While winter fly-fishing in Aspen, Colorado, I was reminded of the immortal quote from author Norman Maclean in his best-seller, A River Runs Through It. The river symbolizes the passage of time and the passage of life, as it runs over rocks and carries timeless raindrops, suggesting that the past is not just a memory but a part of our identity. This story-ending quote encapsulates the idea that we are always in some way affected by the waters of our past, whether it be through our memories, experiences, or the cycles of nature that shape our lives.
Have you ever wondered why mankind is attracted to the source of water? While Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs would define water as fundamental to the physiological needs of man, the other four tiers above this foundation are more the psychological needs, such as safety, love or belonging, esteem, and self-actualization.
There are even scientific studies by marine biologist Wallace J. Nichols that suggest that the Blue Mind Effect is a state of calm and focused mental state induced by being in, under, or near water. This effect is believed to have positive psychological and physiological impacts, contributing to better mental health and well-being. The Blue Mind Effect can be achieved through various water-related activities and sensory experiences, such as swimming, bathing, or simply observing water. It is a natural way to reduce stress, improve mood, and enhance creativity.
Thirty years ago this October, my wife and I bought a home on Lake Cypress Springs. Some people have defined this area of The Lone Star State, The Upper East Side. This is not to be confused with the affluence of the Upper East Side of Central Park between 59th and 96th streets in Manhattan, New York. No, our wealth is generated by something entirely different.
Don’t get me wrong, Lake Cypress Springs is a beautiful lake and has been mentioned in D-Magazine of Dallas, Texas, as The Most Beautiful Lake in Texas. Additionally, we felt at this stage of our lives as empty nesters, that our Blue Mind Effect could certainly be fulfilled here.
However, the lake brought us here, but something else kept us here. It was our multi-denominational churches. It was our National Merit Scholarship school. It was our local law enforcement. It was our small businesses as well as our large regional employers.
It was our Country Festival in October, our Annual Bike-a-Thon, our Fourth of July Fireworks over the lake, our Rotary, Chamber of Commerce, Franklin County Industrial Foundation, and small-town government. In short, it was our “COMMUNITY.” Former First Lady of Texas Anita Perry named our COMMUNITY a “Texas Treasure City.”
If I could be so bold as to paraphrase the late Professor of Literature at the University of Chicago, Norman Maclean, he might say:
The Big Cypress Bayou was formed from the basement of time. With the help of mankind, creeks, streams, and tributaries all united to form Lake Cypress Springs. But, in the end, all these things merged into one, and the Treasure of Mount Vernon, Texas runs through it.
Blessings, m2
