This morning, as I walked down Victoria Parade, the world felt soft and muted. A pastel blue line stretched across the horizon, and from behind it a purple eye crept upward, slowly opening over the ocean’s edge. The water lay calm and flat, with only the faintest touch of white wash folding at the shore.
After my coffee, I wandered up to the point. By then, the purple eye had disappeared, swallowed into the grey of the morning. To my left, the Surf Safari crew moved north in their steady rhythm, a handful of people bobbing quietly in the water. But when I looked out over the bay, there was an eerie stillness — not a single swimmer in sight.
That silence broke suddenly as the runners came past, their murmurs and stomping echoing along the path. For a moment, I felt like Simba in the wildebeast scene as they came flying in, i was swept up in the rush of energy as they passed me by. The contrast struck me — so much life and motion on the land, while the ocean, usually alive with swimmers at this hour, felt empty and held back.
Even though I’m not going into the ocean today, I walked along the sand, letting the water wash over my feet, grounding me. In that moment, I felt Earth’s energy, a connection so deep it reminded me that the ocean isn’t just a place to swim — it’s a living force, one I am always tethered to.
And yet, the calm carries a weight this week. The tragedy at Dee Why has left a mark on our community, a reminder of the ocean’s immense power and presence. Beaches have been closed, swimmers cautious, sightings reported — all of it changing the familiar rhythm of our mornings. The ocean we love and lean into for joy, freedom, and calm is the same ocean that humbles us with its strength.
The ocean continues to teach — about patience, respect, and the delicate balance between awe and what nature brings.
As the day unfolds, I carry this reminder with me: the ocean is vast, unpredictable, and alive. And in that vastness, we find grounding, humility, and a deep, enduring connection to the world beneath and around us.
