Sometimes it can be hard to get motivated to do something fun when you are not even in the mood to smile. It is even more difficult when you have to do it solo. That was me today (and a lot recently). But I will say, this day trip was much needed. Today I drove to Sombrero Beach in Marathon, Florida. It was my first time visiting, and it did not disappoint. It is a relatively small beach (compared to other beaches in Florida and California – where I am from), which gives it that quaint Florida Keys vibe.
The water was beautiful. A little green, yes, but the temperature was amazing. It is currently almost mid-May, and I would guess that the water temperature was around 80 degrees Fahrenheit – comfortable yet cool – and a wonderful relief from the outside temperature of 87 degrees. As someone from California who can never get in the ocean because of the freezing temperatures (60 degrees is essentially freezing, okay?), I am always amazed that ocean water can be that warm. On my weather app, the “feel-like” air temperature was 99 degrees, so needless to say, it felt VERY hot. As with any beach day, it was important to stay hydrated.
The vibe was fun. Some beach-goers played music, some set up tents and umbrellas, some played in the sand, some waded in the water, some snorkeled, and some sat in chairs in the water. It was a fun, upbeat, and happy atmosphere. Sometimes when I go to the beach, I feel self-conscious about the way I look or the fact that I am there by myself. Surprisingly, I didn’t feel that here at all. Maybe that is me having more confidence in myself as I get older, or maybe it’s the laid-back, no-pressure feeling that the Keys give off in general – something I appreciate.
After spending some time in the water and taking some pictures and videos with my phone (which overheated at one point!), I went back to my car to grab my DSLR camera. I decided to take a walk around the whole beach and take more artistic photos with my camera. I’m glad I did, because I think I needed a reminder of how much I enjoy embracing my creative side through photography.
Sometimes, I live my life like a movie. At Sombrero Beach, I felt like the strong female lead in a Hallmark movie who works for a travel blog and gets sent to the Florida Keys to write a blog post. (I’ve been writing my own Hallmark movie in my head for a while now, okay?). 😆 Similar to many Hallmark characters though, I was smiling on the outside, but also struggling on the inside.
Something to know about parking at Sombrero Beach is that you have to pay – at least where I parked. I parked along the beach area, and I *think* this was the only place to park. There is a neighborhood around the beach area, so I would assume there aren’t too many other places (if any) to park. It was a little over $5.00 for one hour. If you’re wondering about the bathrooms, they were pretty typical beach bathrooms – nice enough, but not somewhere you’d want to spend a ton of time. 😄
Other amenities at Sombrero Beach included: a playground, volleyball court, a pier (where you can probably fish off of?), and barbecues. People were barbecuing as I was walking by, and I was tempted to ask if I could have some. (Just kidding, but it did smell amazing).
Sombrero Beach was a great place to visit, and I will definitely be back. Although I enjoyed going solo, I’d love to go with a friend or family member to share the experience with. Along with taking pictures, spending time in the water was one of my favorite parts, and I think it was just what my mental health needed for the moment – a break from thinking.
Something I learned (or maybe reinforced) today is that my mental health is so much better when I am outside in nature doing something I enjoy. I have found that some distractions are not helpful to me, such as checking social media or keeping myself busy in other ways, as they keep me from addressing my emotions. However, I think that if I redirect my mind to focus on things I enjoy, I change the extent to which my problems affect me. Being outside, spending time around people and animals, and embracing my creativity do that for me.
If you are hesitant to do something solo, I would encourage you to do it anyway, despite being afraid. I was very unsure if I wanted to go to the beach by myself today, and honestly almost went straight home after going to church in the morning. But then I forced myself to turn right instead of left, and thought…why not? I’d rather try something new, do something fun, and spend time in nature than sit at home and wallow in my worries.
Sometimes when I need a little push to do things in life, I pretend as though I am living in my own movie, and I am the main character. As my storyline continues to unfold, I’ll be creating my own happiness and embracing the unknown. To quote Mamma Mia 2 (one of my favorite movies) and embrace my inner Donna Sheridan:
“The best things in life, the very best things, happen unexpectedly.”
Maybe that Hallmark ending will happen one day, or maybe I’ll just fall in love with life – something I am striving for daily.
– Michelle 🐬💙
