!Vamos a la playa!

"Surfing is like having a cold bucket of water thrown over you-over and over again..." said one of my yoga students recently, who also happens to be another land locked surfer?! 

Finally after 4 MONTHS of drought I returned to my beloved Saltburn and surfed! I'm talking freezing winter North Sea conditions where neoprene isn't just a matter of convenience it is an absolute necessity. Oh glorious beloved Saltburn! 

On my first day in the water I surprised myself with how well I surfed, I don't mean to sound smug on the contrary I was fully expecting epic wipe outs due to being away for so long. Blessed with two foot glassy waves in lovely clean lines (i.e. play waves), I was able to rehearse the pop up over and over again and begin having a proper go at turning. 

The waves made it fun but the people made it awesome, our post surf down time was spent in a Saltburn surfer's beautiful wooded back garden having a BBQ and bonfires, which seems so novel in the middle of a British winter. 

























Other stuff that happened this week.....Yoga with unwashed hair, in your PJ's in between the furniture of your parents house! That's the great thing about Yoga it doesn't need to occur in exotic beach locations or be overly complex, just get on your mat and practice.  Word of warning ladies: dressing up in traditional Mexican clothes, drawing on a mustache and speaking Spanish at your boyfriend is not sexy or romantic as a theme for date night!!! 

And last of all my gorgeous little butter ball Bruh the bunny as ever my little source of happiness! 

Until next time 

Stay strong, surf well 

Love 

 

Diligent Happiness.

What if I told you, you could be happy 365 days of the year, every year for the rest of your life, would you think I was high? Lately I've been reading about meditation and came across the term 'diligent happiness.' 

Much like drinking water is a conscious act we perform to keep our bodies hydrated, happiness is a conscious decision which we must actively make everyday of our lives.

I know I sound like a care bear but this theory makes so much sense to me because it is giving us the power to shape our own lives exactly how we want them to resemble. 
Like any habit negative thinking is a pattern we get ourselves into, sometimes I liken it to sitting in a warm Jacuzzi, it's easy to luxuriate in the warmth of stagnation to get out, to brave the cold and have to walk to find warmth is so much harder than it is to just sit there and wallow. 

I've been finding solace in positive thinking because such a massive amount of change is happening this year. My dream of living by the ocean is a mere few months away, the course of my dreams (studying Occupational Therapy at Teeside University) is an ambition ready to be fulfilled and on top of all that I am with a man who makes me goofy happy. 

Forgive me for being a little overwhelmed. 

I've been stoking this little fire of foreboding, waiting for something to trip up my happiness. I won't be able to afford it, I'm going to hate the course, Mr Sunny (the boyfriend) and I are going to find long distance too difficult we'll split up. Before I know it I've got myself into a tangled web of negative thinking and things naturally start to go a little wry. 

I am genuinely worrying about the finances of this venture, of being a 25 year old returning to study and trying to survive on very little whilst also somehow affording to travel back and forth to see my boyfriend who lives in Birmingham. How the hell am I going to do this? 

Then I exhale and force myself to dismiss these thoughts. 

Balance is about looking at both the bad and the good and standing somewhere in the middle. I realize these three years of study are going to be a challenge but who said it has to be bad? Challenge suits me, challenge makes me determined and ensures I value my moments of contentment. 

I'm giving myself homework and I think you should study with me too. Set aside ten minutes in your day to meditate. Control you breathing setting a pattern until your mind is focused enough to reach the next level of your meditation. If you have wayward thoughts dismiss them as though they are bits of fluff you brush off your clothes. When you feel centered concentrate on your third eye for a few moments (the spot in between your eyebrows). Finally begin visualizing yourself happy, set yourself in scenes which bring you joy, how does it feel? What are your surroundings, what are the scents and textures of this visualization? Revise the lightness you feel and take it into you like your absorbing golden light. 

Do this so you become accustomed with making yourself happy and being able to dismiss negativity. Suffering is an inevitable part of life but it is your choice whether you hold onto that and continue to neglect yourself. 

I don't know how this year is going to pan out and the toll it'll have on my otherwise lovely relationship but I'll surf and I'll meditate and that is going to ensure I fight everyday to be happy and stay happy. 

   

































These pictures are in no particular order and make no particular sense but I like them. The dog is a border terrier, a dog my folks have agreed on letting me have, which means a family happy to have it around when I return from University. Oh my goodness. 

Until next time, 

Stay strong and surf well 
Love

Teeside.

The only thing better than catching a wave is witnessing someone experience the stoke of surfing for the first time. I had the privilege of being there, when my best friend's daughter, donned a dinky wet suit and took to the water - all after an otherwise very serious morning. 

Having got through a fairly daunting interview for the Occupational Therapy course I aspire to complete (which is a thinly veiled excuse to set up a business in surf therapy) at Teeside University, I got convinced (didn't take much) to change into a wet suit despite a full face of makeup and catch some waves in my favorite break. 

Turns out surfing in red lipstick is actually pretty rad, it made me feel bold and like I had every intention of surfing with such a statement lip! I even enjoyed the funny looks from other surfers - yeah I'm here! 

The little person loved the waves despite nearly getting hypothermia at one point, I think with warmer weather and a lot of encouragement she could really become a surfer girl. Here's some pictures courtesy of Jemima Stubbs from few days hanging out. 

No Mia's were harmed in the making of this picture! Turns out getting little people into wet suits is actually not that easy, this seemed to be the best and funnest method tried!

This was taken before we got in the water when we could feel our hands and feet and knew what warmth was. 

This is how we rocked up to my interview, child seat and surfboard in tow. We must have been doing something right because I got complimented on the coat and the lecturers chatted to me about surfing for a while. All good omens! 

Until next time, 

Stay strong and surf well 

Love

The Art of Sinning.

Photo of me (Sophia) taken by Sarah Kelly of Blue Print Photography.

The Buddhist approach to life is finding positives in what appear to be negatives, living compassionately and meditating to work towards gaining enlightenment. So it is with this tenuous link that this wannabe Buddhist analyses the seven deadly sins...

I'm not entirely sure what my point is here, or why I feel the need, on this surf inspired blog, to do a post relating to Christian concepts, but well, I guess I'm striving to highlight that non of us are perfect and its in our flaws that the greatest amount of growth and learning can be derived. 

So here goes nothing...

Wrath. 
I can't say there has ever been a time when I've lost my rag and the outcome has been good. Getting angry is you losing control having being wronged, offended or denied. That being said anger can be utilized, whether that's to set boundaries or escape dangerous situations. In my opinion it should be used as a strategy because it is in aftermath of wrath that I've found my determination. Anger is a fuel, you can either use it to light up a dark room or let it burn down the house!  In anger I have said things I didn't mean, let my tongue do laps around my mouth and regretted hurting people I care about. Then comes the second lesson of anger, forgiveness. Forgiveness is the most powerful tool you possess either for your enemies or for yourself, it is a beautiful humbling phenomenon of life which we all should master. 

Greed.
If you must be greedy then be greedy for compassion. Develop a voracious appetite for helping others because in the process you'll discover something about yourself. I often find a certain level of greediness comes into my surfing, I want good conditions, uncrowded beaches and to slide on wave after wave. Its impossible for this to happen all of the time so I stay hungry and its that insatiability which makes me a better surfer. By keeping me honed and interested I continue to improve. Greed needn't be a bad thing. 

Sloth. 
In a life where I'm up at 5am, can check my emails, blog, facebook, instagram, and whattsapp at 5.15, do some fitness, then work a 14 hour shift it's easy to get embroiled in a pace of life that is both physically and mentally exhausting. I fully endorse sloth days, days where you do nothing at all. In those glorious empty moments I meditate, do yoga and if I really can be arsed maybe catch up with a friend. I believe more than ever its important to disconnect and try to unwind enough for both our bodies and minds to rejuvenate. Get some actual face time with people who radiate you and let the things that drain you leave you be just for a day. 

Failing that, look at pictures of sloths. See, you feel better already. 

Pride. 
Whilst believing that your better than others is never a positive endeavor having pride in yourself is. Be proud of your accomplishments and what you aspire to be because it is by possessing this trait that you'll continue to strive to be better. When you have pride in your work you'll be more efficient, go that extra mile and continue to evolve as a person. It'll also make you cherish what you've amassed, i.e. the people you've dared to love because its taken hard work to achieve those things. Just make sure what your proud of are things which make a positive impact, are compassionate and which have been acquired through honest routes. 

Lust.
This I have absolutely no problem with, as Iggy Pop once famously quipped we all need 'Lust for life!' You've got to have passion if you want to achieve anything in this world, I lust after surfing because I believe it makes me a better, more well rounded person. I lust after a career which helps others and it is precisely this cardinal sin which pushes me to work harder to achieve these passions. Lust is dangerous when unbridled and without consequence, which is a selfishness we must all fight against but when harnessed, I believe its one of your greatest arsenals. In a sexual context, lust can be a pretty good thing to possess too! If you have lust for someone worthy of your affections, who respects you, treats you with kindness and compassion then I say go enjoy yourselves! 

Envy.

Ok, I admit I'm struggling to find the silver lining for this one. The trouble with envy is that it can tarnish a great many good things whether that be your esteem or your relationships. What I will say though is that like any negative, when we pull it apart and examine why its making us feel the way we do, often we can reveal a greater understanding about ourselves. This can only be a constructive thing because by discovering our weaknesses we can start making them into strengths. 

Gluttony.
I think we should have a gluttony for organic, naturally farmed food which works in harmony with our environment. We should desire in excess food which elevates our farmers, benefits nature and doesn't cause people in third world countries to starve. I believe we should be gluttonous for our governments to prioritize ecological incentives and green energy that embraces the fact that our world is in dire straits and that its our moral obligation to right those wrongs. As a surfer I am gluttonous for fish stocks, I want the world to stop treating marine life like an infinite source of food and realize they are finite just like everything else in this world. This should be our gluttony. 

Right that's more than enough rambling for one day, hope you liked today's musings. 
By the way the beautiful paintings are non other than Wilma Johnson a.k.a. Surf Mama, buy her book and check her out she's AWESOME! 

Until next time,

Stay strong and surf well my beautiful yogis! 
Love

Parallels.

 

 

Above photo courtesy of Jemima Stubbs Photography. 

My life runs in parallels, one being the person I am in the Birmingham city and the other the surfer girl who lives and breathes Saltburn. I shared a wave with one of my best friends this weekend which has inspired contemplation upon parallels and how these two pieces of my life meld together. 

Whilst most of the UK was swamped by snow and rain I traveled with the Land Locked Surfers up to a relatively dry Saltburn. I hardly noticed the less than perfect conditions on Friday being that I was so happy just to be in the ocean at all (we ended up staying there five hours). 

It had been almost 2 months since my last surf.

Saturday we somehow dragged ourselves out of bed at 6.30am in the morning and were in surfing by 7.30am. Watching the sun rise over Saltburn cliff was a 'pinch me' moment, something which I'm unable to properly articulate, there are no words of photos which would do that sunrise justice. 

I've come home bone weary, full of cold but elated that I got to pursue my passion with wonderful, like minded individuals. I always come back a little out of sorts because these snippets of life in Saltburn remind me of the one I'm striving for. One of predawn surf sessions, walking a dog along the beach, warm locals and dear friends. The funny thing was no sooner had I gotten home I got messages from my best friend who said she felt exactly the same. Its the magic of Saltburn I guess, it seems to have this pull over us. 

You know me by now, I don't like to let things get me down for too long, I'm not looking upon Birmingham with disdain I'm seeing my hometown as a greenhouse, it's sheltered me and helped me grow but now it's time to get out and try finding some new soil. 

One day, in the not so distant future, I think Saltburn might become home. 

Fingers crossed. 

Until next time stay strong and surf well
Love

Great Expectations.

Pause you who read this, and think for a moment of the long chain of iron or gold, of thorns or flowers, that would never have bound you, but for the formation of the first link on one memorable day.
-Charles Dickens, Great Expectations. 

I love Christmas. I adore the gaudy decorations, the sickly sweet films, the Christmas songs the radio insists on playing all day everyday. I love the excuse to spend time with your family, the careful buying of presents for people you cherish, the obligatory panic buying for the people you hadn't planned on getting anything for. I even love buying a toy for the dog knowing that he's going to be as excited as I feel, when he smells there's a rubber ball wrapped up for him. 

This year I won't be able to do many of my usual traditions because I'll be doing a fourteen hour shift at work. Understandably my initial reaction to this news was one of severe disappointment, I wouldn't be able to share my Christmas with my nearest and dearest. That was until I realized this was my gift. I'm going to spend my day making it special for people who don't have family, or if they do family who can't come and visit them. I'll help make their Christmas dinner and I've spent the last several weeks lovingly buying gifts for them which I'll wrap and reveal to them on Christmas morning. 
In a round about sort of way I think I'll be living the real meaning of Christmas and what's not to love about that?

A poser picture of me by my mom's lovingly decorated Christmas tree!

Being single is always a funny one around Christmas time. That Mariah Carey song plays a million times a day and its difficult to not feel wistful. 

Dear readers, I want to share something with you because in a weird kind of way your almost like friends now. I know that sounds strange but I get a lot of solace writing (almost) anonymously to you... 

Around Christmas a few years ago me and my ex boyfriend, the surfer dude, experienced a great loss, which I suppose has shaped us immensely as people.
On a fairly uneventful day leading up to Christmas he came round my house and told me he was going to America because his father had passed away in a freak accident. Initially the shock of his announcement was so great that I thought he was joking, it was only when his mother came into the room (a lovely woman who I hadn't had the opportunity to properly meet), that I realized that surfer dude was being serious. I had five minutes to console the man I loved dearly, rush to give him his Christmas presents which he'd take with him and say goodbye not knowing how long he'd be in America for. 

For the next month or so I was lonely and powerless. Surfer dude had needed to be fully there in his grief, he was away from communication so I spent my days worrying endlessly about him. Even though I knew he wouldn't reply I wrote to him everyday telling him about little things going on in Cumbria (where I was living at the time) and that I was thinking of him. 

On his return, the immense love and the confusion of the situation made our first encounter awkward. He may has well have been made of glass, I didn't know how to help him or make things better. I now know grief is a process, it takes people time to fully come to terms with their loss. I was trying so hard to fix things that couldn't be mended by my hands alone. 

Around Christmas I always tend to think of surfer dude. We split up a long while ago, I like to think because at the time we hadn't the energy after everything that had happened to us. Along with his loss, I was also caring for someone who was in an out of hospital so pretty engrossed in that, all the while trying to do my dissertation too. At that stage in our lives we needed time for ourselves to heal and come to terms with the chaos around us. 

We are still friends to this day and a part of me will always love him. 

Christmas is funny like that, it has a talent for making you nostalgic. It also is a great time for hope (I know, I know here she goes again going on and on about hope)! Around this time I started talking to my beloved Jemima, we conspired and gossiped about surfing until in our own separate heartbreaks decided to get on a train and go try to surf in Saltburn together. 

The rest they say is history...

 

Until next time, 

Stay strong, surf well 
Love