Hello, everyone. Melissa is super-busy with a project where she does a short podcast episode every day in the month of August, so she asked a friend to fill in for her. Please welcome MeMe del Mare, Actual Woman of the Sea, to the Breathing Spaces Family.
Caring for others, whether family, friends, or community, can feel like navigating unpredictable waters. Some days are smooth sailing, while others crash in like storm waves. That’s why tending to your own mental health isn’t just important — it’s essential.
I’m MeMe del Mare, Actual Woman of the Sea, and though my perspective may come with a splash of saltwater, I promise the heart of it applies on land just as well. Today, I want to talk about something I call a Sea State of Mind — a way of checking in with yourself, honoring your emotional tides, and giving yourself permission to drift, float, or swim strong depending on the day.
You know, even under the sea, mental health matters. We’ve got the same stressors as land-walkers — deadlines, drama, the occasional existential kraken — just with more salt.
I’ve learned that some days, my brain feels like a riptide: strong, unpredictable, and determined to drag me somewhere I didn’t plan on going. On those days, I don’t try to outswim it — I float. I let the current carry me until I can paddle again.
And we have our coping strategies down here. Some mermaids meditate in a quiet kelp forest. Some journal in shells. Personally, I like to scream into the deep trench — not in anger, just to hear the echo. It’s very cathartic, and the squid usually cheer.
The thing is, it’s okay not to be a perfectly calm lagoon all the time. Sometimes you’re a storm surge, and that’s fine. Take your rest where you can, check on your pod, and if you need help, wave a flag — or a piece of driftwood — so someone can find you.
Because no matter how deep the ocean gets, you’re never really swimming alone.
MeMe’s Mermaid Mental Health Tips
- Find Your Quiet Cove – Even the busiest reef has a little hidden spot where you can just breathe. Claim it. Defend it. Nap in it.
- Float Days Are Valid – You don’t have to “make waves” every tide. Some days are for drifting and letting the current do the work.
- Check On Your Pod – Sometimes your fellow mermaids look fine but are secretly battling a riptide. Swim by and say hello.
- Laugh Into the Abyss – It’s scarier when it’s silent. Make the deep laugh with you. Bonus points if you confuse a squid.
- Don’t Compare Tails – Everyone’s swim looks different. Your journey is yours — glitter level optional.
More of MeMe del Mare’s wit and wisdom, as well as some other things, can be heard on The Bathtub Mermaid: Tales from the Tub.
This is delightful! Such a fun spin on a crucial topic. It’s been a tough day, and this gave me a light to see a different path. Thank you ~ floating now!
Thank you for this….even though I’m a land walker, I’d love to go for a quiet swim with you anytime!