It’s the Circle of Life… or Maybe It’s Just Marissa Hula Hooping

Posted:  July 15, 2024
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The sun bled through our portlight window similarly to Max’s toe on the dance floor the night prior. I still couldn’t believe how he managed to bust it up so badly on the very first night of the town party. But while he and Karen were surely assessing the damage with sober eyes, we were across the bay preparing our morning coffee with a magical jungle backdrop. Yelapa, Jalisco

Mama Neely and an Iguana in Yelapa

Mama Neely with an Iguana in Yelapa

Yelapa was peaceful this time of year and the anchorage was less rolly than remembered which was good since we had Mama Neely aboard. As the morning melted into day we loaded up the dinghy and made our way to shore to share this slice of paradise with Mama Neely – which was easier said than done since Yelapa is primarily all stairs and she had just hurt her knee skiing a week prior. There is no slowing that woman down no matter how hard the universe tries! In addition to her knee injury, I was in a bit of a mental funk similar to what I felt in Escondido, but fortunately not as severe. I was learning that no matter how far we sail, it won’t ever be enough to outrun depression which will always find me, even in a jungle paradise. 

I understand that to some people it seems ridiculous or even selfish to admit that I’m depressed or struggle with depressive episodes when I live such a wonderful life. However, what social media often doesn’t show is the mental and physical strain this lifestyle can put on us or anybody choosing to go against the grain. We deal with unpredictable weather, things breaking down, loved ones sailing away, and plans going awry—all of which can compound into negative moments. It’s like encountering a dark painting in an otherwise bright and cheerful art collection at a museum. That one dark painting can leave a lasting impression, overshadowing all the other beautiful pieces. That’s how it feels for me, anyways. 

We were riding the high of friendship for so long, the excitement of the eclipse, the joy of birthday parties, and the vibrant energy of town celebrations that filled our days with light and laughter. But then, it all came to a screeching halt. Friends scattered halfway across the globe, the eclipse faded into a memory, and the birthday candles were blown out, leaving only remnants of what happened. The stark contrast was jarring. The bustling days turned into quiet nights, and I found myself more alone with my thoughts.

As someone who feels deeply, the sudden sense of solitude was overwhelming. The highs of recent events made the lows feel even lower. The absence of the camaraderie and celebration left a void that was hard to fill. I was inundated with a wave of emotions that I couldn’t quite understand or articulate at the time. The change of pace forced me to confront emotions that had been masked by the busyness and excitement, leaving me in a state of confusion and introspection which (unfortunately) overlapped with my mother-in-laws visit – not the best time to isolate. Even with the big feelings of “sad” I did my best to keep the spark of joy alive and did things to keep myself moving in a forward momentum to escape the sinking pit of sadness I had one foot in. Luckily, my new collapsible hula hoop was just the tool I needed.

Burros in Yelapa

Primary transportation in Yelapa, shot on Olympus-OM1, 50 mm lens, Kodak gold film

Hula Hoop To Keep the Sad Away

After a short walk around Yelapa, we found ourselves sitting at the Yacht club which was closed for the season. While Chris and his mom chatted on the vacant bench, I assembled my hoop and got to tossing the circle around. Our friend Nixie (who is a feng shui and chi master in addition to being a sustainability goddess and sailor) recently shared with me that my love for hula hooping is good for my mental health. How? It’s working with chi! Both practices involve creating a continuous, rhythmic motion that requires coordination, balance, and control. They emphasize the importance of maintaining a steady flow of energy—whether it’s the physical momentum of the hoop or the internal life force in chi practices like Tai Chi and Qigong. Both activities promote mindfulness by requiring present-moment focus, and they offer physical and mental benefits such as improved strength, flexibility, and stress reduction. Ultimately, they harmonize body and mind through the integration of deliberate, flowing movements which assists with moving stagnant energy (and emotions) while encouraging the feel-good vibes. A bit hippy dippy, but if it works it works, right?

The sun was setting and the familiar smell of beach fires filled the air, reminding me of our Yelapa adventure the year prior with our pals Jay and Kenna from Sitka, who felt very far away. I tried not to sink into the feeling of nostalgia, keeping my focus on the “now”. Chris was a good sport and continued to try and keep me in a good mindset, even succumbing to playing one of my favorite (and his most hated) games: Bananagrams. It was a mellow evening afloat, and although I was starting to feel a bit better the shadow of “sad” remained in the corner of my eye.

Marissa Neely shoots film photo of Chris and Mama Neely aboard Avocet

Chris and mama Neely enjoying a moment aboard avocet, captured on Kodak Gold film

Everything is Mexican Food When You’re In Mexico

Ala Braza La CruzMama Neely was shocked to learn that our favorite places to eat in town were not “Mexican” food places. Of course we enjoyed street tacos, but more often than not when we went out to dinner it was at Falconi’s Italian, La Brasa BBQ, or (of course) Lusty on Land. There aren’t many sit-down “mexican food” places in non-touristy areas, and when you find one the quality is usually subpar and over priced… precisely why we opt for other options. With that said, we took her on tour to our favorite places, “Mexican” and not, including our favorite birria place in Bucerias so she could understand what her youngest son had been raving about for an entire year. Luckily, it did not disappoint. 

After one more day of lounging by Max and Karen’s pool, we had a farewell dinner for Mama Neely at the aforementioned Ala Brasa which had become sort-of a tradition. Last year before we sailed off into the unknown, Chris had ordered a cheeseburger, 12 wings, fries and fried pineapple leaving no crumbs behind – it was impressive. That evening we reminisced about her week-long visit that included the town party, enjoying the very last Sunday market of the season, Yelapa, and lounging by the pool at Casa Lusty. It was crazy to think it was already May, and in a couple of short months we would see her again but on California soil. 

The following day after morning coffee (use coupon code svavocet) she and Chris departed to the airport while I stayed behind on Avocet to clean and prepare for our next guest who was arriving the following day. There was only one night of the town party left, and I needed to muster up all of my strength to enjoy it, and inspire our dear friend to stay awake since he would be running on two hours of sleep… but that’s a story for the next blog post. 

One last thing…

When I sit down to write about these heavier toned times, it initially bums me out because I feel like I don’t have much to say. I was too caught up in my own sadness to appreciate the little things that I love to elaborate on in blog posts… but then im reminded that using my voice to share that I have sad feelings too might be enough to inspire someone to talk about their dark feelings, and get the help and reassurance they need that they are not alone and it is OKAY to feel sad! I will always be an advocate for mental health, and hope our readers know that this is a safe place. Our DM’s are always open. I am so glad you are here, dear reader, and look forward to writing more for you soon. 

Sincerely yours, 

Marissa

Author Marissa Neely

 




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