Stoking the fire.

80% of wipe outs are invigorating energy baths that offer a fantastic opportunity to beat panic in a staring contest. Loving your wipe outs doesn't mean becoming reckless it means recognizing that you are safe and resilient enough to enjoy the messy side of your favorite wave. 

- Anonymous

Inspiration.

  

 
Otelo Burning. I NEED MUST see this surf film...

RITRATTI DI SURF | GIRLS GIRLS GIRLS | part1 from BLOCK10 on Vimeo.

Songs to make you heart glad.

(and stop thinking about break-ups...)

1. Hanson - mmmbop (there is no way you can resist this song). 

2. Caesars - Jerk it out 

3. Tom Cochrane - Life is a highway 

4. India Arie - Video 

5. Beyonce - Party ft J Cole 

6. Damien Junior Gong Marley - Keep on grooving 

7. Mishka - Lonely (not as depressing as it sounds and the video is lush, think palm trees and beautiful beaches).

8. Naughty by Nature - Hip Hop Hooray 

9. Kriss Kross - Jump 

10. Gnarles Barkley - Going on 

Stay Strong, Surf well 

X  

The Power of 20.

I'm always happy when I'm surrounded by water. I think I'm a mermaid or was a mermaid. The ocean makes me feel really small
and it puts my whole life into perspective. It reminds me I am this very little piece of this huge earth and it humbles you and it grounds you. It makes me feel almost like I've been baptized and I'm one again when I get out of the ocean.
                                   
                                               - Beyonce Knowles


For some unbeknownst reason to me, the number twenty has featured heavily in my life this week. In the first instance it was to do with surfing. I traveled back to Saltburn on Thursday to surf with my good friend Jemima and I think to reconnect with myself. 

Due to time restraints we had only a short period in which to catch some waves. Nick the wonderful surf shack owner from the beach front gestured when we had only twenty minutes remaining. 
When I got back into the ocean I surfed hard I knew it would be a while before I'd have this feeling again so I made sure I felt every molecule against my skin. I indulged in the feeling of being swept away by the tide and the lightness of the board being pulled from underneath me. I even embraced my wipe outs thinking how important it was to appreciate this learning curve. 

Saltburn in all its rugged glory. 

Sometimes its good to see life from a different perspective. 

The happiest Labradoodle in the world!

I am but a small person and this is a very big world.

Jemima the surfer girl ready for business! 

The city of York 

Perspectives from the city of York.

Then to the train station where I had a twenty minute delay. At first I was frustrated and just wanted to be home. But then I listened, I mean actually listened to the music on my mp3 player and watched life unfolding around me. I witnessed goodbyes between lovers, families reuniting and cool hipsters getting ready for a night out. It reminded me that my life will go on and that I should continue to hope and dream for things because every cloud has a silver lining. 

Lastly I found myself in on a Saturday night. I felt panicked like I was missing out on something, after two days of surfing and constant distraction a night with just myself suddenly seemed torturous.I ignored my panic and instead did twenty minutes of yoga. Pushing my body through rounds of sun salutation made me focus on my breathing and gave me the clarity I needed. Reflection is good, being alone can be good too. Its important post break up to be kind to yourself, to explore your sadness and then start rebuilding. 

Sophia loves Casper. Casper loves Sophia! 

I am grateful every day of my life for discovering surfing and for the way its enabled me to meet some fantastic people. My Saltburn surf buddy is a miraculous person who I feel so grateful to have shared such a positive experience with. We're not just surf buddies I think we're friends for life. Nick the surf shop owner is a wizened soul who gave me the best compliment of my life 

"I see a lot of people try surfing who I know aren't going to do it. You two I think are going to be good surfers" 

The word is. Stoked. 

Stay strong and surf well 

Love Sophia 

X 

What Dr Seuss taught me.

“Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.”

― Dr. Seuss

In the transition between finishing one job and starting another I have the luxury of free time (for a little bit). This luckily coincided with one of my really great friends being free so we decided to go play outdoors. It doesn't matter that we're twenty somethings, being out in the fresh air surrounded by trees and wildlife made us giddy happy. 

I hope for more days like these simple but perfect. 

     

So anyway...

The Surfer Stoke Project.

This is a really neat little site I stumbled upon recently, its all about discovering what happiness is, applying the principles in our own lives and seeking to spread happiness to others. 

(Click the banner to follow the link). 

I also came across this gorgeous picture on one of my favorite fashion blog sites Mod Fox. I've always had a soft spot for the dogs society deems as dangerous (we owned a Rottweiler called Yogi for most of my childhood, he was a champion of dogs and I miss him almost everyday). Below is a perfect example that everyone starts out vulnerable and with the potential to be good. This is an 'ahhh' picture if ever I've seen one!

Talk to you soon hombres but in the meantime stay strong and surf well!

X 

The loveliness of ladybirds.

I love ladybirds. They remind me that there is beauty in the smallest of places. 

Its the little things <3 

So I've talked openly about resolutions and about the things I want to achieve for 2013 but in actuality I think a change of mindset is probably best thing to aim for. 
Pure mind. Pure life. 

Sometimes we need the shock of change to reboot our thinking to rejuvenate us and make us reflect. Often without real comprehension we fall into negative patterns and forget about cherishing others and finding the silver linings in life. Everywhere there are lessons to be learnt and opportunities to grow. It's hard to see opportunity in ruin, but ruin is a gift, ruin allows us to appreciate the moments of wonderment in our lives. 

So anyway. 

The sweet sounds of India Arie are helping me realize these things, her music keeps my chin up and I can't help but love her hippy vibe, she's empowering and we all need empowerment! Check out her song 'video' such a beautiful merry song :) 

    















        




















Life in Pictures.  

A pensive looking Oscar (Auntie's cat)

 

      

   
















































       

 





























Stay strong, surf well 
x 

Wave Rider.

"Where but the moment before was only the wide desolation and invincible roar, is now a man, erect, full statured, not-struggling frantically in that wild movement, not buried and crushed and buffeted by those mighty monsters, but standing above them all, calm and superb, poised on the giddy summit, his feet buried in the churning foam, the salt smoke rising to his knees, and all the rest of him in the free air and flashing sunlight, and he is flying through the air, flying forward, flying fast as the surge on which he stands. He is a Mercury-a brown Mercury. His heels are winged, and in them is the swiftness of the sea.”

                                                  - Jack London 

Inspiration.

Sometimes we all need a little visualization to keep our chins up and our hearts open. 

Stay strong, surf well. 

 

Watch this film. Read this Zine.