The ocean surprised me. Swimming with nurse sharks, watching stingrays move so calmly, standing on the sandbank it all felt unreal. The sea is massive, endless, and it made my worries feel smaller for a while. When I was snorkeling, it felt like stepping into another world, something quiet and alive beneath the surface, like Avatar, but real. I realized how rarely I allow myself to feel wonder anymore.

There was something about being in the water that felt like a reset. My body moved without thinking too much, like it remembered something my mind forgot. I felt close to something I don’t fully understand nature, life, maybe myself. It scared me a little, but it also made me feel safe. I think that’s why I keep going back to the ocean. I should probably learn how to swim, not just float through things.

What stayed with me most was the feeling of being present. No comparing, no planning, no noise. Just breathing, floating, existing. Moments like that make me realize how tired I’ve been not just physically, but emotionally. I’ve been carrying a lot quietly.

Labels: island, maldives, realization