Blue Spaces and the Art of Being

Water, whether in seas, rivers or bathtubs, has been a companion in my life journey, and, more recently, it has helped me to recentre and find stillness, physically, emotionally and spiritually. In this reflective essay, the author draws on the concept of blue spaces as a site of memory, connection and healing to make sense of her life in England as a Polish woman/academic/mother/wife/other. To deepen this reflective essay, the author includes short pieces of writing throughout, inspired by Bernardine Evaristo’s ‘fusion fiction’ style of writing and storytelling, devoid of conventional grammar and spelling rules. By using this approach, the author wishes to invite you, the reader, to (re)take these significant journeys with her, while also encouraging greater freedom and creativity in reflective writing.