The theme of the inaugural issue of Odyssa Magazine is “Sea,” chosen because any trip taken in, on, or near the water has the potential to be powerful. This month’s articles include some tips for family boating, why I love to travel to fishing villages in all of their incarnations, and a reflection on how we think about our human relationship to the world and the sea.

Eating fish is also part of our relationship with the water, and where we get that fish and how to cook it to golden perfection are featured, too.

I am excited to publish a short work of fiction by an up-and-coming writer. Each month will feature a short story that resonates with the issue’s theme.

The ocean is a distinctive place in the world where it can be easier get away from manufactured and mediated experiences. When I am in or near the water I am hyperaware. This quality of attention you give yourself and others when in a new element is unmatched. Pay attention. Spend time. Be present, even in difficult or uncomfortable situations. This is why I love travel, and why I take my kids traveling. It forces you to develop resilience and live in the world, physically, intellectually, emotionally (and it’s fun).

“For whatever we lose (like a you or a me), It’s always our self we find in the sea.” -E.E. Cummings

Check back weekly for new articles, and look forward to Issue No. 2 in May, “Go,” focusing on adventure and off-the-beaten-path experiences.