Oh, how we take so many things for granted. I’ve always known that daily walks are good for us—a simple way to escape the noise of everyday life and reconnect with ourselves. After going about our own routines, we eventually found a place for that quiet escape.

Back in my hometown of Santa Cruz, we loved going to the river mouth called Sabangan. First, we would drive to Villa Hermosa, about fifteen minutes away, and from there, walk toward the shoreline. Most of the time, it was just us out there, surrounded by the sound of the waves and the stillness of the afternoon.

One day, we came across a group of fishermen pulling a long rope from the sea. Curious, we paused our walk to watch. At the end of it, we saw the fish they had caught and even managed to get some for ourselves. It was an unexpected interruption, but one of those simple moments that made the afternoon feel special—as if we had stumbled upon a small gift from the sea.

Sundays were usually the only time we had, and our favorite hour was after the Sunday siesta. We would bring snacks in case hunger found us along the way. Sometimes, we simply soaked ourselves in the water, letting its gentle warmth keep us there for hours. We would head home just before sunset, when the sky began to soften into evening colors.

Often, we walked separately, each lost in our own thoughts. It was a quiet space for reflection. My sister would listen to music as she wandered along the shore, while I simply listened to the rhythm of the sea.

No doubt adversity is a great teacher, but its lessons are dearly bought, and often the profit we gain from them is not worth the price they cost us. What is more, these lessons come so late in the day that by the time we master them they are of no use to us. … Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Sunday’s Walk

Going back to Venice

Manila, After Years Away