Ask any surfer—or person who loves being near the water—and they’ll tell you that “the ocean heals.” The saltwater, rhythm of the waves and tides, and even the silence of open water are all known to be therapeutic.

On warm spring mornings, kayakers glide past downtown Chicago’s glass towers, their paddles cutting through water that reflects the skyline in shimmering blue. Along the riverwalk, joggers and families pause to watch herons stalk fish near the shoreline. It is a scene that today feels ordinary, almost serene.