Offing at English Bay Beach

Offing: off • ing
Noun; the more distant part of the sea that is still visible from the shore; figuratively, the near or foreseeable future.

(Here’s some of my amateur photography, another one below)

There’s just something about the beach that makes me feel at home.

Specifically, in Vancouver, English Bay Beach gives me this sense of home; my mind is a bit clearer, and things seem a little brighter to me. Just looking out into the distance, problems seem so small in comparison. The salty air just clears the mind (and the nose!). Even though it’s not as warm at this time of year, I still love going to the beach and just reflecting on life, giving me some clear thoughts.

My favourite thing is just trudging down the sand and sitting on one of the large logs. They’re pretty big, and I’m sort of a short person, so getting onto them is a tad challenging. But just sitting there, watching the waves stroll in, time goes by so fast and before you know it, an hour has gone by. I always find that the beach is such a nice place to daydream, to be lost in your thoughts, or to just admire the beauty of the landscape. Here in BC, there’s also the coastal mountains in the view, making the horizon absolutely stunning to look at. Birds are soaring through, and it leaves you wondering what it’d be like to be a bird. Being able to spread your wings and go whenever and wherever you please. I always thought it’d be amazing to be a bird (although I’d probably end up being a kiwi because I think they’re just adorable). The idea of flying is so utterly beautiful and poetic to me, and soaring even looks like poetry in motion.

I always loved how the beach attracts other people. Across the beach, there’s other people doing the same as me; sitting on logs, or even in the sand, and pondering. They’re lost in their own thoughts, in a state of peace of mind. I think that’s what I love most about the beach; it’s just so peaceful, at least at English Bay. It’s so relaxing, even somewhat rejuvenating. I feel so much better having spent some time at the beach.

When I lived in Winnipeg, the beaches in Manitoba made me long for English Bay beach in Vancouver, and even the other beaches in BC. However, I have a soft spot for English Bay. I don’t really know why, maybe it’s because it reminds me of all the happy memories I had as a kid in BC. The area is filled of childhood memories of motorcycle riding with my Dad, ice cream by the logs, and old candid pictures with my long-time best friend. I can’t be upset or angry at English Bay; I’m only ever thoughtful and at peace, something I definitely need with final exams coming up.

Home is such a weird thing; it’s sometimes never truly a place. Sometimes it’s a person, sometimes it’s a place. There’s times when it’s both, and you have two homes. I know already that I have two homes. One home is my boyfriend, and Vancouver is my physical place I call home. In Vancouver, it truly feels like home when I’m sitting on a log at English Bay. I hope you find your own home 🙂 have a great day!!

People and Duende

Duende (Spanish): doo • en • deyz
Noun; the feeling of profound awe experienced when viewing a piece of art, watching a performance, or listening to music that has deeply moved a person.

(A carnation flower– they express love, fascination, and distinction)

Do you ever meet someone and inside, you’re awestruck. It’s as if you saw someone leap off the group and fly to the moon. You just meet someone and suddenly, you’re looking at a masterpiece; sure, they’re not a Rembrandt or a work of Raphael, not even a Gentileschi, but there’s something about them that leaves you aghast, awestruck in the most beautiful way?

It doesn’t have to be romantically, this can apply platonically as well. Meeting someone, and as soon as you or they leave, you just go “Wow!!!” inside your mind. Deep inside, you feel like your life as been slightly impacted by them, maybe by their actual presence, or merely by the words they had said to you in the time being. You know already that they will linger, and it may take a while for you to forget about them.

I remember in grade nine I had that with my boyfriend (who I’m still dating); we didn’t have some deep, earth-altering conversation in our social studies class. We just talked about who we were, where we were from, and threw a couple jokes back and forth. And now, I can’t imagine my life without his impact; he’s helped to make me grow into the person I am today, and is my constant support in life. You truly never know what one conversation with someone may end up being in the future, and I think that’s the best part about meeting people.

I love how much people can surprise you, and it quite awful that we live in a society that often judges and labels a person before ever talking to them. I know people that hate someone, yet they’ve never spoken to them. How can someone hate another without ever speaking to them, or at least having a few conversations with them? By judging someone and automatically labelling them some sort of category (ie. “basic,” “just some sorority girl,” “just another frat guy,” “some stuck up person”) you may miss out on the things that do truly make them different from the rest. Just because the person may dress alike to a group of people, or to a specific style, doesn’t mean that they have the same mind, the same cognition. I may dress like a “basic” girl, even listen to the same music, but do you think every “basic” girl is a history-buff who has loved all things vintage and retro since she was 6 years old (I still have yet to own a One-Step Polaroid, a vintage typewriter, or a vintage globe), and also likes to help build rocket components in her spare time? It’s not impossible, but it’s pretty unlikely.

Always keep an open mind, especially when meeting new people. You never know who will give you that “Wow,” awestruck feeling. For all we know, you’re the person that has given somebody that feeling of duende recently, expanding their minds and deeply moving them. Have a great day 🙂

PS: I know that duende is towards things of art, but art is subjective. People are a form of art on their own, so I feel that it could still work, based on one’s views.)

 

Would you like to know more about carnations? Here are a few sources:
http://www.teleflora.com/meaning-of-flowers/carnation

Carnation Flower Meaning