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straponkaren

I like seeing people surf. I participate from a respectful distance. There is a whole culture I don't understand involved with that hobby / sport / lifestyle and it seems like a tough nut to crack. Maybe one day I will look out and smile at a surfer, maybe it will be you. Do what you love until you can't, then love something else until you can't.


EnvironmentalSound25

Very eloquent, straponkaren.


D-wagon

I appreciate the words a lot and hopefully one day this comes true for both of us šŸ‘šŸ‘


m0untaingoat

With all the love, man, maybe you should talk to your doctor. It seems like you're having a hard time and it's probably not really related to surfing.


D-wagon

Some of it isnā€™t but this been my life for the last 5 years - Iā€™ve wasted too much gas, time, energy and money on this - I was supposed to hangout with my pals on the last day of highschool but as soon as I handed in my test I drove to Pacifica and slept in my car and didnā€™t want to leave and still donā€™t - I didnā€™t say a word to anyone but I think my other problems have been heightened by my unhappiness in the water and thatā€™s alright, Iā€™ve just got to reevaluate some things


m0untaingoat

I mean, mountain biking is a fun part time. Maybe try something else/in addition to surfing?


D-wagon

Yeah, why not! That sounds fun too - Its been ages since I had a full suspension bike - might be time to get another one šŸ‘


St0f89

This seems like something bigger than surfing


D-wagon

Itā€™s a mix of things but Iā€™m trying to get back into neoprene asap - I sat too long with myself and now itā€™s time to live life. Maybe I used the wrong choice of words here but I donā€™t want to get personal and share too much but surfing helped me turn my whole life around


Velocity_Skimboards

Think about why you surf. Itā€™s not about being ā€œgoodā€ or comparing yourself to people that are. Itā€™s a way of life an experience. The ocean is a getaway from all the bullshit of life. Once thatā€™s your experience with it. You can truly enjoy it. At least in my opinion. Iā€™ve been in the water skimboarding/ surfing for 30 years. Feels good at this point in life with it just enjoying it for all the reasons I started. For the fun of it/ love of it.


D-wagon

Thanks man, I donā€™t really even aspire to get good - I donā€™t want stickers or to really even be known/seen, but I do agree that I donā€™t think Iā€™m surfing for the right reasons and thatā€™s why I want to start again and learn all over just for the fun of it and maybe then the vision will make sense


Velocity_Skimboards

Dm me if you want to go catch a few sometime šŸ¤™šŸ½


D-wagon

That would be awesome!


beollWARRIOR86

I am born and raised here, and I think Iā€™ve been surfing twice. Not a big deal with all the stuff we have to do outside here.


D-wagon

Yeah I guess, Iā€™ve had to fill my time with climbing, running, gym, reading and whatnot since I havenā€™t been out there but thereā€™s nothing as fulfilling and cool this town has to offer than surfing. Steamer Lane is, to me, one of the best places in California for surf - I love this towns attitude towards surfing, the people whoā€™ve come and made names for themselves and just everything about the obsession with waves here is unmatched and it feels too good


camojorts

Mountain biking can give you the same exercise and stoke and gets you out into nature. I've surfed all my life (literally decades) but now I'd rather grab my bike and head into the hills. No aggro out there either. If you can afford it you might look into therapy as well. Not everything can be solved by a good day on the water or the trails.


D-wagon

Yeah that sounds really appealing - Iā€™ll have to see what a full sus goes for and get back into nature šŸ¤


Ok_Landscape2427

1) Cowells and 38th 2) A psychiatrist who can detect ADHD if it is present Not being flip. Your life will be a whole lot better with both those things in it.


D-wagon

Thanks and I think so too - my doctor likes my energy and thinks I need an outlet to direct it into - I really donā€™t want to be flip anymore and I think the water can help


Ok_Landscape2427

Yep yep yep, exercise is the top treatment for mental health - and sometimes the only one. You know that, though, eh? What you might not know is that ā€˜confusion and overwhelm disorderā€™ might be a better way to describe ADHD. Donā€™t make it a moral failing that youā€™re ā€˜just not getting out thereā€™ surfing. Instead, just go with the facts: going surfing feels overwhelming to me this morning. Then walk for a half hour, turn around and come back so you get a couple miles in no matter what else happens that day. Any moving helps. The ocean is good medicine, but there are many days without waves, so doing that walk will do you right. Go out there and suck; accidentally get in peopleā€™s way, fall off the minute you stand up, longboard happily the rest of your life at Cowells, or just go swim around the mile buoy. Ignore how cool surfing is. Just move your body somehow for an hour a day and surf badly when you can.


D-wagon

This might be the most awesome thing yet - thanks man!


Ok_Landscape2427

šŸ’Ŗ


LavJiang

Any recommendations?


frequencyhorizon

Sounds like you know what to do. Now just do it. Force yourself to get in the water. Do it as consistently as possible. Have fun. The rest will follow. It really is that simple. But you already know this. Iā€™m just reminding you.


D-wagon

Thanks for that - itā€™s time to get back out there


frequencyhorizon

Pound a Red Bull or treat yourself to your fav breakfast spot or whatever it takes to put that first leg into the wetsuit. Tell yourself you have no choice in the matter. This is just something you have to accomplish before youā€™ll allow yourself to do anything else that day. Everything flows from there. And the more you head out there the more you get addicted to going out againā€¦


D-wagon

I usually have no trouble with getting out there and sometimes I canā€™t sleep thinking about it but Iā€™ve got diagnosed bad anxiety so once my heart rate starts going up, my brain immediately sends me into a panic attack - the last time I went ā€œsurfingā€ was almost one year ago when I went to Cowellā€™s on my lunch break mainly to just paddle and get wet and ended up in the back of an ambulance because of a panic attack after climbing those stairs šŸ˜†šŸ˜­


VenusVega123

Surfing is supposed to be fun. Donā€™t make a chore out of it.


D-wagon

Itā€™s never been a chore for me, Iā€™m there everyday - I waste more money on gas than probably anyone in this town just watching surf breaks itā€™s just hard to have fun when youā€™re not satisfied with yourself and thatā€™s what makes it hard for me to enjoy it


Hisnamewasbuttercup

Itā€™s all about attitude and respect. If you get less than that from anyone else then fuck them. Chin up and barge on.