Each day on the water is different and the people you meet at different spots all around the world are a diverse bunch of people too. We talked to Walter Hommelsheim, Personal Growth & Development Coach and a passionate surfer himself, about openness, creativity, challenges and the happiness found in diversity.
Interview: Bernd Zerelles
Walter, as a surfer and personality development coach you’ve been training and qualifying inspirational coaches in your company for many years now. What’s your definition of diversity?
Diversity in the human sense means to live, think and exist outside your own little box. To be open-minded, to pay attention to the diversity all around, to love it and to be creative with it. I feel there are many social tendencies right now revolving around nurturing “one’s own self” and retreating to “yours”; thus, to disconnect from this diversity.
But windsurfers don’t disconnect and isolate themselves?
No, no, I’m referring to general trends in society worldwide. The opposite is true for windsurfers. Windsurfers live this openness and are curious and open to diversity. The same applies to surfers, kitesurfers and all water boardsports enthusiasts. They connect cross-culturally with the diversity of nature. It’s a basic principle of our sport: no wave is ever the same nor is the wind. There is always this great variety of possibilities in our sport. For example in tennis, it’s the total contrary, the court never moves nor does the net lift up or lower. For windsurfers constant change is perfectly normal and it’s simply part of the sport. This flexibility to adapt to and be at ease with constant change characterizes windsurfers – that’s their mindset.
Where does this mindset of watersports people stem from? Is it past experiences or more of an attitude? Or is it about going along with what is?
The minority of windsurfers has the perfect windsurfing conditions right outside the doorstep. Thus, they have got to be on the move a lot, head out and travel to all kind of spots, different beaches, often in foreign countries. To live their passion, they have to venture far outside their own four walls, chasing “that feeling” in the constantly changing diversity of Mother Nature. But let’s look at the even bigger picture: For any windsurfer thinking across boundaries is a basic principle, it’s part of this sport, the sport that we fully and whole-heartedly engage with. Windsurfing involves an experience that’s completely independent of skin color or language. Windsurfers are open-minded towards new experiences, new contacts, fun and joy. What they experience varies with the constantly changing conditions of the weather, the surroundings, the people they’re with or meet ... As a windsurfer you need to be flexible – which spot will I pick today and how can I make the best of the conditions and everything that comes my way there. That’s one key principle of windsurfing: How to turn whatever conditions you find into a positive and exciting experience of fun, joy, exercise and sport.
So, windsurfers are answering this question of personal growth and choices in life by practicing their sport?
Windsurfers are training per se to make use of all the different possibilities, to be flexible and creative with them – not only on the water, but in life as well. They use the power of nature for their joy and fun instead of trying to fight it. Here’s a synonym from the surf that I love to quote in my seminars. See life as a surf session: I can go head-to-head with the wave, I can try to fight it, fight the other surfers in the line-up, and be negative about everything around me. It’s too crowded, the waves are sh**, it’s too little wind and so forth. Or: I maximize my fun through what’s there.
That you can respond to an opportunity one way or another is something windsurfers experience all the time. It’s no fun to fight the wind and it’s no fun to fight the waves. The key is to use the power to your advantage. It’s the same in life: To open the blinders out more and more. To start noticing all the opportunities that life offers and to have more faith in oneself for all aspects of life. It’s about learning to consider things possible that you haven’t before, in your relationships, partnerships, in your job and the relationship within yourself. To embrace the challenges each new day brings, just like in a surf session. To make the best of everything that comes your way. Those who live this way live happier and experience more, because they are not fighting life. When you fight life, life will send you enemies. Go with the flow instead and you create a happy life for yourself. Use the wind to your advantage instead of fighting it and you’ll have a much more fun session.
But not every windsurf session is awesome – things going wrong as well as not so pleasant experiences are part of the sport too, wouldn’t you agree?
Absolutely! The experiences of different people on the same day, even at the same spot can differ hugely. For one person, nothing might work out that day, each maneuver attempt turning into a crash, just a bad session in general although the conditions are actually really good. In the end of the day, that’s what diversity is about as well: That things do not always turn out in your favor and that the individual experience of this very moment is your very personal one. One rider might say it was a totally crappy session, another might call it the session of their life, although both were riding in exactly the same conditions. The diversity of your own experiences also constitutes to your ability to get better with opening up to the flow of Mother Nature. Essentially this will help with having fun in all conditions. This is what distinguishes the masters of this sport. Anyone who has ever watched Kelly Slater surf knows that he is able to have fun and perform in all conditions, even in the worst possible. To do that requires the highest level of ability and skills. Each person can individually experience exactly that, by confronting the diversity of possibilities and expressing oneself. It’s about accepting what is and turning that into a positive experience for you. With windsurfing it comes down to conforming and being in tune with what Mother Nature throws at you and not fighting it. Just think about somebody swearing and carrying on in the water. That’s not going to get you anywhere. I’ve learnt a lot in that respect from good surfers. They’re in tune with the ocean, the elements and their environment. They don’t whine and complain, they’re grateful and accept what is and they rip in all conditions – that’s a life lesson of tremendous importance. Don’t fight things, go about them in a playful way instead.
So basically it’s a question of attitude?
I recorded a Podcast about this topic, with surfing as the focus, but the same applies to windsurfing. When I’m out in the line-up, there are two possibilities: My day can turn to sh** or the session can make my day. If I’m positioning myself too far on the inside and don’t pay attention to my surroundings, I will cop a lot of waves on my head, might even get washed in and paddle for an eternity to get back out. Or, I’m super alert and take notice of everything that’s happening around me, which helps to put me in the right position. It’s the same in life. It’s about anticipating, being open to opportunities and following your intuition to be at the right place at the right time. That’s part of the magic of surfing. Good surfers “feel” the ocean and its moods, because of this connection, their intuition tells them where to sit. It’s the same in windsurfing. If you succeed in developing a feeling for becoming one with your equipment and the elements and creating an experience out of that, you’re not only in touch with yourself, but also with what is. My analogy: If you manage the same in life, i.e. being ok with what life presents you with in this very moment, you’ll have more fun and be a happier person overall. Even if it might suck right now, keep the positive mindset by accepting today for what it is. And tomorrow is a brand-new day with all the opportunities in the world to do things differently. There are in general just way too many surfers, windsurfers, kitesurfers, people who simply say no and refuse to accept responsibility for their situation. There’s always too much whining on the beach, because there is not enough wind or too much or not enough this or that. Let’s learn to take something as it comes. Why? Because that’s just how things are right now. This is an incredibly valuable philosophy in life. Experienced surfers go about their life in this way. They are aware that they can’t change the wind or the waves. They know, the only thing that’s in your power is how you react and go about things, to do your very best and to never take things too seriously. If you manage to adopt this mindset to all aspects of your life, you will feel more fulfilled and live a more content and happier life.
Sounds like you consider this mindset a lifestyle?
Well, to enjoy life to the fullest is rightfully part of the image of windsurfers, surfers and kitesurfers. To celebrate life out in the ocean, to live out this passion for watersports is something that’s missing in other peoples’ lives, who don’t have this passion. Trying to meet the demands of daily life, family, job, to earn money etc. isn’t easy, but that’s how life rolls and we all have to deal with these things. With a passion like windsurfing, this weight of life on your shoulders gets lifted. You can see this zest for life in the face of a happy windsurfer out on the water. Most windsurfers get hooked by this beautiful connection with the great outdoors.
And that implies keeping an open mind through life?
Yes, you have to get out of your comfort zone for that. Diversity doesn’t happen in the comfort zone. Just like we are in charge of setting the boundaries of our comfort zone, it is up to us to overstep them. Out of the comfort zone things get a bit scary or risky. It’s unpleasant to go there. Maybe it’s the pain of a past relationship that left a big wound in your heart, which results in you withdrawing, not really opening up anymore and keeping a safe distance instead. Or you might have been digging too deep around in your own feelings, mind, heart and soul, and don’t feel comfortable resulting in you taking a step back. That’s how self-worth issues arise. You delude yourself and by it, distance yourself from your inner self. By losing touch with yourself, however, you lose all chances for the joy and deep happiness that life has to offer. Disconnecting from yourself results in self-doubts and a negative self-image: not liking yourself, flaying yourself, being down on yourself. And then, it’s really difficult, to feel any joy for life.
Sounds like you consider this mindset a lifestyle?
Well, to enjoy life to the fullest is rightfully part of the image of windsurfers, surfers and kitesurfers. To celebrate life out in the ocean, to live out this passion for watersports is something that’s missing in other peoples’ lives, who don’t have this passion. Trying to meet the demands of daily life, family, job, to earn money etc. isn’t easy, but that’s how life rolls and we all have to deal with these things. With a passion like windsurfing, this weight of life on your shoulders gets lifted. You can see this zest for life in the face of a happy windsurfer out on the water. Most windsurfers get hooked by this beautiful connection with the great outdoors. Being able to use the power of Mother Nature for your own pleasure and sporting experience is just something very special; the more extreme the conditions, the more exhilarating the experience. To enjoy this force of nature, and mastering the challenge of putting this force into motion instead of being crushed by it, is an invaluable lesson. As a surfer I’ve always enjoyed realizing my playful approach to life in general. The way I deal with people habitually, how I go about my relationships and business is just like I go about surfing – tackling life in a playful way rather than stubbornly trying to force things.
Can windsurfers draw inspiration for life from their positive attitude and experiences on the water?
Windsurfers generally have a positive outlook on life. They embrace life and they believe they are here on Earth for a good time. And they are used to the fact that this fun usually takes place outside the comfort zone like traveling abroad to windsurf, to new spots or going out in scary, wild conditions. Windsurfers are prepared to take risks: big waves, strong wind, dodgy conditions ... There is always a risk involved and things can go wrong. That’s one of the keys to a happy life: The willingness to take risks and to step out of the comfort zone. Like for example opening yourself to a new relationship, also means you’re opening yourself to the possibility of getting hurt. This may sound absurd at first, but only if you’re all-in, can you experience the full intensity of love and feelings of a relationship. Windsurfers, surfers, kitesurfers usually have this all-in mentality. They fully commit to the feeling they’re chasing, the kick, the stoke, to truly connect with themselves and life by happily taking chances. A windsurfer does that per se, because there is always a risk involved when hitting the water. Compared to a tennis court, the ocean or a lake is a risky place.
Would you say that due to their passion, windsurfers are in touch with themselves, which changes and helps the way they deal with everyday life.
If you live by this philosophy, life changes. Many windsurfers try to integrate windsurfing as much as possible into everyday life. That’s a personal choice, a life philosophy and approach to life. These windsurfers live for the time on the water, the feeling of freedom – and to get in touch with themselves out there in the water as intensely as possible. I have many friends, who live in Germany and not in Fuerteventura, e.g. They make sure they find this connection with themselves through something else in their daily lives. They are pure surfers, like the surfers in Hawaii. Yet, they have adapted the same philosophy for their lives in Germany. That’s what matters. It’s about: How open are you to life? How open and connected are you to yourself? How to create joy in daily life and learning to revel in every moment of your life, enjoying not only what’s wonderful, but savouring also the mundane, the ordinary. Our coaching work is about broadening people‘s horizons. For a windsurfer that’s much easier.
What you’re saying is that windsurfers live an open diversity, whether they have a 9-to-5 job or live the life of a waterman?
Absolutely. Windsurfers essentially have raised the level of happiness that they aim for in life. They don’t focus on the glass of water half empty, but on a glass that’s full. It doesn’t matter where you live or what you do for a living. Even if you only get to go windsurfing one day a year, that’s not the point. What matters is that you keep reminding yourself of this life philosophy and that it all can be over any moment. There’s no time to wait to be happy, one day in the future. Now is the time! And the present moment is the only time that’s real. In the end of the day, tomorrow is an illusion. There is no certainty in tomorrow. We don’t know if we will wake up tomorrow. And yesterday is already past, gone. All that we’re left with is right now – this very moment. And in this very moment, it’s our windsurfer’s attitude to life that drives us to make the most of every moment. I’ve met many surfers in my life with a very radical attitude towards life, who said: “I don‘t accept not to have fun for two months. I’m so deeply grounded and entwined within this approach to life, that I will live it every single moment”. This positive attitude can also be very inspiring for other aspects of life.
