The sea is full of secrets and lessons. Every wave has a moral at its end, and they all go back to the beginning.
The first sight of the beach from the rocks and it gives the impression of being full of passion and life, surging with strength and power, roaring and wild. Like a lion - its eyes staring at me; I feel a strange urge pulling me to the shores faster than my feet can take me there, beckoning me seductively, calling me softly, so irresistible. The rocks don't seem to obstruct my path; everything else dissolves and I find myself standing on the shore, facing the luscious sea.
There is a deeper reason for everything that happens, and I strongly believe this; so I stand here silently waiting for something to happen next. I have to ask the question, "Why am I really here?"
"To learn," says a voice inside me. "Look, observe and listen; we will teach you invaluable lessons, and reveal to you the answers that you relentlessly seek."
I smile; I'm hearing voices in my head now. The sea is intoxicating my senses. I step closer to the approaching waves and the moist sand feels supple yet firm under my feet. The iciness of the first wave rushing over my feet runs a chill throughout my entire body and excites my senses.
"For I am what is attained at the end of desire!" The words immediately come to my mind and I feel the presence of the divine all around me. She consumes my senses and I realize that she is here, now - speaking to me.
"Walk with me," she says. I walk along the water's edge, sometimes looking down and noticing the broken shells along the shoreline, my senses keen and alert; occasionally I close my eyes and try to listen for that inner voice to direct me again.
"Stop. Listen for a while," she gently instructs, reminding me that for every decision I make, I have the choice to act on it.
I turn to face the sea and watch the murky waves, agitated by the monsoons, each trying to outrun the other but all in perfect unison.
"This is life. It is never calm and perfect, the way you wish it were. Sometimes it gets dark and murky. It rushes to shore, halts for a split second, then rolls back into the busy sea. Don't be afraid, come closer."
I find myself walking into the disturbed waters, ignoring the monsoon prohibition signs.
"Be careful. Not too far in..."
A wave rushes at my feet and takes my breath away again. I have to consciously take a deep breath to fill my lungs with air. I close my eyes and acknowledge this presence stronger than me.
I am ready. I feel ready. The lessons begin...
"Life is something you cannot avoid. Your purpose is to live, learn and enjoy. Sometimes everything can seem to close down on you, but watch...they all return to wherever they came from. They leave, seeming to take away the sand from beneath your feet; you feel like you're about to lose balance. When you feel like the earth is about to give way and swallow you whole - wait. There will be another wave to come fill the gaps. Look up, here comes a big one. Don't be embarrassed to run away from it, if it seems too big for you to cope with. You may not be able to entirely outrun it but at least you won't be taken in by it."
I look down and watch the waves rush over my bare feet; with each wave comes a new lesson. I stand still and the waves keep rolling over my feet, the sand melting under them, my toes curling and trying to hold on tighter to the dissipating sand.
"You hold on to the past too much. The tighter you clutch onto those memories, the more disappointed and lost you will feel. Take a step back and stand on solid ground.
"Now again, walk with me..."
I walk along the water's edge, away from the crowds.
"Look down. What do you see?'
"Broken shells, lots of them."
"What do you think they represent?"
"People?"
"They are like people in your life. The ones you think have left you broken and incomplete. They themselves were not complete, how could they complete you? On occasion there came along someone you thought was different than the rest. Don't stop walking, remember to take it all in stride."
The waves aren't reaching me anymore.
"When you are tired, the earth understands. She will tell you that it's time for you to rest, but only if you are attentive will you hear her. Then when you're ready, the waves will come forward to meet you. Take notice and start out to meet them head on."
Standing on the water's edge, I look back into the sea, letting the waves express their wisdom. I have but one perpetual question remaining: "What lies ahead?"
"Look to the horizon, where the sea is calmer. Don't worry about the future," she reassures. "All in due time. You will be ready. Look up, you are not alone."
Looking up, I see the clouds and am reminded that some days life is so beautiful that it makes up for all the hurt and pain. Every day I learn to deal with my hardships, which makes me a stronger woman; I am a better person for everything that happens to me.
The sea is full of secrets and wisdom. Every wave has a moral at its end, and they all go back to the beginning.
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