I am here to inspire you...

here to tell you that you CAN overcome your fears...

even the deepest most darkly rooted fears

even the ones that you cannot understand

the ones that make no sense...

I've always been afraid of sharks since I saw the movie Jaws

It's one of only two really big, give you the heebie jeebies fear that I have...

The other one being in the middle of the ocean, in the water, next to a giant ship that is sinking, just about to pull you down with it...

So.. suffice to say that I have not been much of an ocean guy this lifetime..

In spite of living in santa cruz for the better part of 14 years and in living in san francisco for 4 years.. I have only been in the water
to try my hand at surfing three times. Once I rode a large longboard while lying down...but I have never stood up and ridden a wave.

Two other times I have been taken out in the water. Both times I had two major problems. 1st and foremost was my inability to read the waves themsevles.. to time things so I caught the wave

Second and the deep rooted cause of the first, is my fear of sharks...constantly on my mind...always wondering if those sharp teeth would pull me into the water.

Granted I am a double fire sign with an airsign moon so ....water does have it's challenges for me...

Anyway - yesterday and today.. I finally

Actually

Surfed

For hours..

And I caught many waves...

And I rode many of them a long way...

It was even a little chilly for hawaii...and a little cloudy...

but I caught the waves

and in the blue clear shallow waters of waikiki

I did not think of sharks

I had told myself beforehand that this was the time to overcome that fear... to face it and just go out in the water

it was very cathartic on many levels...

I was not only not afraid of sharks or of the waves - true it's because the waves here are tiny and cute for the most part

I was able to be strong and use my rock-climbing muscles and endurance to paddle for 3 hours and then get up this morning and do it again...and we're going out again in a few hours..

I was able to focus on the timing... and (again thanks to the perfect, slow wave here at waikiki)

F
O
C
U
S A S
E U E
on the B T V
I A
F W
U L

YUM

Delicious

I am super hooked

I want to travel the globe - find amazing rocks and climb them... then go to beaches and surf

These are things that keep one in shape

That focus the mind

That bring one in touch with nature

As I aproach the apex of my life.. the tipping point of the end of my 40th trip around the sun..EarthSurfer that I be...

I give great thanks for these two activities - rock climbing and surfing.. for though I am merely an acolyte at both of them

I am so happy with how much they put me in touch with myself

They are like sex with nature.. Making love with yourself...

Being Deeply in the Body

Is a great gift

I am thankful

I hope that you are also embracing your fears and making love with yourself in ways that nourish your soul

~Namaste~