Right, so, about that day, hugging on the beach. Sounds simple, maybe even a bit cheesy, I know. But for me, it wasn’t just a casual thing. See, I wasn’t always the most… outwardly affectionate guy. Especially not in public. And beaches? Sand gets everywhere, you know? Never my favorite place to try and have a ‘moment’.
I remember getting talked into going that day. The weather was decent, warm but with a good breeze blowing off the water. I went along, mostly because I felt I should, you know? Family time and all that. Packed the car, found a spot on the sand, laid out the towels. But my head wasn’t really there. I was thinking about work stuff, bills, the usual grind that just follows you around.
I was just standing there, near the edge of the water, watching the waves roll in, kind of zoning out. My kid was running around, chasing seagulls or something, full of energy like they always are. I wasn’t paying super close attention, if I’m being honest. Just lost in my own world.
Then, out of nowhere, these little arms just wrapped around my legs. Tight. Took me completely by surprise. I looked down, and there was my kid, grinning up at me, sand all over their face. Didn’t say anything, just squeezed harder. It was just a pure, unplanned hug.
That moment, it sort of… broke through.
All the noise in my head just stopped for a second. There was the feeling of the sun on my back, the sound of the waves, the slight scratchiness of sand, and this small person holding onto me like I was the only thing that mattered right then.
I hesitated for maybe half a second. It felt weirdly exposed, standing there being hugged with other people around. Old habits, I guess. But then I just crouched down, sand getting on my knees, and hugged back properly. Put my arms right around them. And it felt… good. Really good. Not awkward, not forced. Just right.
Didn’t magically turn me into Mr. Sunshine overnight or anything. I still hate getting sand in my shoes. But that hug, right there on the beach with the wind blowing? It stuck with me. It was a solid reminder to actually be present, you know? To stop thinking so much and just feel things sometimes. Just a simple hug, but yeah, it meant something. Definitely a moment I filed away as important.
