Maketa," I said, throwing myself down in the sand. "I lost. The ocean won."She smiled. "Was it a good feeling?""Mm," I said."That's good," she said. "Have another rice ball?
In this excerpt from Ruth Ozeki's "A Tale for the Time Being," the narrator reflects on a moment of defeat, feeling overwhelmed by the ocean's vastness. This moment signifies surrender and acceptance of one's limitations, illustrating how nature can evoke profound emotions in people. The narrator's sense of loss reveals a deeper understanding of life’s challenges.
Maketa responds positively to this admission of defeat, suggesting that embracing feelings, even negative ones,...