Of Calmer Sea and Warmer Shore: A Walk in Serenity in this Corner I Call Home

Remember when we were young? When we couldn't wait to grow up?

And only to realize that growing up is a trap. I mean, don't get me wrong. I know growing old is a privilege but being an adult is scary sometimes, isn't it? It's finding yourself spinning along with life's exhausting and unending turn. It's like I am breathing and running at a pace too fast I couldn't keep up.

What were we thinking back then?

But then, this is life after all, be it either on a calm or rough sea, the sail must go on.

Hello everyone!

In the hustle and bustle of this fast-paced life, how do you cope and find solace?

It's been quite a while since I last joined and walked with this amazing #WednesdayWalk community and today, allow me to brag with you again about the beauty of my hometown while having a walk on the seaside on a high tide and all the undeniable charm and serenity it possesses.

I paused for a while and lived the moment. I stopped walking and thoroughly listened to the melody of the sea breeze as it resonated with a sublime lullaby softly singing along with the waves gently crashing on the shore.

I saw these seagrasses that had been carried away by the waves gently relaxing on the shoreline. They're like telling me that we you get tired, it just takes a minute to stop and rest for a while. Everything can get better when you slow down.

This lone empty shell that drifted its way to the shore, with its unique shape, is a simple yet beautiful reminder that nature has a lot of amazing creations to offer. All we have to do is take a little walk outside and appreciate the little things.

And oh I stumbled upon this cute heart-shaped thingy. In case you are curious about it, it's called box fruit also known as barringtonia which commonly grows in tropical countries like the Philippines. I don't know what we call it here and despite that I heard that this fruit has a lot of traditional medicinal purposes, I don't remember that we made use of its medicinal benefits. All that I clearly remember was that, I grew up having this as a toy since we cannot afford to buy those that were sold in the toy stores or even at the markets. And if I were now to choose whether to have the actual toys back then over this, I'd still choose this simple one over those colorful and expensive ones. It has dawned on me that those simple things that were often taken for granted before are actually the ones that matter to me now since they have sprinkled my childhood with the happiness that money can't buy and I swear, I would never have it any other way.

Oh, the good old days.

I know any of you who like me, grew up in coastal areas, are also familiar with these fruits I am holding. These are fruits from a large and deciduous tree that we locally call talisay or most known as the Indian almond internationally.

Holding these fruits takes me back to three decades ago when I found myself and my childhood friends having a good laugh over a mukbang of these nuts as we headed to the shore after school. We had so much fun picking up the fruits lying all over the sand. Though we found it hard to crack them open, either by crashing them with stone or using a bolo, nevertheless I could say it completed my happy childhood.

The talisay tree also amazes me as it bestows autumn vibes when its leaves turn into oranges before they touch the ground and wither. Just like the sunset, its colorfully dramatic ending promises a beautiful sprout of a new leaf to grow - a chance to reset and start a brand new beginning.

And then I saw these young boys. I paused for a while as I got my senses soaked into nostalgia when I saw them happily playing in the swing. It's like I instantly traveled back in time and saw the happy-go-lucky seven-year-old me sitting in that swing, long before adulthood has taken over the happiness of being a kid, without worrying about anything.

I smiled and thanked God that I grew up experiencing that genuine happiness with those privileges that these kids in front of me are having.

And so it was my sister's turn to sit in the swing. Of course, aside from the grandeur of nature that I encountered on a walk by the shore, I also wanted to take a snap and capture the smile of happiness she had as she was enjoying the moment.

Unlike the famous fine and white sand that Boracay offers, my hometown has its exquisite charm with the pebble sand - my piece of sun-soaked paradise in this secluded corner which I would never trade with anywhere in the world.

And In the hustle and bustle of this fast-paced life, how do I cope and find solace? It's sailing back to the warmth and comfort of my hometown's shore - the beacon that lights my way home in the darkest of days.

Thank you everyone for dropping by this post. Have a great and blessed weekday ahead everyone!