When I sat down to write this April blog, where I usually talk about Jimmy’s birthday on April 28th, or share other momentous events that happened in April, I realized that life sure comes around in a full circle.
An April 5th, we held a very special Ocean Therapy session with a new group, Stepping Forward. This wonderful organization helps those young adults who are aging out of foster care and helps to elevate their voices to create and carry out programs their participants need the most. Stepping Forward helps them secure vital resources like housing, food and childcare. They also help them build life skills and create opportunities for new experiences.
It has not been unusual for JMMF to welcome a new agency each year and create a unique Ocean Therapy session for their participants. But the big difference this year is how we heard about Stepping Forward and who facilitated this Ocean Therapy session.
A few months ago, my grand-daughter, Riley, called me to say she had something to “discuss with me.” Of course, when you get a formal request from your one and only grand-daughter, you reply right away!
Riley told me she had been looking for a way to develop a project which would include putting JMMF in touch with a group of teens or young adults who could benefit from Ocean Therapy. Since Riley has been around our Ocean Therapy all of her 17 years, she understands our mission, goals and operations. From playing on the beach as a toddler, to surfing in the Jimmy, and then volunteering on the beach, Riley has been an active member of the JMMF family. As a member of the JMMF Club at Mira Costa, she has been a promoter and has rallied the
troops for monthly meetings with pizza and cookies as an added
reward for community service.
Unbeknownst to me, Riley had been investigating agencies in the Los Angeles area, who fit her criteria for JMMF Ocean Therapy and who would benefit the most. She started cold-calling and speaking with various gate-keepers and kept going until she found the development director at Stepping Forward. He happened to be a surfer himself, and immediately understood the value of Ocean Therapy. In a short time, he and Riley had agreed to move forward, plan a zoom, try to get a date on the calendar for 2025, and start looking for
participants at the agency.
Meanwhile, Riley called me to say she found a wonderful group who were in need of Ocean Therapy and wondered if it was too late to schedule just one session in 2025. I explained what the next steps would need to be, and Riley proceeded to get in touch with our Operations Director, Pam Sousa, and they found the date of April 5 and began the process of creating a day of Ocean Therapy for Stepping Forward. From there, they contacted our good friends at Fresh Brothers, who supply our lunches, and the day was on it’s way to being planned.
There was one other very essential element that needed to be taken care of. Our volunteers are the core of Ocean Therapy. During the winter and early spring, most of our teen volunteers are in school, so it was important that we chose a Saturday for the session. Since it was to be a large group, we would need extra volunteers, and that included those who were good surfers and could be in the water with the young adults. Riley went to the JMMF club and her tribe of fellow cheerleaders, friends and friends of her brother Austin, who all had gone through Junior Guards and were also in the Hermosa Hermanos service club. With Riley’s assistance, we had a date for Ocean Therapy, food, refreshments, and most of all, a huge group of ocean ready volunteers. I asked for a few girls who would be able to teach surfing to the young women who had never tried surfing before and probably would not get on a surfboard with a strange boy. And once again, Riley came through with her buddies who were excellent surfers and teachers.
On the day of the Ocean Therapy event, Riley was there early, to make sure everything went smoothly. She was the point person, and introduced all of us to the staff of Stepping Forward, who were beyond thrilled to bring their participants to the beach and try surfing. We had more than 20 young men and women, plus counselors and staff. We also had a few young children who were there with their young parents.
As most of you know, our day starts with introductions and a topic of the day. We sit in a sharing circle, and everyone from our athletes (participants) volunteers and staff all share. That Saturday, each person was to share 3 goals for the day or for the coming year, as they passed the surfboard totem, that joined Jimmy’s spirit into the circle. What happened and what was shared in this circle touched my heart deeply. From the goal of “not falling off the surfboard,” to “being kind, laughing more, expressing more love each day,” each of the answers were heartfelt and real. By the time we got around the circle of close to fifty people, there were no strangers on the beach. It was just a group of new friends, with a common purpose and excitement to get on with learning how to surf.
Everyone surfed that day, either on their tummies, knees or standing up! Their fears turned into sun drenched fun and the smiles went for miles. As for me, the day had another special feature. There were three generations of the Miller family there. It’s not often that we all are together at Ocean Therapy. Jeff, Alissa, Riley, Austin, Jim, and me… All sharing Jimmy’s spirit and legacy. This was all made possible by our Riley. There are not many adults who would take on a challenge of creating and implementing a brand new event for a non-profit. And Riley did it with grace, great organizing skill and a true passion for the mission. It was truly a day we will always remember and a reminder that it just takes one person to create a wave of change and continue the “circle of life.” Big thanks to everyone who participated in this very special Ocean Therapy session.
As I write this blog, the circle was broken for a moment and our tribe had to release our dear friend Greg Browning, and say good-bye. But as circles do, they close by moving closer together, so there are no gaps in the endless cycle of love that surrounded that brilliant, funny, brave, talented and loving soul. While there is a hole in our hearts, his circle of loved ones here and around the world, will join together and share our memories in that giant circle of love. Our love goes to the Browning Family and all those lucky enough to have shared the waves of love with the one and only Greg Browning.
As I always ask you – on April 28th, please head to your favorite body of water or that special outside place of comfort, and have a slice of pizza or peanut butter and jelly sandwich in Jimmy’s memory. I know that Jimmy, our dear friend Chris Gray and Greg will be surfing together for eternity.
With oceans of love to all.
Nancy
