In Praise of Kindness

At what age do we have to stop doing the things we love? Or, more specifically, the physical things that we love?

This question often plagues me, injured as I am on a seemingly daily basis. The ribs that I broke three months or so ago have healed well enough for me to paddle out for a couple of sessions, but psychologically I am not there at all. My confidence, in the water, is shot to pieces. Last time I paddled out it was fairly sizeable at Sennen, but I didn't have the nerve to catch a single wave. Because I now associate surfing with pain, broken bones, neck surgery and trips to the hospital, I wonder if I am consigned to paddling out for 'a bob on my board in the line-up' rather than to do anything so surfy as ride a wave.

However, I am inspired by the example of Keith Carabine, a man I have recently had the pleasure of getting to know. Keith is the chairman of the Joseph Conrad Society, a mad keen Manchester City fan and, at the age of 72, a footballer. Yes, having played the beautiful game all his life Keith still plays - and plays well, as I found when I was in the same side as him in London last Saturday.

Keith is also one of life's gents, a fair and honourable man who believes in kindness. This is a laudable philosophical position and I wish Mark Hughes, the manager of my ailing football team, would adopt it by showing kindness to me and the rest of QPR's fans by kindly resigning as manager.

Here's to longevity among footballers and surfers, and kindness for QPR.

Pictured courtesy of the Joseph Conrad Society: the man himself. He knew a thing or too about kindness.

Comments

[Andrew Norton]

You're never too old, so keep getting wet and the magic will return.

Like the new book Amazing Surf Stories, you get exactly what it says on the tin.

Cheers
Surfer Dad

[allie]

saw you out there the other day mate, looked ok to me, pop ups snappy, nice rights riden, none too shabby at all, when i was in just before you it was an exercise in T.O.A.D waves, keep doin what your doing cos it looked ok t me mate