I Love You.

“People are like waves. We rise, shine brightly, and then pass away, falling back to the ocean, becoming part of something greater once again." — Ms. Leechik

I remember sitting on the beach in Los Angeles at midnight, the unending ocean blends with the night sky, watching the waves crash against the shore. Each wave seems like they carried stories of beginnings and endings, of love and loss, each one a reflection of life’s passing. In that moment, I felt a surge of emotion, as though the ocean itself was calling to me.

The ocean, with its endless waves, reflects the rhythm of life and relationships. Just as waves rise and fall, people enter and leave our lives. Each wave is fleeting, yet its impact is undeniable. And while it is hard to let go, there is a quiet beauty in knowing that we are all part of something bigger, something infinite.

Last month, my grandfather passed away. I wish I had spent more time with him when I had the chance. That night, the ocean reminded me of my grandfather. Memories of him surfaced like waves, vivid and bittersweet. 

When I was little, visiting my grandparents’ house was a ritual of love and familiarity. I remember how my grandfather would measure my height every year, leaving a mark on the wall behind the door. It was our tradition, a small act that captured the passing of time. I remember how proud he was of each inch I grew.

But life has a way of moving us forward, sometimes too quickly. As I moved to Vancouver in my childhood, those yearly marks stopped. By the time I saw him again, I had grown so much taller, and everything had changed. My grandmother’s health had declined, and the house I once knew felt different and quieter. I remember tearing on the bus as I left, devastated by the weight of time and the distance it had created.

Time moves forward, carrying us with it. But it feels so cruel in its passing, even when we know it is what allows us to grow.

Standing by the ocean, I felt small yet profoundly connected to everything around me. I whispered, “I love you” to the water, as though the ocean could carry my words. In that moment, it felt like an acknowledgment of all that it represented: the beauty, the chaos, and the fleeting nature of existence.

Love, like the waves, is always moving. It touches us, changes us, and then flows back into the larger ocean of our lives. Standing there, I realized something powerful. While we can be deeply touched by places, people, and moments, we are not meant to stay. Life moves forward, even when it is bittersweet.

Why is it that the present moment slips through our fingers so easily, even when we know it is all we truly have?

The ocean reminded me of the transient nature of life. We are always moving, always changing, always leaving things behind. And that does not make those moments or connections any less meaningful to me, but the impermanence is what makes them so precious. The marks on the wall behind the door, the quiet moments with loved ones, even the tears I shed—these are the things that shape me. They stay with me long after the waves have receded.

As I knelt down to feel the water and the sand, I tried to ground myself in the present moment. I wanted to hold onto that feeling, knowing it would pass. Even though I knew I would never experience that exact moment again, I realized it had become a part of me. That touch, that warmth, that connection to the earth and ocean, it lingers, even as life moves on.

"You are not a drop in the ocean. You are the entire ocean, in a drop." — Rumi