A Shark Ate My Friend
Here’s What His Life Taught Me.
Nature is a beast. She just took the life of a great friend of mine. One who left a huge impact on this earth in only 26 years of life. As I mourn, I come to this keyboard with nothing but positive thoughts and memories of Ben Kelly. I was truly lucky to have befriended such a man.
Here’s what his life taught me.
How to be a Great Friend
Ben was my biggest critic and my biggest fan. This is a rare combination and is what made Ben a great friend. If you find someone like this, keep them close. He had my best interests in mind at all times, and that’s why he would challenge my thinking and actions. He’d look me straight in the eyes and tell me what he thought without hesitation.
Dance Like Nobody Cares (they don’t)
This fool loved to dance. Here’s a good example (Guy in the middle in blue at 1:10). His confidence and ability to let loose in front of anyone is something I admired and have been attempting to emulate (poorly). This kind of energy is attractive and contagious. There’s nobody that had more fun on a dance floor than Ben, and I’m so bummed he won’t be there to rip it up at my wedding.
Make Stuff
Ben made things. He’s forever remembered by my mother for bringing over these cute home-made turkey-shaped treats for our thanksgiving break surfing tradition. He’s remembered by many as a great surfboard shaper. All by hand. He’s remembered by professors for always full assing his assignments and making the best presentations. And I’m sure he’s remembered by his clients for being stellar as well.
He took pride in his work and his products reflected this. He made things passionately, purposefully, and intentionally. A great way to live.
Pursuit until you know or NO!
Man oh man did Ben have to chase and deal with rejection multiple times. I bet his love story could be a movie. The timing was never right, the friend zone trolled, the blah blah blah, and the whatever else all didn’t matter to Ben. He knew. He chased the Oregon girl with respect and determination, which resulted in a major W and an expensive rock. He died with the woman of his dreams and his best friend. The pursuit was worth it.
“It’d Be Aight.”
This is a saying Ben and I would always say to each other. It was a reminder that we can only control what we can control. It’s empowering to let go.
You might think that in the end, it wasn’t aight. Right now sure doesn’t feel aight.
But… it is aight. Ben was a man of faith. His legacy will be remembered forever by friends, family, and community.
It’s been beautiful to witness the love pouring out from around the world for Ben. I’ve been in contact with many old mutual friends of Ben which helps my aching heart. The walk down Facebook memory lane brings a tearful smile.
His death is a reminder to us all of how quickly things can and do change. Ben was a go-getter, and he went and got a great life that tragically ended too soon.
No, the world is not a better place with Ben gone. Yes, we are all better humans because of his existence.
Ben was stoke embodied. His inner fire shined so brightly it was impossible not to feed off of his froth. Ben got after it. He would want us to keep getting after it. Ben Did Go.
