Every so often in life, you stumble upon a place that becomes you, long after your footsteps have disappeared from its streets: Castine is such a place. A small coastal village sitting 2 ½ hours north of Portland, Castine’s population of 1300 is small, but its heart is larger than life. This town is not for those needing to be entertained in the traditional sense; there are no water parks, no movie theaters, and no golden arches. If the townspeople of Castine were the boastful type, they would describe their home as a hidden gem with country inns, an intriguing history, beautiful sunsets, a whispering ocean breeze, and a genuineness not easily put into words.
Walking the streets of Castine offers a pleasing look into the past with historical markers, multiple forts, and beautifully kept historical buildings depicting life from the 1600’s to present. The village of Castine is warm, inviting, and simply beautiful. Castine is a magical one-of-a-kind place: where gentlemen tip their hats to ladies offering a “good day”; where passerbyers greet each other with a smile and a hello; where a grandfather invites your son on his yacht so he can pretend he is the captain like the man admittingly enjoyed when he was young; where the cadets from the Maine Maritime Academy step aside to let you pass, modeling kindness and respect; and where quality of life is held as the standard of a good life.
Each of our mornings in Castine were spent the same way: Dylan and I walking down to the village’s one bakery, Bah’s Bakehouse, for a delicious pastry, tea, and hello’s with the locals. People know when you are not from here and instantly engage you in conversation on a variety of topics centered around who you are and your life experiences, not what you do and what you have. Our days in Castine were wonderful and kept the hurried life I left behind at bay. I was able to spend most of the day reflecting on my life, writing letters to friends, enjoying quiet, uninterrupted moments with my son, journaling, watching the rolling waves, figuring out some personal challenges I had been facing, and recklessly indulging in doing absolutely nothing of any importance to anyone. Long strolls, climbing old forts, oogling over the mansions along the water, lounging at the local library, hiking through Witherlee Woods, perusing the town’s only bookstore, and sitting on the weathered rocks at Dyce Head Lighthouse were the fabric of ours days. We kept no calendar, we didn’t watch the clock, we were held accountable to only ourselves.
These quiet moments served as a reflective mirror, bringing into focus who I was; offering a chance to see myself outside of the hurriedness of everyday life and the seemingly immediateness of life’s everyday challenges. I felt thankful for the time to reconnect with myself and was able to look at the story I’m writing, which is my life. As moms, we often find ourselves in a cycle of giving to others and sometimes, if only for a brief moment, we need to give ourselves a little of whatever we need, whether it be time alone on the beach, a weekend away, or a night out with friends. On my last day in Castine, I ordered my usual tea at Bah’s Bakehouse and smiled as I read the message attached – “One of the best actions we can take, with courage, is to relax.” So, moms, I challenge you to find time to relax. You deserve it!
No comments:
Post a Comment