BK1 (May & Jun 2018): Blue Mind: The Surprising Science That Shows How Being Near, In, On, or Under Water Can Make You Happier, Healthier, More Connected, and Better at What You Do

Hi Everyone...

Well our first book was Blue Mind: The Surprising Science That Shows How Being Near, In, On or Under Water Can Make You Happier, Healthier, More Connected & Better at What You Do by Dr. Wallace J. Nichols. We actually discussed it for 2 months (May & Jun 2018) as everyone loved it & felt there was more they wanted to discuss. The book is filled with a great deal of research, so it was a bit slower of a read but very valuable.

Dr. Nichols is a marine biologist who spent his teenage years in the north suburbs of Chicago. He fell in love with the water and turtles when he was a young kid. He studies & works to protect sea turtles. One of his research studies included attaching a satellite transmitter to a loggerhead sea turtle named "Adelita." The research found that Adelita made history by swimming the entire Pacific Ocean (7,000 miles) in 368 days!

In the Dec 2011 issue of Outside Magazine, Dr. Nichols was the cover story with "The Touchy-Feely (But Totally Scientific!) of Wallace J. Nichols article." This is when I became aware of Dr. Nichols. I read the article & immediately emailed him. :-) The article described how Dr. Nichols would observe how people changed drastically when they came into view of the Philippine Coral Reef tank in the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco. As people looked at the 25 feet deep tank through a 16 1/2 by 30 foot window, they would become calm and hold hands. Dr. Nichols became curious as to the underlying neurological processes occurring when people were near the ocean.

Dr. Nichols curiosity lead him to look for research on the neurological & physiological changes which occur due to water but could not find any; so in 2011 he brought a group of neuroscientist, cognitive psychologists, marine biologists, conservationists, doctors, economists and others from different areas of expertise, who don't usually cross paths, to collaborate on research which would explore the relationship between water and humans. This "Blue Mind Summit" would become an Annual Event, in fact, this year's has just started today (June 27th) as I write this! :-)

As a good body of research results were coming in demonstrating the positive affect of the water on humans physiologically & psychologically, Dr. Nichols tried to get someone to write a book to share the results with everyone so that we could know that in fact spending time Near, In, On or Under the water was indeed of great benefit and we should increase our water time. When Dr. Nichols approached Dr. Oliver Sacks to write the book, Dr. Sacks suggested Dr. Nichols should write the book. :-)

His research made him quite aware of the problem with plastic in our ocean. In 2015, he worked with Pharrell Williams on the documentary The Plastic Age (17 min).

I have the book bio below & MANY links including his Facebook Online Book Club which currently (2020) is going on right now! Archived sessions on his page! Then after that Book Club Discussion points from when we met.

"A landmark book by marine biologist Wallace J. Nichols on the remarkable effects of water on our health and well-being.
Why are we drawn to the ocean each summer? Why does being near water set our minds and bodies at ease? In Blue Mind, Wallace J. Nichols revolutionizes how we think about these questions, revealing the remarkable truth about the benefits of being in, on, under, or simply near water. 

Combining cutting-edge neuroscience with compelling personal stories from top athletes, leading scientists, military veterans, and gifted artists, he shows how proximity to water can improve performance, increase calm, diminish anxiety, and increase professional success.

Blue Mind not only illustrates the crucial importance of our connection to water-it provides a paradigm shifting "blueprint" for a better life on this Blue Marble we call home."

Dr. Nichols' Facebook page with his Online Book Club!  Info on 9th Annual Event Starts Jan 9th! 

Slowcoast  - Shop Items

Force Blue Team - Veterans Saving the Coral Reef!

4Ocean.com

Mar 22nd - World Water Day

Jun 8th - World Ocean Day 

Memorial Day - Labor Day "100 Days of Blue"

Blue Mind Shoppe - Blue Mind Items 50% of Profits goes to Blue Mind

Patreon Support for Blue Mind - Even donating 50 cents a month helps!!!

The 2011 Outside Magazine Article I read which had me email Dr. Nichols and started me Turning My Blue Mind On!

Turn Your Blue Mind On Website - Find Your Water! 

Videos....

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Discussion Points from our Meeting in May & June of 2018!

* Everyone LOVED the book so much they wanted to discuss it for a 2nd month! :-)

* What is Your Water? Everyone discussed where they find their water & how it makes them feel.

* Realization of Research on Water & What Research everyone found valuable.

* How we can get his information/research on water to local Water Ambassadors.

* How we can get more water features in our local communities.