Imagine, if you will, a wise old salmon swimming gracefully through the vast, shimmering ocean. This seasoned traveler, much like us, has ventured far and wide across the boundless sea, soaking in its rich tapestry of colors and sounds. Each wave and each current brings new challenges. As it glides through the cool, deep waters, this wise salmon absorbs the beauty and the mystery of the ocean. The rhythm of the tides and the dance of sunlight on water makes him think about timing and resilience.

This journey through the ocean is a travel through space, a passage through time, collecting wisdom that only years of exploration and experience can offer. Like the salmon, we too gather memories and knowledge as we navigate through the currents of our own lives, each moment adding to the richness of our existence.

As the seasons of life change, so too does the journey of the salmon. There comes a time when it feels a deep, inner call—a gentle but persistent whisper—to return to the very streams where it once began. This call beckons the salmon to undertake a voyage not just of distance, but of meaning; to return to the origins, to the place of pure beginnings, where it once was nothing more than a speck in the gravel.

Imagine this salmon, your kindred spirit, using every ounce of wisdom and strength gathered from the ocean to navigate back through rivers and streams. The journey is not easy. The water sometimes rushes against it, cold and daunting. Yet, the salmon presses on, driven by an ancient, noble purpose—to give back to the place that gave it life, to complete the circle, to renew.

Us, like the salmon, have a reservoir of memories and wisdom collected over many years. Even though the currents of time challenge our memory,  within us flows a river of knowledge, experiences, and understanding—deep and vast. The waters of this river might sometimes seem foggy, the details unclear as the riverbed, but the essence, the journey, and the wisdom remain.

The salmon’s eventual return to its spawning ground is a testament to the power of memory and instinct—the same instincts that help us recognize faces, recall the warmth of a smile, or the lyrics of a beloved song. Even on days when names or dates might slip away, the feelings, the essence of our  experiences, stay with us, guiding like the salmon’s internal compass.

And just as the salmon’s journey enriches the river, bringing nutrients from the ocean back to the freshwater, so too does our life’s journey enrich those around us. Every story we tell, every lesson we share, feeds the spirits of our family, friends, nourishing them as the salmon nourishes the stream.

Let the salmon inspire you to continue embracing the flow of life, to navigate its currents with determination and grace. Remember that each phase of our journey, like the salmon’s, holds its own kind of beauty and purpose. 

Just as the salmon is never alone in its journey, guided by the steady currents of the river and the companionship of fellow travelers, so too are you surrounded by a tapestry of care and affection. Loved ones, like gentle streams, meander close by, always ready to offer support and guidance. Their presence is a quiet constant, a soothing whisper in the background, gently nudging you along your path - a soft place to rest, when you need to.