Surfing Waves

I don't know if any of you are Sunny Garcia fans but I am.https://www.theinertia.com/surf/sunny-garcia-surfer-attempted-suicide-in-portland-oregon/?fbclid=IwAR0NqkG3fdEFrGgQoKV_EWBGOh2VPsMZ7aRUXF_PrB6fgakTGZm81ANbA8A Sunny Garcia is a former World Champion and 6 time Triple Crown Champion and a power surfer. I didn't used to like him long ago because he seemed like a bad guy always fighting and very aggressive. He was on a reality TV show called North Shore Boarding house or something like that and his presence there was what made me not like him initially but he slowly changed on that show. I changed and realized he suffered from depression and a lot of that was fallout from his mental issues. Regardless he was always the most incredible power surfer. I loved the way he surfed. Sadly that may not be anymore. Anyway he is in bad shape after attempting to hang himself. So sad, I hope someone is taking care of his dogs, he has three Malinois

Man I hope he can turn things around physically, and emotionally.

As lucky as we are to have the ocean and waves, that feeling alone isn't enough to sustain us out of the water.

Depression is a tough thing. You're never free from it I guess. I have been following him on Facebook and he posts often about his depression. I guess it all caught up to him. He has 3 dogs and was hoping they would see him through it all. I am sure if he gets through it all he will be worrying about them as well as his family.

Here is a bit about his family https://heavy.com/news/2019/05/sunny-garcia-family/?fbclid=IwAR1S7ufwJlVK1X_YBTxjo1kr7p_cgBuobgdiaKQ9A_n6Rv-ZynFqxERleoc

oldmansurfer wrote:Here is a bit about his family https://heavy.com/news/2019/05/sunny-garcia-family/?fbclid=IwAR1S7ufwJlVK1X_YBTxjo1kr7p_cgBuobgdiaKQ9A_n6Rv-ZynFqxERleoc

Mahalo!

You never really know what's going on inside someone else's mind. I always wondered how people who seemingly have it all could ever consider suicide. The good looks, the fame, the money... it doesn't add up to anything when someone decides to take their own life.
My friend's son recently took his own life. He was smart, handsome, very wealthy, a talented artist. But heartbreak over a girl pushed him to suicide. Mind boggling to me, as someone who has had their share of struggles. I don't know Sunny Garcia but I really hope he recovers and gets some help.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/articl ... -home.html

Surfing legend Sunny Garcia WAKES from his coma
Champion survives suicide attempt and speaks his first words surrounded by family - but his daughter says he has a long way to go

- Vincent 'Sunny' Garcia was found unconscious at his Oregon home on April 29
- His daughter Kaila took to Instagram to tells fans he's now spoken his first words
- Kalia shared a photo of Sunny alongside his first wife and mother of his children
- A family friend said he is now moving his head and can follow people's voices
- The 49-year-old was admitted to a US hospital and placed in Intensive Care Unit
- Garcia is a six-time Hawaiian Triple Crown Champion and celebrated surfer

Full story at link above.

His eyes is scary, doesn't look like him anymore. Perhaps brain damage.

Man, depression is the worst. A close friend of mine lost his son to suicide three years ago. My own mother attempted suicide twice when I was very young.

I also suffer from mental health issues, but meds and therapy have helped me tremendously and I've never gotten to the point of considering suicide. Regardless, I've made the conscious decision not to have kids because my depression gets so bad at times, it physically hurts and is so exhausting, I can't even leave my home for days. I can't imagine having a kid to run after during these times and wouldn't want to risk passing it down to a loved one.

I am a cyclist and ride for my friend's charity ride in memory of his son up in New Paltz, NY every year in June - The Ride for Mental Health. They're doing a great job in squashing the stigma little by little... mental health issues need to be normalized to the point where it's considered the same as diabetes or high blood pressure, no shame.

It's good that people in sport here in the UK are talking more openly about mental health issues and showing a lead that it's ok to bring it into the open and there not alone.

I wasn't ever formally diagnosed with depression but I had problems as a teenager. I came very close to committing suicide once as a young adult. I was going to paddle out on my surfboard to where it was very deep and dive down till I ran out of air. I had just broken up with my girlfriend. She broke up with me because I had a cast on my right forearm and hand due to a boxers break. She took this time to break up with me because it affected my sexual performance and that was the entire basis of our relationship. I was so addicted to her it was really traumatic even though I knew this was going to happen. I had always had a low self esteem and was just starting to feel like I was worthwhile so it was easy for me to go back to thinking I was worthless. I paddled out at my usual spot and there was no one out there and no waves. Just as I got to the usual place that the waves broke a small set came in. They were really small waves but perfectly shaped so I thought well maybe I'll just catch a wave before I off myself so I turned around and caught a wave. I thought well that was alright maybe just one more. Next thing you know I am surfing and having a good time. I realized that I didn't need to kill myself right at that moment but if it became unbearable that was always waiting for me. So I went in and dried off my cast and tried to figure out a away to make a waterproof cover for it. I guess you could say surfing saved my life. It probably wouldn't have been an issue if I didn't have my hand in a cast. I found myself able to endure much suffering because I knew that it would probably end at some point and if not then death was waiting for me to ease my pain. I still keep that in mind these days like death is my pal waiting to meet me again some day one last time. Some day I will die but not anytime soon

oldmansurfer wrote:I wasn't ever formally diagnosed with depression but I had problems as a teenager. I came very close to committing suicide once as a young adult. I was going to paddle out on my surfboard to where it was very deep and dive down till I ran out of air. I had just broken up with my girlfriend. She broke up with me because I had a cast on my right forearm and hand due to a boxers break. She took this time to break up with me because it affected my sexual performance and that was the entire basis of our relationship. I was so addicted to her it was really traumatic even though I knew this was going to happen. I had always had a low self esteem and was just starting to feel like I was worthwhile so it was easy for me to go back to thinking I was worthless. I paddled out at my usual spot and there was no one out there and no waves. Just as I got to the usual place that the waves broke a small set came in. They were really small waves but perfectly shaped so I thought well maybe I'll just catch a wave before I off myself so I turned around and caught a wave. I thought well that was alright maybe just one more. Next thing you know I am surfing and having a good time. I realized that I didn't need to kill myself right at that moment but if it became unbearable that was always waiting for me. So I went in and dried off my cast and tried to figure out a away to make a waterproof cover for it. I guess you could say surfing saved my life. It probably wouldn't have been an issue if I didn't have my hand in a cast. I found myself able to endure much suffering because I knew that it would probably end at some point and if not then death was waiting for me to ease my pain. I still keep that in mind these days like death is my pal waiting to meet me again some day one last time. Some day I will die but not anytime soon

GREAT story!

as an aside, I saw a Surfline email today featuring an update on Sunny Garcia from his daughter's social media - basically he is speaking a few words now and working diligently towards his recovery.

oldmansurfer wrote:I wasn't ever formally diagnosed with depression but I had problems as a teenager. I came very close to committing suicide once as a young adult. I was going to paddle out on my surfboard to where it was very deep and dive down till I ran out of air. I had just broken up with my girlfriend. She broke up with me because I had a cast on my right forearm and hand due to a boxers break. She took this time to break up with me because it affected my sexual performance and that was the entire basis of our relationship. I was so addicted to her it was really traumatic even though I knew this was going to happen. I had always had a low self esteem and was just starting to feel like I was worthwhile so it was easy for me to go back to thinking I was worthless. I paddled out at my usual spot and there was no one out there and no waves. Just as I got to the usual place that the waves broke a small set came in. They were really small waves but perfectly shaped so I thought well maybe I'll just catch a wave before I off myself so I turned around and caught a wave. I thought well that was alright maybe just one more. Next thing you know I am surfing and having a good time. I realized that I didn't need to kill myself right at that moment but if it became unbearable that was always waiting for me. So I went in and dried off my cast and tried to figure out a away to make a waterproof cover for it. I guess you could say surfing saved my life. It probably wouldn't have been an issue if I didn't have my hand in a cast. I found myself able to endure much suffering because I knew that it would probably end at some point and if not then death was waiting for me to ease my pain. I still keep that in mind these days like death is my pal waiting to meet me again some day one last time. Some day I will die but not anytime soon

Awesome story, glad you’re here to tell it. It almost sounds like you’re quoting part of the four noble truths of Buddhism!

https://www.lionsroar.com/what-are-the- ... le-truths/

Tom

kookRachelle wrote:Man, depression is the worst. A close friend of mine lost his son to suicide three years ago. My own mother attempted suicide twice when I was very young.

I also suffer from mental health issues, but meds and therapy have helped me tremendously and I've never gotten to the point of considering suicide. Regardless, I've made the conscious decision not to have kids because my depression gets so bad at times, it physically hurts and is so exhausting, I can't even leave my home for days. I can't imagine having a kid to run after during these times and wouldn't want to risk passing it down to a loved one.

I am a cyclist and ride for my friend's charity ride in memory of his son up in New Paltz, NY every year in June - The Ride for Mental Health. They're doing a great job in squashing the stigma little by little... mental health issues need to be normalized to the point where it's considered the same as diabetes or high blood pressure, no shame.

Hiding these issues gives them power over us, good on you for bringing them out into the light. I’m not sure if you’ve tried a regular yoga practice (minimum 3X per week, but the more the better), but if you haven’t you might consider it. If you are a beginner, the poses and movements can ‘free up’ channels in the body and release endorphins and such, and this can be extremely beneficial for depression. I know from experience. I literally called my yoga practice “the cure for depression” for the first year or so. I was on a cloud and just absolutely ecstatic about life every day. I’m not sure how long this could have gone on for, because I let a medical misdiagnosis (an x ray showed a node in my lung that turned out to be nothing) drag me down, and I never quite got back to that high, but man it was good. I started surfing somewhere in there too so I practice less now, but I have chosen this path consciously so it’s all good. Honestly, the highs I’ve had from surfing are pretty damn good too, just not the continuous cloud nine I got from yoga. I don’t claim that this will work for everyone, but it sure worked for me.

Tom

oldmansurfer wrote:I wasn't ever formally diagnosed with depression but I had problems as a teenager. I came very close to committing suicide once as a young adult. I was going to paddle out on my surfboard to where it was very deep and dive down till I ran out of air. I had just broken up with my girlfriend. She broke up with me because I had a cast on my right forearm and hand due to a boxers break. She took this time to break up with me because it affected my sexual performance and that was the entire basis of our relationship. I was so addicted to her it was really traumatic even though I knew this was going to happen. I had always had a low self esteem and was just starting to feel like I was worthwhile so it was easy for me to go back to thinking I was worthless. I paddled out at my usual spot and there was no one out there and no waves. Just as I got to the usual place that the waves broke a small set came in. They were really small waves but perfectly shaped so I thought well maybe I'll just catch a wave before I off myself so I turned around and caught a wave. I thought well that was alright maybe just one more. Next thing you know I am surfing and having a good time. I realized that I didn't need to kill myself right at that moment but if it became unbearable that was always waiting for me. So I went in and dried off my cast and tried to figure out a away to make a waterproof cover for it. I guess you could say surfing saved my life. It probably wouldn't have been an issue if I didn't have my hand in a cast. I found myself able to endure much suffering because I knew that it would probably end at some point and if not then death was waiting for me to ease my pain. I still keep that in mind these days like death is my pal waiting to meet me again some day one last time. Some day I will die but not anytime soon

I am thankful you didn't do it Ol' Man. So many little critters have benefited from your professional care. Plus, Mrs. Old Man and that crazy lil' hound you have are better with you than without. Me & Roxy Ridgeback, too (better w/ than w/o ya, Brah)!

I have had so many close calls nearly died instances in my life. The concept of dying was something I dealt with at a very young age. I always knew it might happen but it never did. Still one of these days it will happen. It's a fact of life. From the moment you are born there is only one thing that is certain and that is you will die at some point. Why live your whole life in fear of that moment? I mean you don't need to shorten your life but live without fearing the end. It's going to come whatever you do so you should live your life appropriately so you won't regret it when it's your time.

oldmansurfer wrote:I have had so many close calls nearly died instances in my life. The concept of dying was something I dealt with at a very young age. I always knew it might happen but it never did. Still one of these days it will happen. It's a fact of life. From the moment you are born there is only one thing that is certain and that is you will die at some point. Why live your whole life in fear of that moment? I mean you don't need to shorten your life but live without fearing the end. It's going to come whatever you do so you should live your life appropriately so you won't regret it when it's your time.

I made an account just to respond to this. Death is something I never really thought about or let bother me through pretty much my whole life until just this past year. I’m only 25 but lately the thought of my own death has kept me up at night, just constantly wondering. Yes I’m slightly scared to die, but thinking of the effect it will have on my family is what really rattles me. For some reason your post has put this thought at ease though and I don’t know why. Like you said from the moment you are born the only thing promised is your death. For some reason that makes it not seem as big of a deal.. its just a natural part of life that all living things must go through. I appreciate the peace of mind you’ve given me

Nic, it is a natural part of life, engage as fully as you can in living, have no fear of living.
If you live your life to the full, family and friends will celebrate how you traveled through!