David Litt on Learning to Surf and Bridging Political Divides

The Journey to Surfing

• 💡 David Litt, author of "It's Only Drowning," shares his experience learning to surf at age 35, an age considered "over the hill" for the sport.
• 🎯 His goal was to surf an overhead wave on Hawaii's Northshore, a challenging and consequential wave.

An Unlikely Friendship

• 🤝 The book chronicles Litt's unexpected friendship with his brother-in-law, Matt, who became his surf guru.
• 🧩 Litt and Matt are described as polar opposites, with significant differences in physical prowess and political leanings.
• ⚠️ A key anecdote highlights their differences: Litt once threw out his back lifting cat litter, while Matt threw out his back training for ultimate fighting.

Navigating Political and Personal Divides

• 🇺🇸 The narrative explores how even seemingly small differences can be perceived as major divides in today's political climate, especially post-pandemic.
• 🗣️ Litt reflects on his past belief that he shouldn't be friendly with someone holding opposing political views, acknowledging this was an incorrect perspective.
• 🌱 The core theme is the exploration of whether these deep societal and personal divides can be overcome.

Finding Common Ground

• 🌊 Surfing is presented as a metaphor for nature's indifference to political affiliations, offering a space for connection.
• 💬 Litt emphasizes that finding common ground doesn't require agreement on all issues, but rather the willingness to maintain relationships despite disagreements.
• 💬 The relationship with Matt evolved from coexistence to better communication, without erasing their fundamental differences.
• 🏄‍♂️ A current example of their connection is checking in about surf conditions, a non-political activity that maintains their bond.