There are a few among us who belong to the coast.
We grow up looking outward and wondering about that which lies beyond the oceans. We look towards the unknown - the heavens above and the oceans below. The mass of humanity behind us does little to interest us. Their concerns of everyday living are practical and important but at the same time uninteresting to the likes of us.
We are the people of the coast. The people who live on the edges of the world.
We grow up watching the boats coming in; hearing stories of far and distant lands; and imagining what those lands really looked like. We are the children who can't wait to try the new thing.
The stories that would quench other people's curiosity would only fuel ours more because we haven't lived those stories or seen them with our own eyes.
We wonder about the people that inhabit those distant lands. We wonder if the tall tales that the sailors have are indeed true. We hear of the mythical creatures and wonder what else lies there - beyond these oceans.
We are the people of the coast.
We live at the cusp of two worlds - the known and the unknown. And while we appreciate the security and comfort of the known, it is the unknown that fascinates us. That tingles our sense of curiosity and colors our dreams. We grow up listening to the stories and taking in all their elements. We dream of great explorations in our future even as we work through the world and acquire the skills of everyday living. We grow up watching the ships being built and learning the tricks of the trade. The sailors regale us with the scary tales of big waves and thunderstorms. We listen to them in awe and watch the big waves crashing on to the shores. And yet, we are not scared, not daunted. The lure of the unknown is too strong for us and blinds us of these dangers. We grow up wanting to be sailors and explorers - the discoverers of new worlds. We work our way through hardships because of the unknown and the unseen that stands before us.
And then one day, after decades of work and struggle; after explaining to our loved ones, our need to explore, it is our turn to build our ship and map our journey. And so, we build our ship; perhaps, not as grand as in our dreams but definitely sturdy and ready to battle the waves. We prepare ourselves for the storms, for the rough-shod waves, for the cracks and tears and for those other scary eventualities.
And we leave all that was known to us - and march into a world, unseen and unknown. We hope for the best and yet we think we are prepared for the worst - for the worst of the storms, for the winds and the pirates, for the rocks and the blizzards.
But, then something strange happens - the ocean turns placid and we are stranded by inaction. The winds cease and we are left moored on the ocean, waiting for that gust of wind that will lead us forward.
Waiting.
For motion, for action, for an opportunity - to do what we trained for all our lives. And yet, there is no escaping this. And so we wait. Stranded for days, weeks, even months - hoping that the breeze will pick up and would lead us on.
Sometimes, all you have to do is wait. And hope.
We grow up looking outward and wondering about that which lies beyond the oceans. We look towards the unknown - the heavens above and the oceans below. The mass of humanity behind us does little to interest us. Their concerns of everyday living are practical and important but at the same time uninteresting to the likes of us.
We are the people of the coast. The people who live on the edges of the world.
We grow up watching the boats coming in; hearing stories of far and distant lands; and imagining what those lands really looked like. We are the children who can't wait to try the new thing.
The stories that would quench other people's curiosity would only fuel ours more because we haven't lived those stories or seen them with our own eyes.
We wonder about the people that inhabit those distant lands. We wonder if the tall tales that the sailors have are indeed true. We hear of the mythical creatures and wonder what else lies there - beyond these oceans.
We are the people of the coast.
We live at the cusp of two worlds - the known and the unknown. And while we appreciate the security and comfort of the known, it is the unknown that fascinates us. That tingles our sense of curiosity and colors our dreams. We grow up listening to the stories and taking in all their elements. We dream of great explorations in our future even as we work through the world and acquire the skills of everyday living. We grow up watching the ships being built and learning the tricks of the trade. The sailors regale us with the scary tales of big waves and thunderstorms. We listen to them in awe and watch the big waves crashing on to the shores. And yet, we are not scared, not daunted. The lure of the unknown is too strong for us and blinds us of these dangers. We grow up wanting to be sailors and explorers - the discoverers of new worlds. We work our way through hardships because of the unknown and the unseen that stands before us.
And then one day, after decades of work and struggle; after explaining to our loved ones, our need to explore, it is our turn to build our ship and map our journey. And so, we build our ship; perhaps, not as grand as in our dreams but definitely sturdy and ready to battle the waves. We prepare ourselves for the storms, for the rough-shod waves, for the cracks and tears and for those other scary eventualities.
And we leave all that was known to us - and march into a world, unseen and unknown. We hope for the best and yet we think we are prepared for the worst - for the worst of the storms, for the winds and the pirates, for the rocks and the blizzards.
But, then something strange happens - the ocean turns placid and we are stranded by inaction. The winds cease and we are left moored on the ocean, waiting for that gust of wind that will lead us forward.
Waiting.
For motion, for action, for an opportunity - to do what we trained for all our lives. And yet, there is no escaping this. And so we wait. Stranded for days, weeks, even months - hoping that the breeze will pick up and would lead us on.
Sometimes, all you have to do is wait. And hope.
