Beneath The Surface: Part I, Chapter 2 - Growing Up A Surfer

Beneath The Surface: Part I, Chapter 2 - Growing Up A Surfer

Memory Lane Hello once again! Thanks for coming back to check out the second chapter of my book, ‘Beneath The Surface’. The response to Chapter 1 has been overwhelmingly positive, which is obviously lovely in a world of self-gratification, but I do think it’s worth reiterating that I am also looking for feedback and constructive criticism, if applicable. As I write this, I see that only a few journal posts ago I published a piece about a book I didn’t finish because I simply didn’t gel with the writing style and the way the book was structured. The irony of an unpublished author being critical of someone who’s sold millions of copies is not lost on me, so it’s just a gentle reminder that I’m a fraud if I don’t look for and take your feedback seriously. Now let’s talk about this chapter quickly. This is probably the most fun I’ve had writing a chapter so far purely because it was a delight getting to relive some of my favourite memories growing up. I actually got carried away and had to cut 3-4 stories from this section because it was too long, and after doing that, it’s still probably too long. So my question for you is whether I should break it into 2 chapters. My overall flow for the book is planned to alternate between my story/experience of the attack and the broader view of how we perceive these experiences. Breaking this into 2 chapters means it won’t be a perfect alternation, so is the pursuit of perfection in this case foolish? In any case, I hope you enjoy the trip down memory lane as you learn what made me fall in love with surfing and what stage my career was at just before my entire life was turned upside down.

Beneath The Surface: Part I, Chapter 1 - Day Of The Attack

Welcome! I have a bit of an idea of what I’m doing here, but there’s a good chance all of this will change. I wanted to start out with a quick dump of thoughts and emotions before I leave you to jump into my story which I’m grateful if you’ve taken the time to dive into. On the date of my 10 year biteaversiary, I wrote a piece where I shared a reflection on how this last decade of my life has impacted me and my outlook towards a number of different things. One of the items I mentioned is a desire to get to a point where I’ve ‘completely’ shared my story and the book is the final piece of that puzzle, which I’ve taken far too long to complete. Perhaps part of that this a fear of what happens after I finish, maybe it’s laziness, or maybe it’s just really bloody difficult to write a book. The truth is it’s probably a mix of all 3 things to various degrees. Here’s my perspective: I’ve done difficult things before, I can’t predict the future, so for now, I’m telling myself to stop being lazy and to just share the story as I write it. There’s so much status and pride I originally tied up into publishing a book the traditional way and since that hasn’t worked up until now, I’ve made the call that it’s more important to finish, than it is to be precious about the process. This is not a foreign proposition to me at all as we produced an entire documentary on my story without any backing. What I learned from that is if I didn’t take the leap, and if I didn’t get the help of some incredible people around me, there’s a good chance it would still just be an idea in the back of my head. I’ll admit that I’m not a writer. What I lack in technical application, I hopefully make up for in the fact that what you’re reading are thoughts and experiences that I’m passionate about and love to share. So, I do ask for feedback. I want this book to be a cumulative effort, so please share your thoughts; none of it will be unwelcome. My promise to you is that I’ll continue sharing at least one new chapter per month (although I’m aiming for more) and even just a few words of encouragement is all I’ll need to keep showing up and bringing more of my experience. I’m excited to share this journey with you and hope you can come along for the ride. This first chapter is all about setting the scene by sharing a little-known detail from the day of the attack. If only I’d known what was coming, maybe I should have taken this event as a bad omen. We then go through what the book is hoping to cover so hopefully by reading this you’ll have a clear idea of what to expect. There’s a comment section down the bottom, I’d love to hear what you think. Brett Part I, Chapter 1 – Day Of The Attack

The Original Bite Club — with Dave Pearson

In this episode, I sit down with Dave Pearson. The guy who actually started The Bite Club (the real one, not just the podcast). Dave created the support group after surviving his own shark attack, and what began as a way to connect with others has turned into something much bigger. We talk about why he started the club, what it’s meant to him personally, and some of the incredible stories that have come from it. This one’s more of a catch-up than a formal interview which, to me, is what The Bite Club is all about. Want to learn more or get in touch? 🔗 Visit my website www.brettconnellan.com [https://www.brettconnellan.com/] 📬 Reach out with your own thoughts/perspectives: brettconnellan@gmail.com 📖 View and share my publishing pitch: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1UxofWBJB5VlO6AiSaKVv3N0vUKqm3G2-/edit?usp=share_link&ouid=108581164659224670822&rtpof=true&sd=true [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1UxofWBJB5VlO6AiSaKVv3N0vUKqm3G2-/edit?usp=share_link&ouid=108581164659224670822&rtpof=true&sd=true]

The Day That Changed Everything: My Shark Attack Story

Brett Connellan - The Day That Changed Everything: My Shark Attack Story In this first episode, I share the full story of the day I was attacked by a shark from the moment it happened, to the early aftermath, until the start of my recovery. I also talk about the process that has led me to ask deeper questions about fear, healing, nature, and connection which has become the inspiration for my book, 'Beneath The Surface'. This episode exists so I don’t have to retell this story in every conversation, but more importantly, it’s here to provide context for the voices and perspectives you’ll hear throughout The Bite Club. If you’re listening, thanks for being part of the journey. Want to learn more or get in touch? 🔗 Visit my website www.brettconnellan.com [https://www.brettconnellan.com] 📬 Reach out with your own thoughts/perspectives: brettconnellan@gmail.com 📖 View and share my publishing pitch: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1UxofWBJB5VlO6AiSaKVv3N0vUKqm3G2-/edit?usp=share_link&ouid=108581164659224670822&rtpof=true&sd=true [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1UxofWBJB5VlO6AiSaKVv3N0vUKqm3G2-/edit?usp=share_link&ouid=108581164659224670822&rtpof=true&sd=true]