Episode 16: Be Scared But Do It Anyway with Celia Mulderrig
This is the first of a two part episode recorded on La Misión Surf Trip with the Surf Continuum. When I was in the very beginning stages of learning to surf, I was completely clueless about surf etiquette and all of the rudimentary steps that precede actually standing on a surfboard. Then, I found KookCast, hosted by the Surf Continuum and everything started to make sense. Coaches Chris and Ev do a fantastic job of breaking down the fundamentals of learning to surf and they teach you how to stay safe in the water. After following their podcast for a year, I jumped at the chance to join their Baja Surf Trip. It was spectacular. 7 days of 4 hour morning surf sessions in uncrowded lineups, lots of followup feedback, video sessions, and a local’s experience in Baja. In addition, we were only 7 students, the coolest group of people with whom you would ever hope to share this kind of intense experience. In the following two episodes I interview the other two women who were on the trip with me.
In this episode with Celia Mulderrig, we talk about embracing fear head-on by doing scary things such as improv, Muay Thai Kickboxing, Tough Mudder obstacle courses and of course learning to surf. We discuss how to set clear intentions before a surf session or any challenging activity, and the vital importance of creating community wherever you go. Celia will challenge you to be scared but do it anyway because more often than not, the stakes couldn’t be lower.
Show Highlights:
[0:00 - 5:14] Doing Improv: The Stakes couldn’t be lower
[5:15- 9:42] Muay Thai Kickboxing: Do I cry or throw up?
[9:43 - 13:47] Tough Mudder: For the love of strangers
[13:48 - 16:29] La Misión Surf Trip: Setting Clear Intentions
[16:30 -22:54] Kookcast: The ultimate beginner tool belt
Quotes by Celia:
“The first Muay Thai class I did was an hour and a half. At the end of it, I didn't know if I was going to cry or throw up because it was such an intense workout and I was really hooked!”
“In Tough Mudder, we intentionally build obstacles where you would have to work together to complete them. There's something really powerful when you're doing it for a stranger. You reach out a hand and a stranger just grabs it and helps you over. There's no questions asked, like, who are you? What do you need? It’s just I see you and I help you.”
“I don't want to look back on my life and say I didn't do this thing because I was afraid. I think recognizing that fear has a purpose. It's to protect you and our bodies don't always recognize what is a real fear versus a perceived fear. Don't let it hold you back. Life's too short.”
Photo by The Surf Continuum, 2023.