Summer 2023

P opulation density maps of the United States, South America, Africa and Australia all show the same trend: Humans tend to concentrate on the edges of landmasses—at or near the water. That’s really no surprise, and there’s a reason that a piece of waterfront property commands a significantly higher price point than a comparably sized, landlocked parcel. Being close to or in water instills a sense of well- being. Author Dr.Wallace J. Nichols’ 2014 book,“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,” posits a scientific explanation for that phenomenon. “I’ve understood it innately my whole life,” Nichols says.“As a child I was shy and introverted and preferred being in or under the water.You don’t stutter there. My life sort of aligned to this idea. I didn’t call it anything… it was just my choice of things to do.” Later in life, as a scientist whose interests centered around aquatic ecosystems and ocean conservation, he went looking for a book on how water affects us. He thought there must have been some work done correlating how water influences our brains, much as music does.“I couldn’t find one, so I tried to convince other peo- ple to write it.” One of those writers was British neurologist Oliver Sacks, whose book, “Musicophilia,” “investigates the power of music to move us, to heal and to haunt us,” according to its publisher’s notes. “I approached him with my concept. He replied,‘It’s a fine idea.You do it.’At that moment, something I thought I’d like to read turned into a five-year project.” “Blue Mind” made The NewYork Times Best Seller list. Nichols is an affable, witty and whimsical fellow and refers to himself (only half-jokingly) as Chief Evangelist for Water (CEH2O) at The Blue Mind Movement. Since his book’s publication he has lectured to groups around the world. “Prior to the pandemic, the ‘Blue Mind’ concept had taken a bit A prolific writer, Nichols’ articles have appeared in diverse publications like National Geographic , GQ , Outside , Elle and Scientific American . He has lectured in 30 countries and nearly all U.S. states and has appeared on NPR, PBS, CNN and MSNBC. Now a Carmel resident, the author was himself put to the test of how his concept of mental balance would hold up when his family’s Davenport home was destroyed in a wildfire. 160 C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • S U M M E R 2 0 2 3