Tower 14

This is the lifeguard tower at Point Magu. The late afternoon light, the empty sand, and one lifeguard on the deck with eyes on the water, long after most of us have stopped looking.

That watch. That's what lets the rest of us simply enjoy the day. 

For so many of them, it starts young. As early as nine years old, in Junior Lifeguards. Years of summers running the sand, swimming past the break, learning to read the ocean before they're old enough to drive.

Then comes the academy. Instructors call it a bootcamp, mentally and physically. It isn't designed to get you into shape. It's designed to test the shape you're already in.

They carry a mantra with them: I am not the center of the universe. I am here to serve.

I think about that a lot.

When the swell builds and the conditions turn dangerous, they're the ones who run toward the water. Not for recognition. For us. For our kids. For the stranger who drove up the coast for one perfect day.

They were recently recognized as First Responders. It was long overdue and well deserved. To this community, they always have been.

They keep Malibu safe. And that's Malibu. It's a small town that looks out for its own.

That's what Malibu Soul is about too. It’s community. It’s strength. It’s soul. 

So when I see that tower, I see all of it. The years of training. The quiet watch. The courage to go in when everyone else is coming out.

To our lifeguards, immense love and gratitude. Thank you for everything you give.

Serve. Save. Protect.