How little I really need to feel Free

The ocean quiets the noise in me and always reminds me how little I really need to feel free. 🌊

Every time I stand where the land meets the sea, something in me settles. The rush, the pressure, the worries I pick up without realizing it tend to soften the moment I hear the movement of the ocean. Unlike society, the ocean doesn’t ask or expect me to be anything. It just invites me to be present, because there is no other way.

I had this realization recently about how, if we are not present in the ocean, it can swallow you up. And that’s how life is too. If we are not present, we can get swallowed by the hustle, the noise, and the chase for more and more. Without silence and a quieting of the mind, we are never actually present enough to reflect on what we’re doing, why we’re doing it, or to ask ourselves: what is it all for?

Seeking simplicity has been my focus for the last couple of years, and I’ve spoken about it in previous posts. It reminds me that most of what weighs me down isn’t necessary. I carry far more than I need. It’s in the quiet moments that I recognize when I’m doing something that doesn’t need to be done, or isn’t in alignment with who I am.

That’s probably why I’m drawn to photographing the ocean. It’s not about chasing, but rather letting the ocean do what it does and finding the beauty in it. It’s about noticing what’s already there. Light shifting. Waves repeating themselves, never exactly the same. The quiet in between sets. These are the moments that slow me down enough to feel connected again.

Over the years, the ocean has quietly shaped how I see the world and how I want to live in it. Less noise. Fewer distractions. More intention. More honesty. I don’t need much to feel grounded anymore. A camera, time, a surfboard, and some waves.

A lot of the photos that I take are unplanned stops. I was just passing through. But something about the ocean makes me pause. And I’m learning to trust those pauses more. They usually lead me back to myself.

I hope these images give you a moment to breathe. To slow down. To remember that freedom doesn’t have to be complicated. Sometimes it’s as simple as standing still long enough to listen.