At the heart of surfing is the pursuit of moments so pure they clean you out | Aeon Essays
Briefly

After a painful divorce, feelings of loneliness prompted an individual to take up surfing in Portugal. Despite initial struggles, persistence in the sport led to a sense of rebirth and newfound dedication. Surfing embodies much more than a cliché lifestyle; it serves as a sanctuary for those in pain. Notably, champions like Sam Bleakley describe surfing as a pathway to healing, where individuals discover deeper truths about life. The exhilarating experience of catching a wave marked a pivotal moment, showcasing the profound joy in overcoming difficulties and attuning to nature's rhythm.
Learning to catch waves has helped me rebuild myself, and find a vein of dedication and strength that I deeply needed to find. I'm not the only one.
Surfers, he says, 'often talk as if they have found a secret in life.'
The first time I ever caught an unbroken wave was one of the greatest moments of my life. The memory is crystalline, perfect: the glistening aquamarine curl extending away from me.
Many hours of spluttering, messy effort to suddenly be so effortlessly, elegantly in tune with the shape of a wave.
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