THE OCEAN NEVER FORGETS

My contact with the ocean has been eternal, and I know it will continue until one day I finally travel into the fading night for the last time.

I took my first steps in the ocean when I was two, maybe three years old. My mom would take me to this beautiful, peaceful beach, where the calm ocean and gentle ripples let me play on the shore. Seagulls would glide across the sky, while wild dolphins would play gently in the small waves of the open sea. And for the first time, I understood that the ocean would be my home, my shelter, my best friend, even the guardian of my deepest moments of happiness and sadness. 

As I grew up and began to glide within its crystal walls of water, I knew there was much more to the ocean than I had ever imagined. Surfing in the solitude of the vast sea, with no witness but the sun kissing the horizon and sometimes accompanied by dolphins, I felt in contact with something much greater than me. Something difficult to describe, yet easy to understand. For I had found a place with purpose that would guide me through that extraordinary journey we call life. So, I decided to live my life in harmony with the waves, the tides, and the creatures that dwell both below and above the ocean. 

I took the road less traveled. By doing so, I immersed myself in the underwater world, a world so close to us, and yet so far from many. And I discovered a hidden world so precious and unique that I promised to care for it for the rest of my life. And I keep doing it.

Now, more than sixty years after I made that decision, I can say with a true heart and an open soul that I would do it all again. No regrets. For the ocean remembers everything and never forgets. My moments of sadness, my moments of happiness, and the endless conversations I have shared with him throughout my life. I guess the ocean listens to everyone if you are willing to open your heart. He hears carefully, without ever judging. He is always there for you, no matter what. Day or night, he is just waiting for you to show up. And you are always welcome.

By listening to me without judging me, the ocean taught me to be kind to myself and others, to respect the flow of Nature, to find light even in the darkest shadows, and to respect every tree, every animal, every human being.

The ocean has watched over people for hundreds of thousands of years. It has always held their dreams, hopes, mistakes, and even their victories. Maybe all it asks in return is that we remember him too…            

Just as a drop of rain hitting the ocean creates an ever-growing ripple that can last forever, we should always remember that small acts of good can spread more than we ever imagined. Never forget how powerful a small act of love and kindness can be. In the end, nothing really disappears. It just bonds with the Universe that carries all our feelings, our love, and our dreams. For dreams and hope never disappear in the vastness of the ocean. It is fed by love and kindness, but never by fear or hate. Nature doesn’t understand these words, because there is no malice in Nature. So always create ripples of love and kindness. Maybe they will travel far away until they reach the shore of another land, carried by the currents and tides, just like a bottle with a message. We may never witness the full impact of our actions, but they will continue moving, long after we are gone.

What if every act of kindness became another wave in the ocean? They will always return to the shore, and with them, maybe we could create a world where we could finally live in harmony with ourselves, others, and Nature. Even with the whole Universe

One day we will leave this beautiful blue planet forever, but our legacy will endure.

Big changes often begin with a single quiet choice that inspires purpose and hope in others. Without even noticing, that choice echoes in the hearts of millions, spreading love, kindness, and respect for one another and for the Universe.

For we are part of something much bigger than ourselves.

Sergio Bambarén