Golden Sands and Turquoise Swirls

"Smell the Sea and Feel the Sky. Let your Soul and Spirit Fly"

-Van Morrison

The beach has always been my favourite place. For reasons I cannot explain, it has always been a way to escape from the troubles of the world. The feeling of the wind blowing through my hair, the sound of the waves crashing onto the shore and the smell of the sea has an intoxicating effect on me.                        

When I was a kid, I used to build little sandcastles and decorate them with pretty little shells I used to find around. If I wasn’t building sandcastles, I was playing in the turquoise swirls, splashing about merrily, completely soaking myself in this salty water with a smile as wide as the clear blue sky above. One thing I loved doing dearly was to collect seashells. I would walk around the beach, toy bucket in one hand, picking up shells that caught my eye and would later admire the treasure once I got home. Another thing I would do was chase the little crabs around the sand, occasionally managing to catch a few here and there, but would quickly return them to where they belonged. 

My perception of the beach quickly changed as I grew up. From being a young girl of six or seven who only saw it as a playmate and as a place where my family could go to enjoy, I began seeing it as an escape, as a portal to another magical place. Even though I may be only 18 years old, I can say that I matured much faster than my age. From the age of eight or nine, I began seeing the harsh realities of the world. It was no longer sugar coated. For this reason, the beach became more than just a playmate for me. Whenever I used to feel low, or feel like my world was caving in, I would go for a long walk on the beach. Staring out at the offing, feeling the wind fluttering through my hair, I would feel a sudden sense of serenity. Two big invisible hands would reach out and wrap themselves around me in a warm embrace, protecting me from the cruel world, giving me a sense of hope and peace. 

Sunsets have somehow always managed to mystify me. They have never failed to take my breath away. As Richard Paul Evans says, “Sunsets, like childhood, are viewed with wonder not just because they are beautiful but because they are fleeting.”  Watching as the sun slowly disappears into the horizon, taking along with it, its orange rays, always transports me into another dimension. Sunsets give me hope. The setting sun takes away pain. It marks the end of the day but with a promise of a new dawn full of tranquillity. 

In a way I can say that the beach has saved me. It has been a silent companion whenever I needed it. It's always listened to me when no one else would. It’s golden sands and turquoise swirls have always been welcoming even when I’ve felt like I didn’t belong anywhere. It has made me look inwards, helped me understand myself and accept myself for who I am. 

The beach has always been kind to all people, irrespective of their religion, caste, race or gender. It’s a place anyone and everyone can go to when they are feeling low or just want to have a good time. Whether you are young or old, these golden sands and turquoise swirls embrace you without judging you. They accept you, every part of you including your flaws and the darkest side of you that you may keep hidden from the rest of the world and in cases like mine, they save you, even when you never realise that you needed to be saved all along.

This is where I belong

-Lauren Divya