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Tyler Durden Got Me Back in the Ocean
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Back in 1999, I got a call from Edward Norton about the possibility of using my Muscle Truck during the production of a little movie called “Fight Club.
Ultimately, that didn’t work out.
But it did put the movie on my radar. And the funny thing is, the first time I saw it, I didn’t love it. I didn’t get what all the hoopla was about other than the fact that Brad Pitt got in wicked shape. The movie was just too dark (both the theme and the style) for my taste.
Cut to August 2012:
I now see I originally missed the point and have since become a huge fan.
So what does this have to do with me getting back in the ocean after a year and half?
Well it goes something like this:
I love to surf.
I love it in spite of the fact that I’m not very good. I’m afraid of big waves, other surfers, seaweed getting tangled on me, the thought of being held under water and probably a half a dozen other things.
But for the last ten years, I would surf most weekends in the summer (unless the waves were too big or the water was too crowded). Then suddently, last summer, I didn’t surf at all. I was under a lot of stress and I spent most weekends working or at least acting busy.
Then I hurt my back.
Then winter came and it was too cold and besides, I was working too much… BLAH, BLAH, BLAH!
Pretty soon, I became a person that didn’t surf. I just stopped thinking about it.
If I did think about it, I knew I was not conditionied enough to paddle well and that makes me really afraid… I’d tell myself that I might get caught in the “impact zone,” and get held under.
So now, this activity that used to bring me so much joy creates panic instead.
This is where Tyler Durden got involved.
I read a blog post of quotes from “Fight Club” on minimalists.com, one of my favorite websites.
I love the quotes so much, I bought the book.
Reading the book allowed the characters to come alive for me. I understood them so much more.
As Joshua said in his blog post: Fight Club is not a film about fighting. It’s a narrative about life and about getting rid of the corporate and cultural influences (or perhaps the confluence of the two) that control our lives.
Next, I watched the movie. Twice. Now, I can say that I’m slightly obsessed. I highly, highly recommend it.
The quotes that got me back in the water:
I can’t get back of the missed opportunities for surfing but I CAN get in the water now. If my back hurts or I’m afraid to surf, I can boogie board.
Just being in the ocean is what’s important. Riding a wave, however you do it, is pure bliss… which is why you’ll see me out there, with the same big smile on my face, as all of the 12 year olds.
I am so blessed to love my job. I train some of Hollywood’s hottest actors and I definitely don’t want to give it up. I also created and brought to market, one of the single-most effective pieces of exercise equipment, The Valslide, and it’s needs my love and attention to grow.
That being said, I definitely took on a bit too much and didn’t carve out enough time to play.
(All work and no play makes Val a grumpy girl.)
This created additional stress and a couple bouts of depression. I had to get out from under. I had to clear my path and re-align my priorities. I needed to reclaim a sense of joy and I needed new peak experiences. Getting back in the ocean is that first step for me.
I have too much stuff. When I don’t make time for play, I find myself seeking an outlet for pent up energy by ordering things on Amazon.
While I do believe in reading and I love my books, when I’m ordering new ones before the last have even shipped, let alone read, it’s time to stop. When I’m working too hard to pay for things (or a lifestyle) I don’t need, it’s time to stop.
When I shop more than I laugh, it’s time to stop.
Thank you Tyler Durden for my wake up call.
Thank you Joshua & Ryan from The Minimalists for the blog post.
I am now seeking new experiences, relationships, opportunities and laughter.
Who’s with me? Leave a comment below and let me know! I’ll be reading and responding to all of them! 
After all, this is your life, and it’s ending one minute at a time. Take some action now.
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15 Comments
best post ever!
Love you Val! Resonate with a lot of that, especially:
‘When I don’t make time for play, I find myself seeking an outlet for pent up energy by ordering things on Amazon’
Glad you are feeling better and giving more time to you, you can’t help anyone till you look after yourself, so every moment you spend surfing or yogaing you are giving back to all of us more then if you stayed working and got stressed out! X
“I am now seeking new experiences, relationships, opportunities and laughter.” This I love… thanks for the share Valerie.
Val,
So glad you are surfing again:) Wish I didn’t take almost a month to read this post, but I’ve been distracted by work. The quote about being “incomplete” is interesting since it reminds me of the “stay hungry” philosophy. Someone told me a quote they attributed to Warren Buffet which said something like: don’t buy what you don’t need because you’ll wind up selling it to buy what you really need.
Hey Val!
Your post has touched me. I feel like you were right now. I don’t buy so much things because I can’t so much afford it, but I end up working like crazy and when I don’t have nothing to do I invent some more work! I get very obsesional when I have something in mind, and I want to do everuthing perfectly, I pressure myself too much. But for what? I used to have such an apetite for life, and where did it go? I want to get back to myself, find me again, laugh, play (I don’t know how to play anymore!), share, discover new possibilyties and people. I want to open my world… I don’t know how yet, but I will.
Big hug.
Hey Val, I’m currently on a short skiing holiday in New Zealand – I’m a hoarder and I work too many hours, so I’m going home next week to start the clean out – it may take a while, but you just have to start, don’t you! Thanks for the great article.
I’m so with you! Great post
@Karen- Well you are off to a good start with a ski holiday! Then come home and purge at least 10 things. It is liberating!
Your message is very timely for me. My husband and I just went through the conversation – “Do you want to spend money on things or experiences?” Well, needless to say, we want experiences. So great to be on the same page and freeing as well. We are committed to living a life of experiences and we are finished with buying things! Of course, since I already have my valslides it’s easy
Today we’re going to experience a Segway tour in our fine city! Thanks for such a wonderful post Val – you rock as always!
I totally agree, I overspend out of boredom. great article Val!
Gr8 article! I’m with you.
. Being minimalist.
I love this post Val. It definitely resonates with me from the absolutely bliss and love of surfing to filling my life with so many things that I think I “should” do versus what I love or want to do and I’ve been feeling it lately. Super burnt out. I was feeling a similar way when I first started surfing. I had knee surgery about 4 months ago so haven’t been cleared yet to surf and I am itching to get back in the water and to get back to those things that bring me joy. Thanks for the reminder.
Hey Val I could have written that. It is my life exactly. I love surfing but am afraid and stopped. I order way to many books looking for answers. I am buried under crap, too much stuff and an ugly property settlement. I want to give it all away and be free to travel, surf, practice yoga, be fit, love and laugh.
Watching fight club tonight!!
You have given me the inspiration I needed. Thank you.
Hey Val! I am going in the navy as a hospital corpsman and when I get out I want to go back to college. Thanks to the navy they will pay 90 grand of my college tuition. I want a job like yours! To train the elite, and actors and actresses. But how? What do you suggest? What do you study in college? I don’t care if I need 3 majors or more. I really want this bad. I’m hungry to learn and strive to succeed. I used to be obese when I was an early teen but now that I am 19 I have lost 50+ pounds of fat and gained muscle. Please get back to me. You can email me or whatever. Thanks ~ Ron.
No fear. No distractions. The ability to let that which does not matter truly slide.
Friend me up!