The Power of an Open View
- Melissa Mitchell
- May 13
- 3 min read
May 13, 2026
One of my favorite things about growing up in West Texas was the wide open space.
We spent a lot of time at Comanche Trail Park exploring the trails, chasing horned toads, watching prairie dogs scurry in and out of their little colonies—and trying to catch the tumbleweeds rolling through, traveling with the wind. It was simple, unstructured time—spent outside, moving, noticing the little things.
It affected me more than I realized at the time.
At the top of Scenic Mountain, the state park offered 360-degree views that seemed to stretch forever. You could stand there and see for miles—nothing blocking your line of sight, nothing closing it in.
That’s where I first fell in love with the horizon.
I didn’t have the words for it at the time, but I understood the feeling.
On one trip to New Mexico as a child, I remember riding the chairlift up the mountain—my mom and I on a single seat, open air, with nothing but sky around us.
I sat there swinging my legs, probably making it rock more than I should have. My mom was terrified. I loved it.
At the top, everything was spread out below us. I remember being in awe of standing in a cloud for the first time. I expected something dramatic—thick and soft. Instead, it felt like nothing at all. Just air, quiet and still, nothing like what I had imagined from below.
That wide open space left an impression I never forgot.
It’s interesting how something so simple stays with you.
Those early experiences—the open land, the quiet, the distance—they didn’t feel significant at the time. But looking back, they shaped the way I respond to things now.
When life begins to feel a little too busy or overwhelming, it’s usually a sign I’ve taken on too much—and that’s when I seek space. A moment to reevaluate. To look out.
More often than not, that shift in perspective is enough.
A Clear View
Living here on the island, it’s the water instead of the mountains—but the experience is much the same. That long, uninterrupted line where the sky meets the distance has a quiet way of settling the mind.
You look out, and your thoughts follow. The open view has a way of putting things in place.
When nothing is visually crowding you, it becomes easier to sort through what’s been weighing on your mind. Thoughts feel less tangled. Problems don’t disappear, but they tend to feel more manageable.
It’s not something you have to work at—it just happens.
We spend so much of our time surrounded by walls, screens, and constant input. The brain is constantly processing what’s right in front of us—edges, movement, noise, decisions. It stays in a kind of low-level alert mode, even when we don’t realize it.
An open horizon changes that.
When you’re looking out at something far away, your eyes relax. You’re not focused on details just inches from your face. That shift alone can ease mental fatigue and help you feel more settled—that's the power of an open view.
With fewer visual interruptions, the brain doesn’t have as much to sort through. That constant scanning slows down. Your breathing often follows. Your shoulders drop a little without you thinking about it.
It’s a natural reset.
Not being able to see the end of the view makes ideas feel less limited. Decisions don’t feel as boxed in. There’s a quiet sense that there’s more beyond whatever is right in front of you.
The best part is how little it takes. A few minutes standing at the water’s edge. A walk along the shoreline. Even just sitting and looking out for a moment without distraction.
It’s often enough to clear your head and start fresh.
It’s a simple shift in perspective—making it easier to take our next steps with a clearer mind.
So the next time life starts to feel a little loud, take advantage of the horizon just outside your door—and let it bring you back to a place of clarity and calm.
The Art of Island Life will return next week with more stories and coastal reflections.
Have a story to share or a cause close to your heart? I’d love to hear from you at contact@melissamitchellart.com
14646 Compass Street, Suite 10
The Island—Corpus Christi, Texas 78418
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