The other day as I was walking the dogs, I saw this car window sticker "live salty". I always wondered about it. I have seen various combinations of this logo. Turns out it is another type of beach and water sport active wear, capitalizing on the easy breezy life on the water type lifestyle.

Of course the word salty has many connotations: earthy, colorful, spicy, racy, risque, naughty, vulgar, rude, seasoned, tough, aggressive. Salt of the earth refers to one who is reliable, trustworthy and straightforward. Salt as a spice can enhance the flavor of other ingredients. Salt also was traditionally used as a food preservative. (Still is if you ever have had a Smithfield ham.) Salt as a mineral has many uses: See modern survival guide. Saline which is the the solution of salt suspended in water is an integral part of the body's composition. We need salt for our cells to properly function and to be healthy.

I like the image of salty living. It reminds me of things that are basic, fundamentally good and necessary for survival. I like the idea of living a life that is colorful and earthy; one that celebrates and enjoys each day as it enfolds yet being grounded in relationships and the needs of others. Salty living also reminds me to try and enhance the essence of people around me; can I say and do things that bring out the best in others?

Finally I like the idea of the salty life reminding me of the beach lifestyle. For me, time at the beach brings a different cadence and rhythm to my days. I am more in tune to the basic and fundamentally good things of life and life's ebbs and flows. A salty life reminds me of what is important.

What about you? Have you ever thought about something as basic as salt? Does the salty life appeal to you? In what ways can you enhance the lives of those around you?