The Warmth of Companionship

Susann Herrmann
Clinical & Occup. Psychologist, MA
London | Isle of Wight, UK

A digital illustration of flowing wind waves.

This work often begins as an individual exploration

And yet, along the way, it becomes clear how much we are supported by one another — and how important companionship can be.

Simple moments of connection, shared experience, and the sense of not being alone can make a meaningful difference.

This is true not only in everyday life, but also within the spaces I offer — whether in individual conversations or in group settings — where a sense of shared presence and human connection often becomes part of the process itself.

The poem below, Tides of Us, grew out of a sea swimming group that has become a meaningful part of my life.

It reflects something simple and essential:
that warmth, care, and companionship can carry us.

A large group of people, including children and adults, posing outdoors on a sunny day with buildings and a street in the background. Some are sitting, some are standing, and there is a dog in front. The group appears to be enjoying a casual outdoor gathering.
A large group of people, including children and adults, posing outdoors on a sunny day with buildings and a street in the background. Some are sitting, some are standing, and there is a dog in front. The group appears to be enjoying a casual outdoor gathering.
Yellow object with black text that reads, "Individually, we are one drop. Together, we are an ocean" and the name "Ryunosuke Satoro" at the bottom.

Tides of Us

In 2022,
when the mornings were still soft with possibility at the Bay
and only a handful of us gathered by the sea,
something simple - and extraordinary - began.  

Just a few voices, just a few footsteps on the shingle,
just a few brave splashes into the sea.
We heard the call of the water
and felt a shared sense that this was something worth showing up for.

And then - as tides do - it grew.

From a handful of swimmers
to more than fifty hearts
woven together in a single WhatsApp thread,
a living tide of messages, laughter,
“Who’s in today?”
and “See you at the Bay.”

We meet in the morning,
and the sea greets us like an old friend.
We meet later in the day,
when life has had its say -
sometimes calm, sometimes wild.
We meet under full moons,
silver light dancing on the surface of the water,
as if the sky itself were swimming alongside us.

And each time -
no matter the hour,
no matter the weather,
no matter how cold the dip feels -
there is warmth.
A warmth not from the sun or the sea,
but from the company we keep.

It’s in the shared smiles, the easy conversations,
the steadying presence of people who understand
that swimming is never just swimming.
That companionship can be as healing as saltwater.
That being together is its own kind of buoyancy.

What we have built here is more than a group.
It is a circle of care,
a tide of kindness,
a community held gently
between the cliffs and the waves.

From those first few souls in 2022
to the vibrant gathering we are today -
we are proof that small beginnings
can grow into something incredible.

And as long as the sea welcomes us,
as long as Freshwater Bay
continues to open her arms,
we will keep meeting,
keep swimming,
keep sharing warmth
in the water
and in one another.

A tide that rises together.
A companionship that carries us.
A simple beginning -
that turned into something beautiful.

A woman with a red hat and black wetsuit smiling on a beach amidst a crowd of people dressed in warm clothing, with a building and bicycles in the background on a clear sunny day.
Group of people gathering and chatting outdoors on a rocky beach under a blue sky with clouds, some sitting and some standing, with various bags and blankets around.
Person in outdoor clothing, including a hood and glasses, cuddling a white dog with black markings on a rocky beach near the ocean under a clear sky.
Six women standing outdoors, smiling, holding colorful cups, dressed in winter clothing, with thermoses and a picnic table with snacks and drinks in front of them. Two dogs are present, one on a leash and another lying on the ground. In the background are buildings and partly cloudy sky.
Two women with light hair sitting on a stone barrier at the beach, smiling and talking. One is holding a small bottle, possibly sunscreen or water. They are dressed in casual outdoor clothing, with shoes and bags on the ground near them. The background shows a rocky, textured wall.
Three blue wavy lines on a white background.
Older woman standing on a concrete surface near the ocean with big waves crashing behind her, smiling and holding out her arms.
A smiling woman in a yellow beanie, camouflage jacket with pink accents, and black rubber boots sitting on a pebble beach, with a yellow shopping bag nearby.
Group of adults and children sitting on a pebble beach, smiling for the camera, with clothes and backpacks scattered around. A dog stands near the front, and the background features a low concrete wall, a railing, a red lifebuoy, a bicycle, and a blu
A group of people gathered outdoors on a coastal area with rocks and pebbles, some sitting and others standing, all wearing warm clothing. Some are waving at the camera, and there are tables with food and drinks in the foreground. In the background,
Group of seven people, including women, men, and a child, standing outdoors at night on gravel ground, dressed in athletic clothing suitable for cold weather, smiling and posing for the photo.
Group of people sitting on a concrete ledge near the water, some with bags and personal belongings, enjoying a sunny day at the beach.
A young girl standing on a gravel beach holding a tray of cupcakes with pink frosting. She is wearing a towel wrapped around her waist, black water shoes, and has wet hair. There are bags and personal items on the ground behind her, and a concrete wa
A group of people on a beach taking a selfie, with the ocean in the background. They are smiling, waving, and enjoying their time together.
A group of people gathered outdoors on sandy ground, wearing warm clothing and hats, enjoying a social event with some grilling food on portable barbecue grills. The sky is clear and blue.
A group of people gathered on a sandy beach near the water, participating in a barbecue or outdoor gathering. Some are standing around a table with food and supplies, others are socializing or cooking.
Group of people in swimsuits and swim caps wading in the ocean at dusk, with a dog on the beach and a cliff in the background.
A group of mostly elderly people sitting on a concrete embankment beside a beach, with some wearing colorful rain boots, and a few holding cups or bottles, while a man stands near the water, raising his hand to address them. The scene is overcast, an
Two people floating in a body of water, with only their heads and shoulders visible, and the water extending to the horizon.
Group of people around a bonfire on the beach at night, some taking photos, with buildings on the shore and a lighthouse in the distance.
People sitting around a campfire outdoors at night, with a building and dark sky in the background.
A group of women gathered around a fire pit on a sandy surface at night, smiling and enjoying each other's company.

The setting may be different, but the sense of connection and shared presence is much the same.

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