I wholeheartedly adore “Gift From The Sea” and can’t recommend it enough. It truly is the perfect present for a cherished friend, sister, mother, or even a delightful treat for yourself to savor and revisit time and again. Its concise nature is an added bonus, making it a wonderfully quick yet impactful read. While you can find professional critiques elsewhere, let me share my personal experience with this remarkable book.
This wasn’t my first encounter with “Gift from the Sea.” I initially read it around the age of 18, on the cusp of leaving for college. My mother, a longtime admirer of the book who always kept copies both at home and her office, suggested it to me. I remember enjoying it then, even meticulously noting down favorite quotes in my planner. Recently, I rediscovered those old notes – a nostalgic trip down memory lane! Back then, at 18, my life was in a state of flux: my parents were divorcing, our family was relocating, and I was preparing to move away for university. Unsurprisingly, the quotes that resonated most with me revolved around themes of separation. One poignant line by Anne Morrow Lindbergh that I noted was: “Parting is inevitably painful, even for a short time. It’s like an amputation, I feel a limb is being torn off, without which I shall be unable to function. And yet, once it is done…life rushes back into the void, richer, more vivid and fuller than before.”
I was also grappling with identity and purpose at that age, and another quote I underlined reflected this: “…When one is a stranger to one’s self then one is a estranged from others too. If one is out of touch with oneself, then one cannot touch others.” I vividly recall being moved to tears while reading, feeling a profound connection, as if Anne Morrow Lindbergh truly understood my innermost feelings.
Now, revisiting “Gift from the Sea” at 34, it’s like encountering an entirely different book. This time, I found myself laughing in recognition, thinking, “Anne Morrow Lindbergh still gets me!”
Lindbergh masterfully uses the metaphor of seashells to represent the various stages of a woman’s life. The oyster shell analogy particularly struck me. She likens it to the phase of marriage and raising a family – seemingly ordinary, perhaps even a bit lumpy, firmly rooted, with life’s barnacles clinging to it. This resonated deeply with my current experience of a home bustling with children, toys scattered around, bikes in the driveway, a constant flow of friends, and an energizing chaos. She eloquently describes how women’s lives become incredibly full with responsibilities: countless meals to prepare, housework, childcare, pets, personal hobbies, friends, children’s friends, activities, children’s activities, community commitments, and the needs of their partners. In this whirlwind, it’s easy for women to neglect their own need for renewal and personal time. Reflecting on that quote I noted at 18 about being a stranger to oneself, it takes on a completely new and richer meaning at 34, within this context of a full and demanding life.
I also gained a deeper appreciation for her insights into the different phases of marriage. My favorite quote from this reread was: “Love isn’t gazing at each other…it is standing side by side and looking in the same direction.” This simple yet profound statement encapsulates a mature and enduring understanding of partnership.
“Gift from the Sea”‘s enduring appeal and longevity, I believe, stem from its profound and universal truths about the female experience. It beautifully illustrates that as women, we share more commonalities than differences, and these truths transcend time and generations. I eagerly anticipate reading this book again at 50, and then at 80, to see if Anne Morrow Lindbergh continues to “get” me. Somehow, I have a strong feeling she will. This book is truly a timeless gift, offering wisdom and solace across different stages of life, making it a perfect gift from the sea to give or to receive.
