Summer is for fun. But sometimes this fun doesn't reach the heart.
In August, a friend of mine, a barrister. She went to a sleepy coastal town, which was surrounded by tourists and people having fun. But she felt she was drowning in life.
She had a dream of opening her own cafe. But this dream seems... as if it will not come true. Because the bills are piling up. And this was affecting her confidence and courage. Even though it was summer, the sunny days felt like a queer spotlight on her fears, which keeps saying you are not enough.
So one evening, after a hectic day at work, Rose walked to the beach, took off her shoes to feel the cool of the sun. Then the sunset painted the sky. But her thoughts were still gloomy.
Then, for nowhere, a stranger, an older woman, bought her a sketchbook. She sat nearby and started observing and drawing the waves. She noticed Rose was not on herself. Then she walked over to Rose and just said, And Rose nodded, understanding what she meant.
Then, spilling her worries about her dream that she has to come true. The woman smiled. Then she started flipping through her sketchbook to show a half-finished drawing. Some of the drawings in some pages were just messy for a while, she said. But she keeps sketching anyway, neglecting some drawings and going back to some, also.
So this lesson hit Rose so bad. She went home, pulled out one of her old drawings, and started jotting down the café ideas. Although the dark days didn't vanish. But from that moment, it felt less heavy for her.
Those summer moments reminded her that even though we are in a tough time, there is still room to create, to try, and to begin again. It’s never too late.