
Unlocking your code
I tell people that growth is sometimes more about a reunion than anything else.
I grew up spending a lot of time by myself. It’s not that I didn’t have friends. I just used to get lost in me. When I was a kid, I spent endless hours playing with Legos in my room. I would forget to eat. Lose track of time. I would hit what is called the flow state, where you are so present the world disappears. Then I got into skateboarding. I’d spend the entire day outside perfecting tricks and grinding park benches. I wanted to fly. But me or my friends weren’t rich so we didn’t have any half pipes to skate in. Then life happened and I had to put my board away. My dreams of flying vanished. It was now about making money and building a future. So as I grew up, I disconnected with that part of myself.
A few weeks ago, I was at Venice beach watching the young generation of skaters catching air. It reminded me of who I wanted to be, once. But there were also an older man my age, tearing up the pool just like the kids. He probably drove a BMW and had a mortgage. He was instructed to pick up dinner I’m sure. But decided to dance with his flow state for a few hours before dealing with life again. I watched with envy.
The next day, I purchased a skateboard.
I felt heavy and old. Skating never felt this hard. After eating shit a few times, I started to get the hang of it. Every time I went up the ramp, and then back down which seemed like a fifty foot drop, I was thrown back into the 80’s. I was fourteen again. Crooked teeth. Unscared heart. Eyes filled with wonder.
We’re so busy trying to chase who we want to be, we forgot that who we are is already in us.
We’re changing the way we change. Click here to SHFT, and join us.