I’m going to stray off the reservation a bit with this post. I’m going to focus on neuroscience!
Wait, wait, wait…don’t turn the channel. I think you’ll dig this.
It’s actually not much of a stray. Neuroscience and the Outer Banks?! I know, seems strange, but there may actually be a very strong connection. In the end, if you can stick with me through the build-up, I think you’ll see that the focus of the post is actually close to the heart of all OBX lovers.
In December, I came across an interesting article in Outsidemagazine that caught my interest. The article is probably the best overview that I could give of these ideas, so I won’t try to recreate the whole story. I’ll give a quick intro, but the article is well worth a full read.
The subject of the article (the cover story, by the way) is a PHD biologist, Wallace “J” Nichols. J has a specialty with sea turtles, but he has recently adjusted his focus to studying the neuroscience behind the positive effects the ocean has on everyone that comes into contact with it.
The basic gist of the message is that the ocean can make us (all) happy – and there is MIT caliber neuroscience that can help prove this theory.
Hmmm. Well, that seems to make immediate intuitive sense to me. As I mentioned in my story of Outer Banks Everyday Magic, I spent a few years of my life moving from place to place on the hunt for something, and it turned out that “something” was a need to be at the ocean, a need to be in the water, preferably surfing, as much as I possibly could. And I can’t think of a better place to fill this need than the Outer Banks.
And my guess is that the Blue Mind ideas make intuitive sense to just about all of the vacationers that save all year, and spend hours in the car driving, to enjoy their Outer Banks beach vacation. Those sacrifices are made because the Outer Banks fills us with joy. At the most basic level, the beach and the ocean make us happier, and in turn healthier, people.
We love the ocean, the beach, the waves, the wildlife, and everything that makes the OBX so special. We cross that bridge, smell the fresh salt air, catch our first glimpse of the ocean, and our happiness neurons are activated!
But if it makes such basic, intuitive sense, how can this be “cutting edge” science? It seems obvious.
But maybe it’s the obvious parts of our lives that go unnoticed for so long.
This is “cutting edge” science because J is the first person to bring this theory forward, and amazingly, he is having trouble getting people to jump at the opportunity to fund research to prove the theories.
After reading the article, I contacted J and had a chance to talk with him at length. J spent some of his schooling atthe Duke Marine Lab and loves the Outer Banks. We hit it off immediately.
After our initial conversation, J and I have stayed in contact with one another, and we have been discussing some very cool ideas focused on the Outer Banks. Stayed tuned for more awesomeness to come.
The OBX has such a strong connection to the Blue Mind ideas that I feel obligated by every fiber of my ocean-loving being to help J spread this message.
I’ve been digesting this information since December, so I’ll stop rambling and let you catch up….in a minute. Below are a few links I’ll share for further info, and here’s a quick synopsis:
The ocean is the largest feature on planet Earth.
Our brain is the most powerful and complex “computer” we know of.
Imagine the possibilities when we leverage that Blue Mind connection.
A happier, healthier world that does everything in its power to conserve the resources that make us happy and healthy…what an amazing feedback loop!
Let’s start the Blue Mind revolution right here on the Outer Banks. Who’s with me?!
One last thing before I turn you loose on the super rad links below. It is probably pretty clear by this post that I’m passionate about these ideas and believe whole-heartedly in the message. Well, that passion does not stop with me. It translates all the way through Seaside Vacations. As a company, we are happy to help make 2012 the start of the Blue Mind revolution on the OBX. Stayed tuned for more great Blue Mind info, but to start, we are putting our money where our mouth is.
As part of his Blue Mind message, J has started www.BlueMarbles.org, which is a fun way to promote the ideas by sharing Blue Marbles – the Earth looks like a blue marble from space…there’s a whole lotta ocean on this planet! The blue marbles help to draw people’s awareness, and gratitude, towards the oceans.
All 2012 reservations with Seaside Vacations will be receiving one of J’s Blue Marbles at check-in to help spread the message and give us all a small reminder to be mindful of the amazing world we live in.
Spread the message, and let’s make 2012 the beginning of the Blue Mind revolution on the OBX.
J ends his emails with this simple phrase, and it seems very fitting now – “Live like you love the ocean.”
Here are three pieces of media that will give you a good overview of the Blue Mind ideas:
Here’s a video that Nautica created discussing J and his Blue Mind ideas
Blue Marbles – great way to spread the Blue Mind message
Thanks for all of the awesome feedback we received from y’all. It’s great to know Jordan’s story touched you in the same way it touched me.
To keep the great vibes rolling, over the next few weeks, I’m going to be sharing some of Jordan’s art work – poems, paintings, pictures, drawings, etc.
Let’s kick it off with a poem Jordan was inspired to write after reading his story on the blog.
Blue Minded
Like being in love with her
Mother ocean
She’s by your side as you go fishing for your memories of laughter
Mother ocean holds you like a baby while you surf for your soul
You’re lost in the air
Mother ocean
You’re lost with her in a romance bonded so strong as to withstand all but the hand of God…..
Good morning. Here’s the Outer Banks Beach, Surf, & Fishing Report for Friday, May 6, 2011.
This video was shot at the Lillian St. beach access in Kitty Hawk at 9:00 AM.
It’s a gorgeous spring day. It’s been a bit chilly the past couple days…if you can call 60 degrees chilly. We had a stiff wind out of the north brining in some chilly air, but the wind switched to the west last night; so we have a nice offshore wind out of the southwest at about 10 mph. The west wind is bringing in some warm air and cleaning up the surf. Lots of sun and temps in the 70′s for the weekend.
There a waist high swell coming in, and the offshore wind is cleaning it up for some fun longboard waves. A few guys out enjoying the waves at Lillian St.
The OBX fishing is going strong…and getting better everyday. The water temps are fluctuating between mid 50′s and low 60′s depending on the wind, and as the water temps heat up, the fishing action will continue to increase. Offshore is still seeing a lot of tuna and dolphin, and cobia are starting to come up from Hatteras. The piers have very consistent reports of a variety of fish – blue fish, croaker, sea mullet, blowtoads, flounder. Few reports out of the surf, but we should see some great surfcasting soon.
Outer Banks - 5.5.11 - A Little Chill, but Pretty in Kitty Hawk
Pretty day. A little chill, but warming up, and temps will be back in the 70′s for the weekend. There’s some swell in the water, but the north wind is not helping. The wind should switch this afternoon. Clean, waist surf later today and tomorrow? Spring fish are biting – tuna, dolphin, cobia moving north from Hatteras, blue fish, sea mullet, croaker, blowfish, flounder.
A crab event! Just what the Outer Banks needed, and hosted by a fantastic local OBX business. The Outer Banks Epicurean is a hidden treasure that really shouldn’t be hidden. It is a foodies delight with amazing local cuisine to go, cooking classes, and even in-home preparation. The Colington Crab Classic is a perfect fit!
PS – We love the Outer Banks Epicurean and are proud to partner with them for a fabulous Outer Banks cooking class through our Club Seaside events.
Colington Crab Classictaste. play. learn.
celebrate the Blue Crab on the Outer Banks!Tickets include:
Soft Shell or Crab Cake Dinner with all the Fixin’s
Blue Crab Shedder Tours at Endurance Seafood
Children’s Activities, Music, Storytelling, Local Food Samples
Crab Art and more!
Soft Shell Showdown
Two teams will showcase the soft shell blue crab as an appetizer, an entrée and as a dessert. Participants with Judge Tickets choose the winning team!
Team Outer Banks
Chef Pok of the Outer Banks Brewing Station
Chef Bud of Lone Cedar Cafe
Chef Dan of Coastal Provisions Market
Captain Amy of Outer Banks Epicurean
Team Hampton Roads
Foodie Extraodinaire Captain
Patrick Evans-Hylton is lining up his team!
Judge Tickets
Purchase a Judge’s Ticket and taste and vote on everything created during the Soft Shell Showdown!
~~~ Only 50 Judge Tickets Available. ~~~
TICKETS
Adult $25*
Adult with Beer/Wine $35
Judge (Limit 50) $35*
Judge with Beer/Wine $45
Child (under 12) $12
*ONLY Judge ticket holders have the opportunity to taste (and cast a ballot) in the Soft Shell Showdown
Outer Banks - 4.27.11 - Thunder Boomer at Avalon Pier
Good morning. Here’s the Outer Banks Beach, Surf, & Fishing Report for Wednesday, April 27, 2011.
This video was shot at Avalon Pier in Kill Devil Hills at 8:30 AM.
It’s warm…almost 80 degrees at 8:30 AM! But, we’re starting the day off with some overcast skies and thunder at Avalon Pier. The good news is the clouds won’t say long and the sun will be shining soon. This great weather will carry through tomorrow and into the weekend. Sun, 70′s, and an occasional thunder storm…sure is starting to feel like summer!
Not much surf today. There is some southeast swell coming through at about waist high, but it’s not too clean with the southwest wind blowing at about 10 mph. The good news is that this swell should build to head high tomorrow, and the wind should switch to west on Friday morning, so we could have some clean head high waves on Friday…not to mention upper 70′s and sun! The waves could last through Saturday if the wind cooperates.
OBX fishing is going strong. Offshore is still reporting tuna (blue, black, and yellow fin), some wahoo, and some dolphin. Getting very consistent reports from the piers with a variety of fish – blow toads, sea mullet, croaker, some spot and speckled trout starting to show up. The little bridge is Manteo is reporting some good action, and the Sound has some fish showing up. Still waiting for some consistent reports from the surf, but they’ll be here soon as the water warms…up to 55 degrees now.
Outer Banks - 4.25.11 - Spring Waves in Kitty Hawk
Good morning. Here’s the Outer Banks Beach, Surf, & Fishing Report for Monday, April 25, 2011.
This video was shot at the Lillian St. beach access in Kitty Hawk at 9:00 AM.
Hope you had a great Easter holiday. The great weather from last week has carried through the weekend and into this week. Great start to the week with a perfect spring day; sun, temps in the 80′s, a nice offshore wind out of the southwest at about 10 mph. This weather should stick with us through the week with sun and temps in the mid 70′s. A chance of some afternoon thunder storms, but they’ll be isolated.
The offshore wind is cleaning up the leftover swell for some fun waist high, clean waves. Perfect day to be in the water. The waves are coming through very consistently. A dozen people in the water at Lillian, and they were catching waves as fast as they could paddle out. The surf will die down today, but should pick up again on Thursday and Friday for some nice chest high waves with an offshore wind. We’ll keep an eye on it.
The OBX fishing is going strong. Offshore is still reporting tuna (blue, black, & yellow fin), wahoo, and some dolphin. The piers are consistently reporting a wide variety of fish, but the weekend’s specialty was sea mullet and croaker. Blue fish, flounder, spot all in the area. Some rock and puppy drum in the Sound. Catches out of the surf are a bit inconsistent, but it will improve as the water temp continues to rise.
Good morning. Here’s the Outer Banks Beach, Surf, & Fishing Report for Friday, April 22, 2011.
Happy Earth Day! Today is the last day we’ll be raising money for the Outer Banks Surfrider Foundation with our Facebook promotion. Each new fan = $1. If you’re on Facebook, please look us up at www.Facebook.com/SeasideVacationsOBX. We’ve raised over $500 so far, and we’d love to add $1 for you!
It’s a pretty spring day. It actually feels chilly compared to the 80 degree temps from earlier in the week, but temps comfortable, and seasonable, in the 60′s today. The “chill” will be gone tomorrow and the great weather will stick with us through the weekend and into next week. In the 70′s tomorrow and hitting 80 on Sunday!
No surf today, but we could have a great longboard wave on Sunday. We should have swell in the waist high range, and the wind should be out of the southwest at 10 mph all day Sunday….plus 80 degree temps! Great day to be at the beach…and in the water.
The Outer Banks fishing is going strong. Offshore has tuna (blue, black, & yellow fin), some dolphin, and a few reports of billfiish! Inshore is going strong as well. There are a variety of fish in the area, and we have consistent reports of catches from all the piers; croaker, blow toad, flounder, blue fish, sea mullet. Unfortunately, no consistent reports out of the surf, but the water is warming up and the fish are here, so it’s only a matter of time.
Good morning. Here’s the Outer Banks Beach, Surf, & Fishing Report for Wednesday, April 20, 2011.
This video was shot in South Nags Head at the new Jennette’s Pier at 9:00 AM.
We had a request on Facebook to get some pictures and video of the new Jennette’s Pier, so it seemed like a great opportunity for a beach report. Jennette’s Pier will be opening May 21 after about a two year construction period. The Pier looks amazing, and will have a lot of great exhibits and activities in conjunction with the NC Aquarium. Definitely worth a visit once it’s open.
It’s a great spring day. Almost feels like summer! It’s starting off a bit overcast, but we can’t really complain with temps in the low 80′s today! Temps will cool to the 60′s tomorrow and Friday, but the nice weather will stick with us, and the temps will warm back to the 70′s for the weekend.
There is a warm wind out of the Southwest at about 15 mph, and it’s cleaning up the waist high waves wrapping around the Pier this morning. Fun longboard wave throughout the day.
The OBX fishing is going strong. Offshore is active with blue fin, yellow fin, and black fin tuna, wahoo, dolphin, and king mackerel. The Piers and the Little Bridge in Manteo are reporting all sorts of spring fish showing up; sea mullet, blow toads, croakers, speckled trout, flounder.
Below are a few links I’ll share for further info, and here’s a quick synopsis:
