Introduction 1
Wave 1 My First Wave: An Invitation to Suck 11
First Times Are Overrated
That Bitch, Nostalgia
New Things
Break It Down
Find Your Thing
Bad Virtues
Wave 2 My Pura Vida Wove: Chasing a Dream and the Demons Away 43
Risk Is Underrated
A Star Fall, A Phone Call, Synchronicity
Play Like You Mean It
Work Is Overrated
Surrender To Paradise, Submit To Hell
Wave 3 My Worst Wave: Tearing Myself Another One 77
Desire Isn't Your Friend
Stories Matter
Pain Is Information
Confidence To Fail
Stories Bring Gifts
Wave 4 My Best Wave: Surfing Through Chemo or Whatever Shit May Come Your Way 103
Joy Where You Least Expect It
An It-Chose-You Adventure
Vulnerability Sucks … Or, Maybe Not
Just When You Thought It Was Safe To Get Back In The Water…
Gratitude: A Gateway To Resilience
Cool Ain't Shit
Wave 5 My God Wove: The Power of Belief 133
We Want People To Watch
Delicious Humble Pie
That Oceanic Feeling
And Then God Answered
All You Need Is Love
Wave 6 Rocco's Scary Wave: Taking it On the Head 161
Shit Goes Wrong
Teach Our Children Well
Shit Goes Wrong That Has Nothing To Do With You
Butterflies And Chaos
Wave 7 Mind Surfing: Watching the Waves from Shore 185
Pain Is Information, Part II
What Beauty Is
Pain Relieves Pain
The Kindness Of Strangers
Acknowledgments 205
Citations and Notes 209
Bibliography 231