I found myself driving down to the beach

Again, seeking solitude from the sensory overload

And the stresses that seem to arise from being human.

And there sat the sea: shining, smooth, silky deep blue,

Waves whispering to the sand as they caressed the shoreline.

I was absolutely hypnotized by the peace that came so easily

To the sea; it just existed. It asked for nothing in return,

Its presence forever reassuring me that

Sometimes the most beautiful things

Are also the most simple.

But then I listened

More closely to the sound of waves;

Still whispering to the sand but this time saying

Something entirely different, something I could almost

Understand innately, and I realized the sea was talking to me.

"Yes, I am simple on the surface but if you sink beneath the

Breaking waves and swirling waters, you will see just

How complex I truly am. And you, too, are the same

As I, the same outside and within.

Just pause and consider.

From others I have no requests,

My only business is to tend to myself,

But so is yours.Your surface is calm and

Might seem simplistic to others, but inside of you

Lies an abundance: so many more wondrous layers of intricacy:

Joy, sadness, understanding, wondering, love, lust, optimism, creativity,

Fear, fantasy, and further. These are your tides, these are your own personal

Sub-surface features which encase the beauty and power that lies hidden to most.

You are a glorious mixture of outer appearance and inner complexities, these things

Work in harmony and yet can be drastically different.You can rest knowing

Who you are despite the misperceptions others might have.

Understand that it is no easy task for people to see

Your tides or currents or depth,

But those who pause

To swim beneath your surface

Will be encapsulated by the mystery

Only the deepest of divers have the honor of seeing.”

—L.M.