Image: Creator/founder of Salt Surf Nabil out surfing, California, 2022

I love the Californian-based clothing company Salt Surf, especially their ethos: “Nice and Cool” and anyone can surf. Their T-shirts and sweaters are awesome as well! The founder/creator, Nabil, posted his 2022 end-of-year review today and it resonated big time. The feeling of “stillness’ or “stuckness” he experienced made sense to me, and then these bursts of creativity leading to something being produced. The highs and lows, losses and gains, and a strange sense of waiting, while also trying to feel grateful for the smallest things. Last year was a challenge, so here’s what Nabil had to say:

“My end of year reflections usually happen a little late. This past year was full of a lot of things. There was a lot of stillness. Calling it stillness might actually be giving it too much credit. It was actually more like stuckness. A lot of the year felt almost like waiting for something. There were some moments of movement. Creativity. Sometimes creativity paired up with productivity and there was a creation. Sometimes creativity looked like presence and stillness. It was a humbling year. I cried a lot (happy and sad tears…weddings, deaths, joys, heartbreaks…) I said the phrase STFU a few too many times (mostly in my head). I tried to get buff. Some new relationships came. Some went. A lot of wonderful friends helped make this year a lot more beautiful. I wish I could list all of you. Gratitude was present a lot. I think the prior years taught me to be thankful for everything because everything can be lost. So, in the past year it felt easier to be grateful, even when it sucked. Truthfully, and this isn’t a marketing thing, surfing got me through a lot in this past year. It was a consistent place to turn to. Beauty was always present in surfing.

There isn’t a pretty bow to put on this past year. It’s not wrapped up nicely. It was complex. Multifaceted. But, grateful for it nonetheless. ❤️ u all.”