After months of lockdown, David Holzer has finally begun to appreciate how Hungarians feel about not having an ocean anymore. Now he says he is convinced that being unable to see the sea does contribute to a general sense of melancholy.
Apparently, there’s a mental state called the “blue mind.” The phrase was coined by marine biologist Wallace J. Nichols for his book of the same name. Nichols studied the effects of water on our health and well-being and concluded that being in, on, under or near water can reduce anxiety and increase our sense of calm.
I believe in the blue mind. Although we live by the majestic Tisza River and I walk along its banks most mornings, it’s not the same as gazing out across an expanse of water and being unable to see the other side.
But, in a few days, my Hungarian partner and I will be flying to the ocean with the de facto Hungarian carrier (and with its bases throughout the region something of a Magyar multi itself), Wizz Air.
Read more here.