As I walk along the shore of an ocean of experiences, and gaze out into the setting sun of what was my great adventure, I feel as calm as the lightly rippling sea, that was not so long ago tossing and churning in the winds.
As I close my eyes, the sea breeze brings aromas of the lilies and jasmine of the gardens of Monet, mixed with the scent of the crisp, fresh mountain air of Salzburg. A myriad of the smells of olives, cheese, fresh fruits and Middle Eastern spices bring me back to the mornings spent perusing the markets on the French Riviera in both Nice and Marseille.
Above the sound of the waves breaking the shore, I hear the sounds of laughter, of good friends singing away, and chatting excitedly. I hear the cheers and laughter of the boisterous Italians in an airport in Rome, and of avid soccer fans celebrating their victory on a cool summer evening in Madrid. I hear the melody of the Spanish guitar and passionate singers, giving energy and life to the Flamenco dancers’ intricately tapping heels.
As I open my eyes and look up at the colours painting the sky, the vivid oranges transport me back to the sunset that touched my soul on an island in Greece. I see the majestic Gaudi masterpieces, as if emerged from the beneath the ground of Barcelona, twinkling in their bright orange splendor. The purples become the twirling tutus of the ballerinas in the Opera House in Vienna; the pinks the beautiful buildings of the colourful palette that was Prague.
As the breeze swirls around me, my feet sink into the cool sand, always shifting and re-shifting to hold me in its comfortable, welcoming grasp, only to release me once again as I take the next step. In this, I feel the love of my family and friends, a familiar companion ever remaining steadfast at my side. I feel the wonder of exploring through the magical gardens of snow-covered Bruges; the joy of sailing through the twinkling deep blue sea in a paradise far away; the feeling of calmness and peace as the lights of the city of Prague and its shining castle twinkled at me from the river. And finally, the warmth in my heart as I looked out at the Parisian night from the heights of the Tour d’Eiffel, the place where my great adventure both began and ended.
But above all, I feel me. I feel a warmth inside me, from the tips of my toes to the ends of my hair blowing in the breeze.
Somewhere in the tossing of those waves, I found me.
I walk along these shores now, a victor of all that has occurred, because of that one reason alone. Now that I have me, I will go forward and experience all that life has to offer to the fullest, with that feeling of warmth, peace and joy inside. All because it is me. And that is the treasure I found at sea, the most precious of all.
I began on a swing, caught between the park and the sky. And then this experience came, and without a moment’s hesitation, I flew straight off that swing and into the sky, into all the joy, wonder and delightful uncertainty it held. Turns out I was one for the sky all along. Just took some courage to realize. And so with that courage unleashed in everything that I am, I now go forward from these shores, holding the ocean of my wonderful adventure safely in my heart, as I begin a new dawn.
- SDS
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