ocean memories

oceans breathe in waves

cerulean existence

a salty freedom

Sometimes, less is more. Lately, I have been trying to focus on what is important for me in the present, and I thought writing a haiku would be a good practice for this. 5-7-5: the number of syllables per line. Only three lines total. Every word counts and carries a strong meaning.

I visited Florida this past week - a place filled with thousands of tiny moments now stored in my mind as sweet memories. Being the owner of memories is not always easy. Even if the memory is filled with happiness, it can be sad to realize that moment is no longer accessible.

The ocean has always sent me into a bit of a trance: Such beauty. A life force. Simultaneously selfish and selfless. Filled with the memories of billions of creatures. At risk of irreversible damage by outsiders. Ever flowing, ever moving, ever breathing in the form of tides and waves and whirlpools. Simply existing in its complexity, not asking for more.

Walking on the beach recharges my body, as if every step in the sand offers me the gift of making my mark, taking up space in the shape of footprints. It also humbles me, knowing my prints will be washed away within seconds of the next tide. Evidence of my presence lasts only a moment in time, but nevertheless, it is a moment. Life is only made of moments. We can mourn those that have passed, we can savor those that happen now, and we can hope for those that will come.

I am grateful for my ocean memories.