“I don’t know how to ocean”

A 6-word memoir and backstory 

 Inspiration for a writer is in every word, every moment —

“I don’t know how to ocean”

“She stood before the great big ocean just a week and a half after graduating high school, her first time looking out at sea as an adult, and she told me she doesn’t know how to ocean (how to swim in the waves), and I couldn’t stop thinking about all the ways I might not have readied her to live in the world on her own. But she isn’t alone. If she faltered in the ocean, we’d be there. And if she falters in the world, we’ll be there.” -2015

* * *

On almost the same date 9 years later, her words from 2015 came back to me as I watched her walking toward the water for me to take some photos of her: 

“I don’t know how to ocean”

So much life has happened since then, including her becoming a wife and a mom, and she has grown into an amazing woman even wiser than that newly graduated high school student. In the same 6-word memoir sentiment, I realized her new story is:

“She learned how to ocean perfectly.”

My girl…

See more about 6-word memoirs here: https://www.sixwordmemoirs.com/

About The Author

AGK

I am a Colorado-based writer, speaker, coach, and photographer.