The Flip Flop Lifestyle

I love Venice Beach… there is never a lack of things going on and there is no better place to people watch in the world. I love the ocean as well - most likely because I never got to see it as a child or maybe I just have a connection with it. Maybe because it it is so endless and powerful… whatever the reason is, I always feel more connected to the universal consciousness just standing and watching the waves.

I was at Venice Beach earlier this year - Labor Day weekend as a matter of fact - and my wife Briana and I spent a couple of days just chillin there and in Santa Monica. We had been in Carlsbad on Saturday where I had fought on a Muay Thai kickboxing card at The Boxing Club. I almost had my opponent out in the 2nd round but he was one tough hombre and wouldn’t stay down, so I ended up winning a decision. We found a hotel to crash at after the fights and the next day decided to head for Venice Beach.

When we got there, I realized that I hadn’t really planned on doing anything after the fights so I had no beach wear at all. I had packed dress shoes in case we decided to go out - yes, dress shoes. But I had no beach type shoes. So, our first mission that morning was to cruise the shops along the beach and find some shorts and flip flops. It was way to hot to wear sweats and Nikes.

It turns out that size 13 flip flops are not common with the street shops. 10’s all day long but not a size 13 to be found. (We actually did find a pair after over an hour of searching.) With the water not a 5 minute walk away, we couldn’t come up with a pair of flip flops.

It occurred to me while looking for footwear that the flip flops themselves were symbolic of a certain way of life… you never really see anyone stressed out or in a hurry while wearing flip flops. Flip flops by their very nature lend themselves to warm weather, beaches and complete relaxation. It was that day that I realized that my search for flip flops, going from store to store in vain, was also very representative of my search for a certain lifestyle.

So after finding the flip flops and eating a couple of great chili cheese dogs while watching some amazing street performers, we walked along the sand and soaked in some sun, talking about what we really wanted out of life. I always get inspired by the ocean and this was no different. Briana pointed out to me she had never really seen me this completely relaxed. It was true - I felt strangely free. Even though I had to go back to real life in a couple days and deal with a crashing real estate market and the daily grind, it was good to let go for a bit.

We cemented our direction that day. As partners in life, we took an idea that had been nagging at us both and helped it take shape - formed it into something tangible to work for. A catharsis that forced the birth of a dream… it would be a couple months yet before we took the next big step, but that day planted a seed that had been quietly growing in to something big.

This entry was posted on Sunday, December 23rd, 2007 at 8:55 pm and is filed under Breakthroughs and Revelations, The Beginning, The Journey . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.