Every summer has a story. Mine has many, stretching back to my childhood. I remember how our family used to spend every summer together. My dad is very much a beach person (the kind that brings the whole kit: coolers, umbrellas, mats, hats, boards, you name it, it would have been in the trunk of our car). Maybe that was the beginning of my own attraction to the sea, which I have always felt is my safe space. Between swimming and snacking, my dad used to take me on what we came to call as "beach talks". They are exactly what they sound like: talks at the beach where we discussed anything and everything. The conversation might have started with a silly joke or been a simple observation. It could have addressed any topic that might have seemed insignificant, but somehow, we always ended up somewhere deep, somewhere where it mattered. Some of the most inspiring thoughts I have had came during these talks, where nothing was tabu.

With the Beach Talk Journal I aim to create a space that embraces the spirit of those summer days. Writing helps me streamline my thoughts, clears my head, and mostly, I just do it for fun. So here is me sharing some of these things with you, dear friends. I hope to spark something in you, whether it's curiosity, insight, a conversation with your loved ones, or most hopefully, a smile.