Conversation with the Sea

By: Alexios Rekoutis

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The morning sun breached the sea in the horizon as the cold humidity over the water started to evaporate. The crisp morning air danced across the waves as the songs of birds started to echo around the cove. My feet left deep imprints fading slowly on the chilled sand as I walked towards the crystal water, a shimmering turquoise with a splash of orange under the glare of the rising sun. The first step into the water hit me like a train: A sudden jolt of shock ran up my spine and made me shiver. The next step took me deeper into the unforgivingly frigid water, making my whole body flinch and waves of chills pass from head to toe. I pushed further into the water like a ship in a stormy night, braving the pins and needles that rushed through my body with each footfall. And then it was gone, the pain and suffering that this glassy water had given me disappeared.

My body became one with the refreshing coolness that now surrounded me. A sense of tranquility brought on by the sheer peacefulness of my surroundings washed over me. I continued my journey into the water, the gentle waves embracing my body with a soothing touch. The sounds of nature became magnified as I submerged myself further, my ears filled with the symphony of the sea. The distant cries of seagulls blended harmoniously with the rhythmic lapping of the waves against the shore. As I floated on the surface, my limbs suspended weightlessly, I looked up at the sky, a vast expanse of azure tones. Wispy clouds painted delicate strokes across the expanse, adding a touch of serenity to the scene. The warmth of the sun kissed my skin, filling me with a sense of vitality and renewal.

The underwater world beckoned, inviting me to explore its hidden treasures. I took a deep breath and submerged myself, feeling the cool water envelope my body. The world beneath the surface was a kaleidoscope of colors, with coral reefs spanning out like intricate tapestries. Schools of fish darted by in a mesmerizing display, their vibrant scales catching the sunlight and creating a dazzling spectacle. As I swam among the marine life, time seemed to lose its meaning. The worries and stresses of everyday life were replaced by a profound sense of harmony. I glided through the water with a grace I had never known, my movements synchronized with the flow of the ocean. With each stroke, I felt a deeper connection to the natural world around me. The water embraced me like a mother's gentle caress, cradling me in its vastness. I was in awe at the beauty and complexity of the underwater ecosystem, a delicate balance of life and survival.

Eventually, I emerged from the water, my body glistening with droplets of liquid sunlight. The experience had left an everlasting mark on my soul, a reminder of the power of nature to heal and rejuvenate. As I walked back along the shore, the sand now warmed by the morning sun, I carried with me the renewed sense of tranquility and a profound gratitude for the beauty that surrounded me. The person I was before entering the water was no longer the person standing in the sand at the beach with water dripping off his hair and a towel wrapped around his shoulders.

This new person on the beach was relieved from the stress and anxiety of life, living freely without carrying the weight of past problems like an atlas stone on his shoulders. This person on the beach gave off an aura of purity. I was astonished to find that such a miniscule moment in my life made such a momentous change to my existence. I had never felt this feeling of freeness before, yet I had always known myself to be able to achieve it.

The sea always seems so calm and glassy, until a storm hits. As soon as the winds start to howl and attack the surface of the water, and the slate gray clouds flood the sky, the sea loses its temper. The once clear blue water shifts to a dark navy blue like a toddler with its pacifier being taken away. The waves grabbing and pulling at any boat or person within their reach. Every year the sea claims around 236,000 lives. Behind the sweet and welcoming turquoise liquid lies a mass murderer. The waves can rumble like the belly of the beast, reminding people that the sea, as welcoming and forgiving as it may seem, is not to be underestimated. On most days it shows its tender side, but at the same time it can be the widowmaker of many families. Its two faces exist in perfect duality: the giver of calmness and tranquility, as well as the taker of many lives and souls. The healer and the destroyer. The sea comes in many shapes and sizes and can take on various forms from one day to the next. It can be in several moods too, boiling with anger as well as shimmering with joy.

Despite this danger that lies beneath the surface, the sea always has a grasp on my soul. I always feel a yearning to come back to the sea no matter the conditions. Everytime I face the giant, I feel a sense of yearning for exploration. I feel the need to take another step forward and delve deeper into the secrets of the big blue. It's as if I can hear the whispers of tales from long ago calling me in to find their long lost adventures.

The sea, in its silent monologue, seemed to be teaching me a lesson about life. The first step, indeed, is often the scariest and most difficult, yet it is also the most important. It is the leap into the unknown that separates those who stand at the shore and those who dive into the sea of possibilities. It was the first step that introduced the discomfort, the uncertainty, and the fear of the cold. But it also opened the door to the enchantment beneath the surface, to the boundless tranquility and the rhythm of the sea.