LOH Contest 232 || Where Sunset Meets the Sound of My Laughter

If there’s one thing adulthood has taught me, it’s that the world won’t slow down for anyone. There's always one more email to reply to, one more thing to check off the to-do list. But yesterday, looking at the sunset and the waves crashing on top one another in the large body of water reminded me of one thing, life isn’t always cruel after-all.

And that’s when I got that familiar spark, the one that ignites in my head when I think of something write. And where else will this article be best suited if not to answer the wonderful questions from this week’s LOH contest.

So, gather around ladies, (giggles), here’s the gist. Yesterday, I went to a resort with someone special. No, no, it wasn’t some elaborate vacation or a grand event, lol. It was just a simple plan to hang out since we both are always busy and only have Sundays to see each other.

That simple plan turned into one of the most peaceful and happiest moments I’ve had in a long while. We even took a boat cruise, just the two of us and the endless stretch of water around. That wasn’t my first time being around a large body of water but it indeed was my first time being on it. I’d always thought I’d never garner the courage to swim (disclaimer: even at this big age, I can’t swim) or be on a boat or canoe or anything that could get me stranded in the middle of a river or ocean or sea (I owe this pessimism to this one movie I watched where they got stranded in the middle of an ocean and got eaten by a shark). But, this things happen okay? And I wasn’t about to set myself up to be shark’s dinner.

However, maybe because of the person I was around, I neither thought about the negativity nor remembered the movie. How could I? When the breeze was so gentle, it caressed my face, the waves were calm and almost too welcoming, lol, and for once, I didn’t feel the weight of expectations or deadlines. It was most surreal.

That boat ride felt like a metaphor for life, how sometimes we’re paddling furiously against the current, and other times, we just need to lean back and let the tide carry us. I know it sounds silly but it really did reminded me that while work is essential (yes, bills won’t pay themselves), but living to pay bills cannot be our sole purpose on earth. And neither is the quick scrolls on social media or passive Netflix binges.

But intentional moments of rest and genuine laughter where you feel disconnected yet reconnected to the world. Let me explain. Disconnected in the sense that I am away from the loudness, the thrill, the need to keep up and meet up yet connected in the sense that I am just a tiny speck of matter in this large world talk less of the entire universal space, lol. Whether I’m able to pay bills or not, life will always go on without regard for me or anyone. Yet to be a part of such divine purpose just brings the whole concept of living to puts things into better perspectives.

However, it’s easy to forget this when you’re in the hustle. When everything feels like a race against time. But these little breaks? They are where I recharge. They’re the spaces where I remember who I am outside of our job roles and daily responsibilities, to remember the sound of my own laughter.

Spending time by the water with someone whose presence I love, reminded me of how healing companionship can be. We talked, we laughed, we got quiet at some points, just watching the horizon. There was no performance. No act. Just presence. I think those are the most beautiful types of rest, the ones where you don’t have to be anything or prove anything. You just are.

But of course, life isn’t always this peaceful. There are days when everything feels too much. When plans don’t go as expected, and self-doubt creeps in like “you-uuu, I’m still here”, lol. And to be honest, I haven’t always handled those days gracefully. In fact, not until recently did I learn to start differentiating the effects these hormones and cycle have on me. The random need to cry at 2 AM? Nothing says “hey, miss me?” like the grand entry of mood swings and irritation that accompanies the arrival of Miss Red. 🩸

Well sometimes, I resist the hard times. I fight them with frustration, trying to push through with sheer will and control every single thing. But I’m learning that perhaps letting go is acceptance too. Gentle, quiet acceptance but powerful. Not in a “I give up” kinda way, but in a “this is what it is right now, and that’s okay” kind of way.

I've realized that my peace doesn’t come from everything going perfectly. In fact, it never has. It comes from knowing that even when things are unruly, I can still create pockets of joy. Like a beach day. A boat ride. A belly laugh. A deep conversation. A soft silence. Like yesterday.

I guess what I’m trying to say is: life gets hard, but life also gets beautiful. And in the in-between, I find my rhythm. I find myself. And most importantly, regardless of which event or moment I use as a get-away from the noise, I try not to forget the sound of my own laughter. As well as others around me.

Thank you for reading! 🧸🧡

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