Editor’s Note: Have a question for Dibi Fletcher? She’s definitely got answers. Or at least a perspective. Don’t hold back, shoot her a DM on Instagram and ask away. Here’s this week’s dispatch from the Matriarch of Radical…
Hey Dibi…I’ve watched the same beach for 30 summers. The ocean hasn’t changed much, but people sure have. Seems like everyone is on their phone, there are less conversations, more photos, seems like fewer friendships. It’s like they’re waiting to enjoy their day until they post it. Am I just imagining it? – Tower 12
Hey Tower 12… I don’t think you’re imagining it, I think you’re recognizing it from your perch on the tower where you’ve learned to be observant of human behavior. With all the wonderful things technology has created for us it’s also got a side that seems to rob us of the ability to be in the now. Going to the beach used to be one of the great opportunities to be fully in the grandeur of nature. Hopefully there will be a day soon when people packing for the beach decide to have the full experience and leave their phone home.
Hey Dibi… The loudest people in the lineup usually know the least about it. Why is confidence so often mistaken for experience? – The Quiet Local
Hey The Quiet Local… Because humility rarely announces itself. The surfer who knows the ocean best is usually still learning from it. The one who thinks they’ve mastered it, hasn’t been humbled enough yet, but the ocean has a way of introducing itself to all who have the courage to listen.
Related: Hey Dibi: Are Wave Pools In The California Desert Legit?
Hey Dibi… I’ve surfed perfect waves on five continents. My favorite memory isn’t a barrel. It’s eating fish tacos with strangers after a mediocre session in Mexico. Why does it seem the little moments outlast the big ones? – Full Passport
Hey Full Passport… It’s like the big trips to Disneyland when the kids are small, the memories fade. The ones that stay vivid overtime are about sitting at the table laughing so hard that milk comes out your kid’s nose. It’s nothing planned, scheduled, or expected, its life happening in all its spontaneity. Enjoy the ride.
Hey Dibi… My husband used to kiss two fingers and touch the deck of his board before every session. Our grandson asked me why. I didn’t know what to tell him, I always just took it for granted. Do I tell him it was superstition or gratitude? – Surf Widow
Hey Surf Widow… I’m so sorry for your loss. I think you might say something about how some rituals aren’t meant to be explained; they’re meant to be repeated. Your grandfather never wanted to forget that surfing and being able to go into the ocean was a privilege and not something to be taken for granted and that’s a beautiful habit he would want his grandson to inherit.
Hey Dibi… I started a surf company because I love surfing. Five years later I spend more time looking at spreadsheets than swell charts. How do you keep your passion when it’s being sacrificed for inventory? – Founder in Costa Mesa
Hey Founder in Costa Mesa… The word “company” in your first sentence, is a dead giveaway. Starting a business is a full-time commitment but you might try to protect one session every week. No meetings, no phone calls, no photos, just you and the surf. It’s easiest to keep the promise to yourself if it’s the same time every week. Pretty soon the space will be carved out for you to enjoy the reason you started the company in the first place.
Related: Hey Dibi: What’s The Best Way To Deal With Surf Rage?
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