Blog Post 9

The Ocean

    The ocean has always been very special to me, and it holds a near and dear place in my heart. I grew up in San Diego, CA, and, until I went to college, I was always within a 20 minute drive from the water. I find myself missing the beach when I am away at school. I miss the crisp ocean breeze, the sound of the crashing waves, and the salty air sticking to my skin. Most of all, I miss the walks on the sand with my family and friends. This was our chance to unwind and reconnect, especially after being separated for months at a time. There is something about the setting of the beach that makes all your problems seem to float away with the breeze and the current. We drift along the sand carelessly, as if we are one of the shells washed ashore, and just unpack anything and everything that is on our minds.
    These are the kinds of activities I enjoy most when I go back home to San Diego for breaks, and while I indulged in my usual beach walks over Thanksgiving break, I also participated in another activity that gave the ocean a whole new meaning for me. The shore has always been a place of solace and happiness for me, a place where I go to collect my thoughts or unwind and disconnect from the world. However, I now see it in a different light.
    I recently lost a friend of mine, the first loss I have experienced of someone my age. This was something I was really struggling with, and I really did not know how to process my feelings. There was a paddle out ceremony offered in honor of him the day after Thanksgiving, and I am very happy that I attended. This consisted of a gathering on the sand, preceding everyone paddling out into the waves and meeting in a circle past wave break. At first, the grief me, along with everyone else, was feeling seemed heavy. However, once the paddle out started this grief was almost lifted as stories and memories were shared upon the bobbing current. Like so many times before, my own negative thoughts or feelings drifted off into the vast ocean. I hadn’t realized the true power of the current until this moment, and while I wish it had been under different circumstances, I am grateful for this experience.
    Overall, I will forever hold this connection to the ocean, as it has provided me with an outlet to express my feelings and find peace. There is almost a comforting sensation knowing that I am such a small part of this world, and that the ocean is what connects me with people far beyond my scope of knowledge.

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