* Give respect to gain respect
* Respect must be earned before it can be given
* Actions determine respect
* Follow the golden rule
GIVE RESPECT TO GET RESPECT
Located at the southern end of beautiful Santa Barbara is a famous and high quality surfing spot named Rincon. A right handed point break Rincon offers exceptionally long rides even on the smallest of days. Even when the waves are one to two feet and barely breaking surfers can catch rides that go for well over a hundred yards. On bigger days some surfers have claimed to have ridden waves that were a half mile or longer! Though Rincon is located somewhat remotely it isn't a secret spot, in fact sometimes it can be extremely crowded with a hundred or more surfers all scrambling for the same waves. Thank goodness for the most part surfers understand about respecting the ocean, it's power and each other. Certainly respect goes along way in keeping the lineup safe and orderly as well as making it that much more fun and enjoyable.
There is a paved parking lot at Rincon but surfers still walk the same dirt path to the waves that they have for years. The dirt path hasn't changed nor have the high quality waves, but there is a new addition at the beginning of the trail. As surfers start down the path the first thing one notices is a metal sign shaped like a surfboard. The sign points out rules of conduct and etiquette for surfing. Some say legendary surfer Nat Young may have had a hand in it's installation and if he did kudos to him. What's cool about surfing is one doesn't have to follow the "rules" but when they willing do things go better and are safer for everyone.
At the very top of the sign the first rule of conduct is R E S P E C T. Give respect to gain respect. Nothing could be truer in surfing and in life. Respect begins before a surfer enters the line up-- it's a frame of mind. Every surfer wants to go out and catch a lot of waves this is human nature. But when other surfers are present especially in abundance there has to be a harmony in order to keep the line up flowing properly. Surfers show respect by watching out for each other, not getting in the way of others and taking turns catching waves. Should a surfer try to "hog" all the waves by continuously dropping in on other surfers it wont be long before other surfers continuously drop in on him. When a surfer respects others he in turn receives respect right back.
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Every surfer (person for that matter) wants to be respected on some level. But respect isn't something we can demand, force or ask for; respect must be earned before it can be given. Earning respect takes time and consistency. To earn respect surfers should be thoughtful and caring of other surfers. Being thoughtful and caring is not a part time thing it's a full time thing. No matter how much a surfer wants respect he wont get it until he himself proves himself worthy by earning respect through consistent behavior and actions. Being respectful of others is not something we should feel forced to do rather we should feel compelled to do because it's the right thing to do. A surfer earns respect because he respects others not because he has to or is forced to but because he wants to. The payoff for giving respect is earning respect.
Surfers can talk about respect all they want, respect of the ocean, other surfers or themselves but talk is talk and actions speak louder than words. Actions determine real respect. A surfer cannot say "oh yeah, I respect other surfers" and then go out and act the opposite. The disrespectful surfer is the surfer who thinks only of himself and you can tell right away if a surfer is this way by their actions. It's one thing to talk about respect but when a surfer goes out and behaves disrespectful it's another. The surfer whose behavior is positive doesn't have to say a word his or her actions do all the talking.
Give respect to gain respect comes down to the golden rule--- treat others as you would like to be treated. We all want to be treated with kindness, dignity and respect and we can. It all starts with showing kindness, dignity and respect to others. When a surfer is in position for that perfect ride he hopes others will respect his ride conversely when other surfers are in perfect position they hope for the same thing. As has often been said "What goes around comes around." Be good to others and others will be good to you. Respect --- give a little receive a lot
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