If you’re doing online classes like me, or you’re an adult who’s working from home, many of us feel the same way. We feel drained because we are not used to a situation like this. We feel tired and experience body pains because of sitting all day. Sometimes, we even break down.

During these trying times, it is very important to take care of our mental health. Each one of us has our own unique way of relieving stress: eating, drawing, gardening, reading, and much more. But let me ask you something, does one of your ways of coping with stress include being one with nature?

Last Monday, on our day off, my family and I decided to go to the beach to watch the sunset and be away from our phones. In short, we can rest our eyes for a while and just enjoy God’s creation. It was the perfect weather to go to one, because it’s warm.

We went to the Leo Carrillo State Beach located in Malibu. There were not many people but we still kept a distance and wore masks.

We found creatures like anemones in the tide pools. We even found a baby octopus! After that, we took pictures, sat down on the sand, and watched the

beautiful sunset. The soothing sounds of the waves and the gentle breeze were really calming. Stress slowly faded and I felt recharged. It was a much-needed break.

I asked Dianne Regoso about what she thinks of people who go to the beach during this pandemic. “I see these people to be very brave. Brave in the sense that they are comfortable going out in the public amidst the pandemic. We all know that the virus is unseen, therefore there is no assurance that those people will get it or not,” she said.

I also asked Regoso if she would encourage others to do the same and she said, “I see these actions as one of the reasons why the curve is not flattening. After all, staying at home is one of the main precautionary protocols that prevent the virus from spreading. I just hope and pray that they will be safe.”

While Janine Sevilla thinks that these people are just “living their lives” to the fullest, which is not a bad thing. “As long as they wear masks and keep a distance, I think they were enjoying in a safe manner. Also, the beach is an open area. All I can say is that it’s not wrong to try to have fun as long as we do it safely. Prevention is better than hospitalization,” she stated.

With that said Mustangs, let us always apply safety protocols wherever we go. Better safe than sorry!