Sobriety

[Howly Wolf]

I used to think surfing was like therapy, but have come to find it's more the other way around. Paddling out into the internal waters is a skill in itself and having flotation you can count on is crucial to the experience. There's courage and vulnerability involved, as well as the opportunity for adventure. While therapy may not get the blood pumping in the same way as getting in the ocean, it provides a similar sense of, uh, "stoke". Surfing, or at least how I've been doing it, differs in that it heavily exercises the judgement muscle whereas therapy (like mindfulness practices and psychedelics) offers opportunity to relax it. Here's hoping my own talk talk deal helps reinvigorate a more zen approach to riding waves and for that gift, I'll happily deconstruct what I think I know about myself, the world, and how to do surfing itself.

[Major Lazer]

Endorphins seem to keep me sane which I find in the ocean or mountains or sometimes on a skateboard these days or even on my bike or in the gym. Not in a shinks office but it's good to talk out with someone neutral. Sometimes its the mailman, sometimes it's a friend.

Been dabbling in sober October but not enough surf recently to keep it going. That said have kept it to 3 beers max on just a handful of occasions. Could probably pull the Cali Sober but rando drug tests for work kinda keep that in check which is hard to believe in this day and age. A change up, a lifestyle change, a new challenge outside of work, some new waves, a new climate, long term international travel would all be a good shock to the system. Routine kills my endorphins and deep in one that I hope to break some day.

[Foul Pete]

10 months today. Cholesterol is down, wetsuits are getting baggy...
Might order a new board with the savings...
or just crack open a large larg...

[Tex]

Well done FP!!! Very stoked for you, it has to be encouraging to see the impact of the healthy choices you are making. Losing beer weight had significant impact on my surfing ability.

[Tex]

I am trying to get my brain sobered up these days. Last social media I took part in was Wednesday Nov 7th. I have pulled the plug on newspapers, online news of any kind, no insanitygram, no X, no Youtube, no football. Down to 1.5 hours on my phone. Mostly, just me and my thoughts. I have spent more time out on my street, chatting up the neighbors, helping some of the older folks with yard work and leaves. Its a trip folks....but a good one. All the online stuff is simply programming....is the conclusion I am coming to. Is OSP social media??? Maybe, long form seems better for the soul.

[Major Lazer]

Doing the Dry January this year. Will likely do some micro/macro dosing, so is that called Oregon sober if California sober is the weed smoking sober? Kinda indulged a bit over the holidays eating and drinking more than usual and slaked a bit on fitness routines, but now I am back on it and shedding those lbs I may have put on. Bit over a week in, back on gym and pool game, and already feeling the clarity and lack of brain fog.

[Tex]

Very cool ML! I did my very first sensory deprivation float on Friday evening. It has been on my bucket list for many years but got a 3 session pack for my 53RD birthday in November. It was pretty damn amazing experience. Made me realize how I am almost always on sensory overload. Around the 45 min mark in the tank I became completely still and I could literally hear my heart beating. Came away, deeply relaxed, seemed like all my stress was gone and I was calmly detached from all the little things that would generally stir up some kind of emotion. I ended up at home, staring off into the fireplace for a good two hours. It was an effort to make my car go faster than 20 miles an hour on my way home. Anyway, fantastic experience with the good folks at Float North in NE PDX. Hope you all get a chance to try it!

[Foul Pete]

Made it 11.5 months.

Cracked some tins over the hols. Was largely a let down. Should have tried harder.

Back on the wagon.

[Tex]

DAMN GOOD RUN FP...