Six years ago my cousin showed me a skateboard. I stepped on and felt butterflies as I rolled around. They didn't use it often so they offered to let me borrow it.
I started trying to Ollie on my front driveway and rode around the only walking trail in my town. I was pretty angsty about only going out when chaperoned but was soon relieved.
My childhood friend and neighbor from down the road drove by one day I was on my driveway. HE was a skater. I was a noob. He called to me and said "let's go to the skate park!"
Shy and excited- ran inside, told my parents and after they harassed him for a bit, we were off!
Almost every other day I was there. Watching everyone roll around the pavement, fall, get frustrated, breathe and go it all again. It was a therapy I didn't know I needed.
Friendships were made, feelings were born, fires started and shit was found--all in that skatepark.
No matter what teen drama was occurring, I found peace on that lot, watching everyone roll..
My cousin picked up their board a few months later, my parents weren't a fan of buying me one and I wasn't allowed a job until I graduated.
There were friendships being tested, the control I had on my life was taken away and I fell into a hole of sadness for a while.
Time moved forward, I felt like everyone thought I was a quitter. The friendships felt distant and my shyness overcame my confidence when the thought to go and draw everyone felt intrusive.
Years past, I graduated, moved around, learned about life and admired everyone still skating.
After five years, I decided to stop admiring and just do it. So here I am at 23, picking up where I left off and smiling.
-if you've ever wanted to learn something or learned and lost it, you shouldn't let go until your heart & mind are satisfied. 🖤
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