Sonal Madala, Week 14: Ocean Tides
One of my earliest memories is going to Half Moon Bay, watching the tides roll and riding a pony at a farm near the beach. I do not remember my room or the home I lived in at the time, but I remember the beach, the waves’ lullaby, the salty breeze against my skin, the wind messing up my hair, and the warm touch of my mom's hands.
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For me, the beach has always been more than the meeting of the sand and the sea, it's been a haven, a place where I feel most at peace, most connected to myself and the world around me. Growing up in South San Francisco on the Peninsula, my parents made it a tradition to take me to spend weekends at the beach, my favorite part of every week. And with each visit, my love for the beach only grew deeper.
To me, there’s something somehow eerily soothing about the flow of the tides, reminding me of life’s cyclical nature and the idea of how “what goes around, comes around.” The feeling of sand in my toes, the warm sun on my back, spelling my name in the sand all make me forget all of my worries and ground me and help me remember to appreciate what I have and to enjoy every day to the fullest.
All of this time near the water eventually sparked my love for swimming. From the first time I dipped my toes into the water, I was hooked. I felt a sense of freedom that comes with gliding through the water, weightless and centered, a sense of tranquility. Now, I get to pass this love to young children as a swim teacher as I help them navigate the calming nature of water.
Looking back, I realize that my love for swimming is intrinsically tied to those early memories of the beach by surrendering myself to the embrace of the sea. In many ways, the beach and swimming have become my sanctuary, my safe haven in this overwhelming world that can. And as I continue to navigate life's ever-changing currents, I find solace in knowing that like the ocean, life is never stagnant, and everyday is a new challenge.
Hi Sonal! I love how you took a personal and reflective approach to the topic of memory because I feel like memory is really such a personal and unique part of our minds. Our emotions are deeply tied to our memories and there are times when just thinking about a certain memory can bring a certain feeling associated with that memory despite not understanding why you feel that way. They can also be tied to certain places or objects like, for example, the beach. For me that happens with certain music. There was a period when I listened to one particular artist while I was reading a series of books. Now, whenever I hear that artist’s music, I feel almost as if I am transported back into that fantastical world and I feel like strong sense of nostalgia. Also your description of the beach and the feeling you associate with it was so beautiful. I could feel the nostalgia and feeling of childhood that you have at the beach and I can really tell that you love visiting.
ReplyDeleteSonal, your eloquent way of describing the beach and its significance to you was beautiful. I, also like you, got my love for swimming from the beach. As a kid growing up in Burma, I loved going to the beach because it wasn't frigid like it is in California. The water felt amazing to be in and I never wanted to leave. When it rained, I would love playing in it. I just loved water. It all started from my roots. Similarly, I remember my moments at the beach more than anything else. Memory works beautifully in its reminder of the fun I had. These memories developed into something greater as I grew up. To this day, I love swimming. Pools, lakes, beaches, rivers, anything that was safe enough to swim in was on my list. Overall, your blog was very relatable and I love that you also love swimming.
ReplyDeleteHello Sonal, I found this to be a great way to really dive deeper into your passion for swimming. I knew that you were a swim teacher, but I did not know that your love for beaches is what sparked it all. It's really amazing to me the way that we're able to remember the highlights of our lives, and let everything else fade into the background. Like you said, you were able to remember the touch of your mother's hands, and the visual aesthetic of the beach. But you were not able to remember the house or the room you lived in at the time. Isn't that crazy? You were able to remember the most important thing. The feeling. You write so eloquently that I can almost visualize exactly what you're talking about and exactly how the feelings was supposed to feel. I think you've done a wonderful job of using vivid imagery in your blog. It really brought me back to my own experiences at the beach, which evidently were not at pleasant as yours since I don't share that same passion for swimming that you do. But jokes aside, what I found even more interesting is how you began to seek "solace" in the waters and how the ocean became an escape for you. I really loved how you were able to tie the ocean back to important messages in your life, with how life is never stagnant. I think that says a lot about the connection we feel to certain worldly things and what they mean to us and how we interpret them. It makes me think about my own passions. Of course I have theatre, I think it's pretty loud in my personality, but I find myself resonating and feelings more connected to trees. Like water, they remain swaying, going with the flow. Maybe I could learn a thing or two from nature. I know I already have learned a lot from your blog! Overall, great job on this blog. I think it was beautifully done!
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