls by swimming. This summer especially I've been down to swim or walk by the sea almost every day. So that's my story about connection.

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Sorry I missed this Debs but I've come back to tell you you've won my competition! Can you email me your address for the goody bag? claire@creativelyconscious.co.uk I totally hear you on the sea bringing you home - I can't ever imagine leaving but in part of me the mountains call...

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Oh my goodness Claire. What fabulous news. 🤩 I never win anything. So thank you. I will email you shortly.

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✨❤️✨🙌🏻🌀

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I grew up in London, so the sea was not a regular feature of my childhood - more something to dream of when we got woken up at 4am once a year to go on holiday. In the wake of two life altering events in my thirties - my first child contracting neonatal meningitis, and my brother tragically dying, I found myself at the coast on a family holiday, and was inexplicably drawn to the water. I signed up to do a sea swim, although I was terrified of deep water, and it became the first chapter to the rest of my life. That day as I naively entered the water in just an M&S cossie, the sea cracked open something deep inside of me, and allowed me to first of all surrender to my feelings, giving me the strength to ask for help, and then finally heal. I have been swimming in open water now for several years, and swim in my bikini in the snow, and never do I feel more alive than when doing that. The sea washed over me when I needed it most, and has become part of my soul. My first book, 'Breaking Waves' is all about the connection women have with water all over the world, and having spoken with women from Fiji to Finland, I am in awe of what it means and how it connects us all. It is in my soul.

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Oh Emma - thank you so so much for sharing that with me. Gosh your story paints such a deep visceral connection for me. Tell me more about your book! I want to read it!! I’ve been to Fiji - adored it and the people. 📕

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This is my fledgling author website if you'd like to have a look. This is what I'm hoping to grow my audience for!!

https://emmasimpsonauthor.com/

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It's fabulous! We're both in Suzy's writer's group aren't we? Cx

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Yes we are!! You were manifesting US presidents 🤣

Thanks so much - your passion for Substack is so inspiring, I love it 💕🙏

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Aww thanks Emma! I send a Friday email out each week called Stay Creative on Substack you might like that if you’re not already subscribed! ✨✨

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Thanks lovely, I think I am subscribed - I’ll double check! Xx

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Oh bless you, thank you, you're very kind. Breaking Waves is part memoir, and part love letter to the ocean and womankind. Threads from my story are woven together with the stories women have told me about their experiences in water - I've spoken to everyone from world record breaking marathon swimmers to those taking their first tentative dips. It's not all about swimming - it covers everything from sibling grief to water births, chronic illness to body confidence, sharks to mermaids!! There is a lot of joy, but mainly it is a celebration of the amazing women who shared droplets of their soul with me ❤️ I'm always happy to chat about it, it's been such a privilege to write it. I have never been to Finland but wow I want to!!!

xx

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Claire, I don’t know how you fit everything in, but I just love reading your posts and (sort of) feel like I’m with you on your journey.

I used to watch blogs on YouTube quite often but I stopped around the time of the pandemic. I’d love to get back into it and would love to watch your videos!

What a generous offer to give away! You know, I don’t really have a connection to the sea, and I’m a little bit embarrassed to admit that after reading the comments above.

I’m from Leeds so nowhere near the seaside, that’s probably why. I do remember camping in Scarborough as a child though, and days spent by the sea with my siblings would bring me so much joy. In fact, it was the place I wanted to go to after I got married as a sort of mini honeymoon because I wanted my own children to experience that feeling too.

I’d like to build more of a connection to it though. We’re planning a day trip to the coast sometime soon, but we’re thinking of going somewhere other than Scarborough this time. Do you have a recommendation for the east coast? 🥰

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Aww I’m so glad you’re here! Thanks for following along with it all 😂 it’s been a trip!

You’ve blown my mind about sinking funds in your post tonight and I unknowingly set one up for the kids tonight for their university! I’m playing the long term game with goals after being in fight or flight a bit with Daves health - trying to ground in and down to future me and future family! It’s not something I’d thought of before but one of my mentors (who I wrote about this week) is always reminding us to increase our financial literacy and I’m all in for that. Too long we’ve been kept out of decisions or not empowered enough to take care of our money and I’m so interested in it as self care and for building a strong foundation for us all.

Ooo thanks for asking! There are so so many amazing beaches here. Our closet is alnmouth so there are lots of shots of that one in my emails and on YouTube shorts actually...

Also if you don’t want to drive ALL the way to Northumberland there’s Tynemouth which is hipster ish and glorious too!

Our favourites are the ones closest but Bamburgh with the castle as a backdrop is stunning too. Also have to shout out to Spital in Berwick which is like stepping back in time complete with noisy arcades and chips and ice cream!

My grandparents lived by the sea in Fleetwood - I loved it there too. The only beach I really knew as a kid was a beach on hols - we didn’t grow up near one but the sea has called me for as long as I can remember - we are happy here.

When we were on hols to Tenerife in April we went to the beach and I just wanted to go back to the hotel really - we are just so spoilt here it’s really stunning! Cx

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I grew up on a river not far from the sea in Florida. There’s always been something about water that helps me breathe more deeply. And the wide open sky by the ocean’s edge gives me some kind of perspective that I need—a view of my own particular and connected place in the universe. That sounds pretty poetic, but I also just like spectacularly fresh seafood.... 🌊

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That is SO poetic Julie - I love that. 🏝️🌊✏️ thanks for writing.

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I miss the sea! I used to live in a city with beaches everywhere, and sunny days automatically became beach days; cloudy days were even better because the beach was deserted, and rain meant the water would be warm. Beaches feel like home to me 💙

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Oh home yes I feel that too. I’ve been to beaches all over the world and always felt so content as soon as the view of the sea hit the horizon through the windscreen... ✨✨💖✨✨

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Yep, the minute I can see the ocean it feels like everything is okay in the world. (I discovered you via YouTube just recently and am loving your approach to creativity & business) x

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Aw yes!!! 🌊

Ahh did you?! I’m new to YouTube but I wanted to learn because I love video and sharing on insta stories but it feels too temporary and stingy! I think YouTube shorts are my new video home!! ✨✨ what did you search for can you remember? Cx

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Yeah I like & also dislike the temporary nature of Insta stories! Just had a look at my YT history... I searched 'substack' but sorted by most recent. I was hoping to find something more down to earth than 'here's how I made 💰💰💰 in X months' kinda thing.

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Oh music to my ears!! That’s what I’m hoping to get across Substack for the long term inspired slow lived creative!! Yay!! Thanks so much for sharing and checking that!! Cx

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Ah, the sea! How I miss it!! My father was a sailor in the merchant navy, so we spent almost all of our school holidays sailing with him across the world! The month-long sea voyages, watching the dolphins jump along with the ship, catching flying fish and throwing them back into the sea, feeding the fish jumping alongside the ship....so many wonderful memories associated with the sea!!

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Oh Shinijini this sounds like SUCH a fairytale - wow!! Do you write about the sea now?

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No, but maybe I should? About some of my childhood memories of sailing? I could pair it with some abstract seascapes in my art substack. But I wonder if it would be interesting?

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I’d read it! I wonder why you would question if it’s interesting? 🌊

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I guess I’ve read a lot of “provide value” articles recently, and my childhood memories of sailing wouldn’t fall into that category? And I’m wondering what people would find interesting to read. I’ve often written about things that interest me, or my process, but do they interest others? Have I been going about it all wrong? I guess it’s the existential crisis that hits me as a creative from time to time.

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I hear you... I think inviting people into your story is incredibly valuable- escapism is valuable, connection is valuable and storytelling is valuable. If we’re confusing value with take aways and maybe we are? ...then the take away would be the sheer wonderment and childlike enjoyment of hearing a story (for me anyway)... so how do YOU want to tell that story because that’s the bit that us creatives struggle with from time to time - the craft of the how! ✨✏️✨ 💡 just thoughts... on this sunny morning by the coast, I’ve let me tea go cold and I can hear church bells and a lawnmower in the distance... it’s my day off today but my daughter is poorly so I’m here holding her as she sleeps on my sofa hoping someone writes me a story to pass the time... 😉✨🌊🌱

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Hmm...that is interesting...I’ve been thinking of takeaways, mainly. Or value as in something that will help in some way. But I didn’t think inviting people into my life would be valuable. Why would anyone care, I wonder? It’s not like I have an extraordinary life or a radical one...nor do I have a particularly poetic writing style that will blow someone away. I think I need to reflect on what value actually means...

I hope your daughter feels better soon!!

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My connection to the sea is profound. I’m even a marine biologist. I have studied dolphin’s behaviour and loved nothing more than being at the ocean looking for them. Although I’m not a field biologist anymore I still have amazing dreams full of dolphins and whales. Always swimming around me, or jumping around my boat. I always take them as good omens. 🐋

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Oh how glorious! I have a snowflake tattoo! I think if we ever left the beach I’d get some sort of reference to the sea tattooed too. ✨🌊 studying dolphins sounds so cool - what’s the best thing you learnt?! 🐬

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That they are extremely social creatures. They will choose they preferred friends and stick with them for years to hunt together, socialising, etc.

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I also have a wave 🌊 tattoo 😅

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Ah my connections to the 🌊. I find if I go to far away from it I feel landlocked and claustrophobic. I seek the sea whenever I need reassurance of my place in the world. Seeing the sea always gives me perspective and comfort.

I chose a university for its excellent sociology course and also it’s proximity to the sea.

I lived in County Durham for three years and whilst I loved the countryside, I found myself driving the long drive up to Druridge Bay time and time again.

Consequently we bought a house near the sea and I love the impact that it has on my life. I feel content and held by its proximity.

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That’s exactly how I feel Helen!!! Gosh I have LOVED this question and what it’s brought to the fore! 🌊 I grew up in Co Durham - have I told you that before? Sorry if I have I do struggle a bit with memory when chatting online. Wishing you a glorious day ahead. 🌞

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Aw no way! No I didn’t know that ❤️

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Aw what a wonderful name!

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Isn’t it! I then lived nearly Hamsterley Forest it was magic!! 🌱 🌳

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Yes a little village called Sunnybrow 🌞

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Hi Claire, been reading along for a while now and really enjoying getting to know you through this beautiful Substack and excited to hear more of company of two too!

My connection to the sea - we live not far from a beautiful beach where I have walked firstly with my husband, then our beagle, then our little boy and then our second dog - it’s been a place of peace on tired, emotional days and a place of happiness for all of us - it will always be our family happy place.

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Ah I totally connect to that! Sorry I don’t know your name. So when my Grandpa was in his last chapter I went to the sea early morning before anyone else and I gave the sea my grief, my regrets, my everything I had left it’s such a healing space isn’t it. What a privilege to live close by and with dogs too!!! ✨ 🐶

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It’s Racheal 😊 What a beautiful idea and yes very lucky to be so close!

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Oh I look forward to those journal prompts each month, thank you Claire! And I love these updates in general, as I'm sure I've mentioned before ☺️

We used to live by the sea in Hove and I loved it, despite the pebble beach, which I soon started to prefer to sand. That is until visiting the beaches of the silver coast in Portugal and beaches of Greece whilst on our travels, where now nothing beats the feeling of sand between my toes 🤗 I miss being by the sea everyday but I know one day I will be living back besides it. It's like a pull that never seems to go away 💕

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Ahh Lyndsay I hear you. The beach takes my breath away like nothing else EVERY single time. Let me know how you get on with the journal prompts... I’m doing them today!! 🏆⭐️🥇🔑👑

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Loved reading this Notes From The Sea, Claire! So exciting about your trip to The Peak District. It's so beautiful there! And I am super excited about seeing more of your slow lived life on YouTube! Vlogs are by far my favorite content to watch (and create!) over there. Looks like you've had a busy yet fulfilling month!

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Oh how exciting! I watched a couple of channels on mat leave - I still follow those now - I didn’t realise there was so much of a slow lived crowd over there ✨🌱✨. It’s going to take me a while to fathom out as I don’t feel I have much capacity for editing at the min... so keeping it simple with a few shorts a week and some Substack tutorials and seeing how it all develops. ✨💜 thanks for your support Hunter!!

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I love the idea of videos from Northumberland! I was really into vlogs before Davy was born. I think it's how I was seeking community in motherhood and trying to work it all out. I watched tons of pregnancy vlogs, but also people going about their daily life. I found the American's grating to be honest 😂 so I was mostly subscribed to British YouTubers. I loved seeing bits of the countryside, but even normal mundane things are just different enough something like a bottle of Fairy dish soap makes me nostalgic for my year abroad.

I used to make videos too, but I think my social capacity is pretty much maxed out as a parent (between Davy and therapists and so on) that I don't have energy to show up much on video right now. I really have to portion that out.

I've had a long list of YouTube ideas that I am in the process of reimagining for Substack. Accepting this isn't my video era. I love that art form and may go back to it, but it takes so much out of me.

I feel like most of my favorite vloggers stopped so would love to follow along some slow lived adventures. See the seaside, the sensory garden, even your lovely bookshop. But also the magic mundane. 💫

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Oh so so much encouragement that’s so lovely to hear how you found it. I love your channel there’s so much to dive into. I totally hear you on the season to make stuff - I’m really just using my phone or recording via zoom for now and playing around having fun with it.

There is such a rich tapestry to film here and Dave always took more video than me but it was our magic mundane project and the Live Photos that made me see there’s something in that moving moment for an audience and for our memories too.

✨🌺🪄

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June 1, 2023
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Thanks Luisa - I've looked at yours. I remember I particularly appreciated the wordmark which I STILL can't make happen on mine - I've kinda accepted that for the moment... 😅

Oh thanks so much - so I've been running mentoring programmes all of my career but in 2017 after a period of burn out and giving FAR too much to a client, I decided to package it all up under Inspiration Island because I wanted to offer something person centred that held the threads of inspiration, ambition and wellbeing together - it's so beautiful and I'm still so proud of it. I moved it onto a course platform a couple of years back to stream line the booking process and offer more resources to my one to one clients and it's been my second best time investment, my first is Substack of course. 🦄 💌 Happy 1st June to you - I wonder what's in store for us this month?!

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June 1, 2023
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SO much! I’m glad I’m on here everyday because I feel like it’s easier to adjust when you’re seeing it a lot!

Yes that’s right - it’s podia! It’s worked so well for me. I did a course by Aussie artist and entrepreneur Leonie Dawson called 40 DAYS to write and sell your ecourse and in the chat threads there were lots of convos about what platforms work across all the different ambitions. Podia was the one for me and it works so so well but there are so many work arounds and other ways to host stuff and communities online.

I wonder if Substack existed in my circle of influence back then if I would have just hosted it here...

✨🤩✨🏰✨

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