When ever my son had a day off school, and I a day off work, we would hop into the car
with a picnic lunch and the tools to build a small sand castle. My son always
dragged along a friend or two no matter where we went. So while the kids were
climbing sand cliffs or chasing each other along the shore, I sat in peace and wrote in my
journal.
I suppose I wrote of how difficult it was to come to terms with having the diagnosis of
"multiple personality disorder." Maybe it was more wondering why it had to
considered a disorder when was a gift that helped me cope as a child. No, it was
writing about the beauty and peacefulness I found on that beach and how oblivious and
aware I was of so much. I do remember struggling with the concept of the diagnosis,
though I also remember how I was able to reflect on what I was learning that helped me
accept myself and the others within. (Emily)
My favorite memory at the beach is the first time I saw the sun rise on it, instead of setting! I was in Florida with my daughter and my husband, and we got up early to catch the sunrise.
Another one is when I was 25, I had lost my first two kids, and had alters out who were unaware of that. They played all day at Sunset Cliffs, climbing the cliffs and racing around the ridges with several of my "guy" friends. I almost fell into the ocean that day!! One of my friends caught my hand just in time! The ocean always brings out the child in me, even now that I am "One". The last time I visited Mission Bay, I just sat in the sand staring at the mosaic of shells surrounding me, now that is ecstasy!! (Incognito)
The summer I was sixteen we visited Cape Cod for ten days. We would go lay out and swim in the
mornings. Then the afternoons would be for exploring the town. My favorite place was a candle shop. It smelled
SO good when you walked in. I never cared that much about the candles being lit, but I love the smell of the ones that are fruit or berry scents. To this day, thinking of Cape Cod or smelling a candle makes me think of that candle shop. (Free)
