What do Surfing and Running for President Have in Common?
Thanks to the Beach Boys and films like Endless Summer Americans have had an affinity with the surfer lifestyle for decades. Make no mistake about it, it takes a very special person to wake up with the sun and paddle out into the waves at sunrise in Hawaii. It is just as rare for a surfer to pursue a life in politics as it is for a politician to have grown up surfing. Welcome to the diverse realm of Tulsi Gabbard, surfer, veteran, and Presidential candidate.
“Literally every time I come home, my first stop is the ocean. Every time I come out of the water I feel refreshed. I feel inspired, I feel motivated.” -Tulsi Gabbard
If you have ever experienced being pummeled by a huge wave, eating sand, and struggling to reach the surface of the water to gasp for air … then you know what it means to be humbled by the ocean. This humility is a foundation for respect because surfing is not merely a sport but a deep communion with nature. Tides can change quickly, there can be an undertow, rip tides, or big, glassy waves. Maybe the water is crowded with other surfers competing for waves, conditions are always changing. These are just some of the variables that call surfers to be fully present, pay attention and respond accordingly.
“It’s been an interesting path from being that shy little girl in Hawaii who loved surfing to now being a member of Congress who still loves surfing.” -Tulsi Gabbard
Catching a wave means waiting for the perfect moment. This wisdom carries with it a deep recognition that we may not always be in control of external circumstances. If we are patient and mindful we can seize an opportunity to ride on top of a wave instead of getting buried by it. Surfing requires coordination, strong muscles, along with the courage to get up and try again after wiping out. Surfing is physical, emotional, and psychological resilience embodied. Surfing requires discipline along with a love for adventure and challenge. These are essential qualities in a good leader.
“What got me through these multiple hurdles on a daily basis over years was always coming back to that bottom line… an understanding that this was about a mission that is much bigger than myself.” -Tulsi Gabbard
The character traits that Tulsi has gained from growing up in Hawaii are quite different than one might associate with a traditional politician. She is not driven by the desire to gain power, money, or fame. Tulsi has left her home by the waves in paradise to follow her calling to serve. She is not afraid to seize this moment with a strong and clear message, Washington needs a new kind of leadership that can rise to the many challenges of our day.
In the year since she announced running for president we have seen her respond like a surfer to the political highs and lows that come with running a presidential campaign. From fighting off media smears, to missing the September debates, to watching her polls go up after a spat with former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, Tulsi has continued make big waves in Washington. A favorite of Progressives, Independents, Greens, Millennials, and Republican Swing Voters, Tulsi has continued to upstage the Democratic Establishment with courage and poise.
“My love for the ocean is coupled with the practical reality of what we see here in Hawaii, of what happens when you don’t take care of our home, and our Earth.”-Tulsi Gabbard
Tulsi’s deep understanding for our role to steward the environment by protecting water is born from her love of the ocean. As a teen she noticed trash in the water and wanted to do something about it so she formed an environmental organization with her father that later became the Healthy Hawaii Coalition. Before being elected to public office at the age of 21, Tulsi dressed up as Water Woman (below) with a cape, visiting schools to teach children the importance of taking care of waterways and the ocean.
“We each have a responsibility to preserve and protect our precious natural resources for today, and generations to come.” -Tulsi Gabbard
Tulsi was one of the few who understood the need to listen to the People of Standing Rock, and to be present with them in their battle to protect their ancestral lands, sacred sites, and water from the Dakota Access Pipeline. As a lawmaker she introduced The Water Affordability, Transparency, Equity and Reliability (WATER) Act to to upgrade and protect community water and sewer systems across the country. She voted for The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) federal program that supports the protection of federal public lands and waters. These are just a few examples of how her love for surfing and the ocean has shaped her political views and her performance as an elected official.
Behind each leader are the life events that shaped their character and the deep loves that inspire their action in the world. Whether she is making waves in Washington DC or riding waves in Hawaii, the strength and discipline she exhibits is an authentic expression of who Tulsi is. Her relationship with the ocean, surfing, and the culture of Hawaii are woven into her roots. This history informs who she is, where she comes from, and why she has chosen to work in public office. The tides are shifting in the political arena, there are plenty of sharks in the water, and Gabbard is fearlessly poised to ride these waves of change with confidence.