Mike de la Rocha is a difficult man to define. Hes an artist and an advocate. Hes the voice of a generation and a bit of a beach bum. Hes an award-winning change-maker and the co-founder of two businesses: a Pasadena coffee shop that provides work for formerly incarcerated people, and an internationally renowned creative agency that connects celebrities with social change movements. And now, hes an author, too.

　　Mike de la Rocha Live at the Outside FestivalDe la Rocha will speak on a panel about manhood, vulnerability and mentorship, May 31-June 1, at the Outside Festival, a celebration of the outdoors featuring amazing music, inspiring speakers, and immersive experiences.Learn More

　　De la Rocha’s forthcoming book is an ode to his profound and emotionally complicated relationship with his late father. The man, Ismael Mayo de la Rocha, could be an enigma. He was at once a professor who mentored thousands of students over the course of his long career, and a closed-off figure who struggled to teach his own sons emotional intimacy. The tale de la Rocha weaves is an intimately vulnerable story about culture, the trappings of masculinity, and the capacity we all have for change. In Sacred Lessons: Teaching My Father How to Love, de la Rocha reflects on the enduring lessons of the ocean and how surfing and the natural world helped him break through the layers of conditioning and forge a deeper relationship with his father—and with himself.  

　　In the below excerpt, de la Rocha stands on the beach with his toes in the sand, looking out at the ocean and back into the past. As he reflects, he reveals some of the lessons his father did teach him—everything from how to whittle down your belongings (including toys) to the bare essentials, to how to withstand the shock of freezing water, even when your body begs you to flee.