Surfing is hard.
Paddling out.
Waiting.
Deciding which wave to paddle into.
More paddling. Focused. Rapid paddling this time.
Nope.
Not enough.
You missed it.
Start over.
Paddle paddle! You got one!!!
Oh bummer. Lost your balance and face planted for a round of sucking salt water.
Start over.
And then?
The payoff.
Oh, that sweet 60 seconds of acceleration.
And the sensation of being carried by the immense power of the ocean.
This kid from Kansas was incredibly lucky to have had the chance to live in Hawaii for nearly a year, to have a friend in Remo Sagastume who took him out on the water for the first time, for Maria and Guy Kaho’ohanohano to have welcomed him into their ohana, and to many others who were gracious and patient teachers.
During my time in paradise, I tried to soak in every moment 
and get out on the water often. Here’s a secret about surfing that I’ve found to be true in attempting anything new. Get comfortable being terrible at first. For me, the journey of learning and pushing myself was every bit as rewarding as the fleeting moments up on the board, with wobbly knees and mediocre balance.
In a two hour session I might spend only minutes actually engaged in what could be called 
“surfing.” I’m sure that others perform better, but to me it didn’t matter. Half of the time paddling back and forth to the right break. Equally as much time sitting with the ebb and flow of the ocean watching the set roll in, with the hope of finding a wave that might be gracious enough to let me dance with it. Then in 30 second bursts to paddle with everything you’ve got in an effort to match the momentum and drop in. More often than not I would fail, either unable to catch the wave, or wipe out using my forehead as a surface pressure tester on the water. Not going to lie. That hurts. And depending on the location and the specific break, I found more than my fair share of rocks or reef, and the occasional shallow sandbar. Scars are cool, right?
The day before I jumped on a plane for my move back to the mainland was drawn to steal a few final moments on the water. It was evening, and my favorite spot was calm. But it didn’t stop me from grabbing a board and making my way out about the equivalent of a football field from the shoreline. Diamond Head in view on one side and the massive expanse of ocean as far as the eye could see on the other. There were no waves to ride that evening. But there was a magnificent sunset and time to reflect. To reflect on a once in a lifetime opportunity to call this incredible place my home. To reflect on the year of paddling and falling and paddling and occasionally surfing.
What new risks will you take? Are there procedures you would like to learn and implement in your dental practice? Are you ready to get comfortable being uncomfortable in the pursuit of learning something new? My hope is that you are finding ways personally or professionally to push beyond your comfort zone, and that you have mentors and teachers to support and encourage you on the journey.
While I’m not qualified to teach surfing lessons, if you’re looking for ways as a dental practice owner or team to fight to retain your independence, increase top line revenue, surgically attack overhead, create the practice of your dreams, and keep patient care at the center of everything you do, I’m always grateful for the opportunity to help. If you ever want to chat or have questions, please drop me a line or grab time on my calendar.
Sending aloha! 
-Rob
