A Life of Opposing Forces

This isn't another story about addiction or surfing. Those are just parts of the story, a story of recovery, redemption, and adventure.

With unflinching honesty, A Life of Opposing Forces highlights the complicated but enduring relationship Michael Millin has with his parents as he navigates the interplay of light and dark in his own life. Michael shares his path from addiction to sobriety, challenging his own assumptions of recovery and confronting generational trauma.

In the process, Michael exposes the reader to the incredible world of surfing and traveling. Throughout his journey, surfing has always provided a safe space for Michael. The ocean was more than an escape; it was medicine-and the key to his survival.

A captivating memoir and profound portrait of disrupting generational trauma, A Life of Opposing Forces is a must-read whether you are struggling with addiction or looking for inspiration in your own life.

Michael S. Millin was born into a family plagued by generational trauma and addiction. Growing up in California, Michael battled poverty and instability, barely graduating high school and finding sobriety early in life. Despite the constant turmoil, Michael relied on the safety of the ocean and his love of surfing, becoming a professional free-surfer at the age of twenty-one. He traveled the globe throughout his early twenties, surfing heavy waves in various locations before spending ten years living abroad in Indonesia. Michael is soft-spoken in his approach, powerful in his drive to help others, and continually focused on being the best version of himself.