Today I did something I haven’t done in months — I went to the beach.
It’s just down the road from where I live, yet somehow I forgot how healing it could be. The sound of the waves, the smell of the salt in the air, the soft breeze, the way the ocean always seems to whisper “You’re safe now.” It reminded me how powerful the simplest things can be when we give ourselves permission to enjoy them.
And then the realization hit me like a cold wave to the chest:
I’ve spent so much of this year waiting. Waiting for someone to join me in the life I already know how to love.
🚦When You’re Always Waiting
It’s a strange kind of ache — when you’re with someone, but still feel like you’re on hold. You find joy in something as pure and free as a walk on the beach, but they’re “too tired,” “too busy,” “not into it.” And so you wait. You wait for the day they’ll join you. You wait for the moment they’ll say, “Yes, I’d love to go with you.” But that day never seems to come.
And before you know it, a whole season has passed.
You stop doing the things you love. You start compromising not just on plans, but on parts of yourself. You shrink your joy to match their indifference. You convince yourself it’s okay. That next time will be different. That maybe your needs are too much.
But the truth is far simpler:
You were waiting for the wrong person.
⚖️ Love Is a Two-Way Street
Relationships aren’t about who gets their way most often. They’re about sharing life — and that includes making space for each other’s passions, even if they aren’t your own. It’s not about loving the beach as much as your partner — it’s about loving them enough to want to be part of their happiness.
Real love says:
- “I may not care for the ocean, but I love how your face lights up when you’re there.”
- “Let’s go. Not because I want to, but because you do.”
- “Your joy matters to me.”
That’s what compromise looks like.
That’s what showing up looks like.
That’s what healthy, present, emotionally available love feels like.
🌱 What I’ve Learned This Year
This year has taught me that being with the wrong person can be lonelier than being alone.
That waiting for someone to care enough to make time for you… is the kind of waiting that wears down your spirit in quiet, painful ways.
That the simplest pleasures — a walk, a swim, a sunset — are not meant to be sacrificed for someone who doesn’t value them, or you.
And more than anything, I’ve learned this:
The right person will want to walk beside you — not just when it’s convenient, but when it brings you joy.
They’ll understand that love is more than words — it’s presence, effort, and shared moments.
They’ll say yes to the little things because they know how big those things are to you.
And they won’t make you wait. They’ll meet you there.
🐚 Final Thought
Some of the best things in life really are free — like peace, laughter, sunsets, long conversations, bare feet on the sand, and the feeling of being truly seen. But those things lose their magic when you spend your days hoping someone else will value them the way you do.
So this is your sign — don’t wait for someone else to make your life feel full.
Go to the beach. Book the day out. Eat the meal you love. Watch the movie you’ve been saving. Dance barefoot in your living room. Do the things that make you feel alive.
And next time you open your heart to someone, make sure they’re willing to share those moments with you.
Because love isn’t just about chemistry or attraction — it’s about showing up for the life you want to live, together.
