I must be a mermaid: Choosing depth over surface
I’ve always had a thing for mermaids. I love the quote:
” I must be a mermaid. I have no fear of depth, and a great fear of shallow living ”
(It may have even been my msn username back in 2005 -iykyk.)
Deep, mermaid-hued colours like emerald call to me. Small talk? Exhausting. I tend to overshare and dive straight into the deep stuff. Half-in relationships, safe zones, and surface-level living don’t interest me. I’m all in, always.
Relationships aren’t just between people
I believe relationships exist not only between people but also between people and places. When I travel, I want complete immersion: to meet the people, savour the tastes and smells, and reach a point where my body feels settled, at home, in a place.
In the Western world, we value hustle. ”Busy” is a status symbol:
”How have you been?”
”Yeah, just so busy”
Connection, immersion, and quality are fleeting – especially in our relationships, families, and communities.
The cruise ship village
My experience of ”the village” here in Australia feels like my first and last cruise holiday: surface- level, coming ashore only for the highlights, avoiding the wild, but hoping for a bit of whimsy.
Through travel, I hope our children can understand the real meaning of ”village”. That they might learn deep connection, not just to people, but also to places – and come to expect relationships that are rich and thorough. A ”cruise ship village” simply won’t do.
A note on cruising holidays
While cruising isn’t for me at this stage of life, I remain open to change. Cruise holidays can be a wonderful option for families, offering great value and an easier alternative to navigating airports and transfers with little ones.
Raising little mermaids/mermen
Just as Ariel swam beyond her familiar world, I hope our children grow as little merpeople themselves – fearless, curious, and unafraid of the deep. To know people, to know places, and to demand relationships that are real, not surface-level.
Through travel, through connection, and through immersion, I hope they learn to embrace life fully, never settling for the shallow waters. This is the village I hope we can show them, and it’s the kind of depth I want in our own lives too.
Disclaimer: These reflections are about societal trends, not any one person. If this resonates, or you’d like to explore further, please visit my other blog, @anahatahive.
