Experience the Saint Simons Effect® by John Adams
I LOVE THE BEACH. Period. But you may wonder why I’m so fond of being close to water. I love the beach because of the way it makes me feel. The way it changes my attitude. The way it seems to shape my overall demeanor. I don’t know why other people like the beach, I am sure everyone has their own reasons. But for me, it’s what I call “The Saint Simons Effect®.” Walking on the sand and watching the waves has a strong calming effect on me. In one very short moment, just looking over Sound and seeing Jekyll on the other side, I forget everything that I thought was vitally important and enjoy the moment. So let’s get into a more “scientific” definition of The Saint Simons Effect: EFFECT: a change which is a result or consequence of an action or other cause. In this case, the action is when I leave metro Atlanta and eventually drive over the F. J. Torras Causeway. The change that results is the Saint Simons Effect®. This effect is consistent, reliable, and addictive. I suspect it is measurable, but that is above my pay grade. Even so, I have discovered that there are a
number of habits that one tends to exhibit when under the influence of the Saint Simons Effect®. And with apologies to Dr. Stephen J. Covey, I shall undertake to list them here: THE SEVEN HABITS OF HIGHLY SAINT SIMONS EFFECTIVE PEOPLE 1. They Slow Down This ain’t I-285 and we’re not trying to win the Daytona 500 on our tiny island. There is a slower pace of life and nature here that is good for the soul. 2. They Breathe Deeply No matter where you are one the island you can smell the salt and taste the ocean with every breath you take. Sometimes, like when you are standing on the beach itself, it is almost overwhelming. Other times, you need to take a deep breath to experience it, but the ocean is in the air always. 3. They Walk on the Pier and Sit a Spell From my perspective, our Village pier is a national treasure. Right up there with the Grand Canyon or the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the pier is a melting pot of locals, tourists, seniors, kids, and ever-hopeful fishermen who sit there all night under the lights. It’s here you can watch the powerful tide bringing nourishing seawater into our marshes. And
6 hours later, watch as that same water heads back to sea after cleansing the shrimp habitats. 4. They Watch a Sunrise (or Sunset) from Start to Finish Ah, how we adore the amazing sunrises and sunsets at the beach. Just watching the sun come up or go down over the Atlantic is breathtaking. It is also a great time for self-reflection and introspection. 5. They Stare at the Waves Crashing on the Shore As I feel the waves coming in, I always wonder whose mighty hand set the boundary between ocean and beach and set each grain of sand in its proper place. I think I know. 6. They Collect a Few Seashells All humans apparently have a strand of DNA that is simply delighted at the prospect of picking up a shell on the shore and bringing back as a treasure. If you haven’t done it recently, try it! 7. They Consume Wild Georgia Shrimp In an earlier piece, I waxed eloquent about the joy of Georgia’s wild white shrimp. For some reason, every time I arrive here, I feel compelled to make sure that the sweet shrimp is still the best in the world by enjoying a fried shrimp platter. I figure that this shrimp made the ultimate sacrifice so that I could enjoy its special flavor, so the least I can do is eat it!
JOHN ADAMS is American by birth and Southern by the grace of God. He has never lived outside of Georgia, and commutes between homes in Decatur and St. Simons Island. Learn more about him at RealEstateCoffeeBreak.com. After he wrote this, he registered the phrase “The Saint Simons Effect ” ®
with the US Patent Office in anticipation of his upcoming book.
In summary, I have just one question: Do you regularly experience the Saint Simons Effect®? I hope so.
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