Back to the Board

The Washington Monument

If you've been following my blogs for any significant amount of time, you’ve probably noticed that there are moments when I'll just vanish for a while without any explanation. I truly strive to blog every single day, but if I don’t have an actual topic to write about or a good enough thought rolling around in my head, I don’t want to just throw something together for the sake of posting it. I realize that might not mean much in the grand scheme of things since my blog often serves as a candid spill of what’s already been occupying my mind. However, getting back on topic, I've recently been away investing time in designing some exciting new products and contemplating some fresh visions for my brand’s future. With that said, if you know me well, you should understand just how much I enjoy going out and engaging in activities that help spark my creativity and inspiration. So to be quite honest, I've been dedicating some time to skateboarding—or at least attempting to rekindle my love for skateboarding again. When I was a kid, I used to ride my skateboard down hills as fast as I could, relishing the thrill, but I never really mastered any tricks. Therefore, over the past few days, I’ve found myself tripping and falling all over my old skateboard, trying to rediscover that childhood joy.

Now, as I was diligently practicing and trying not to mop the floor with my own body parts, I noticed this guy coming towards me, and I instantly recognized him from a few days ago. I had seen him, obviously high off some type of crazy drug, and he appeared to be almost in and out of a haze of consciousness. As he approached me this time, I thought he seemed in considerably better shape than the last time I encountered him. He looked me in the eye and asked me, “How long have you been skating?” I replied honestly, “This is like day two or three, to be honest.” His face lit up with excitement, and he eagerly asked if he could try out my board. Seeing this as a fantastic opportunity, I confidently said, "Go ahead," and passed it to him. Immediately, he asked, “Do you like how loose it is?” and pointed out the wheel bite before effortlessly hitting ollies like it was second nature to him, which made me chuckle softly to myself. However, once he left, I began to reflect on my idea of the deeper meaning behind Hard Photos & Soft Drinks. For me, it has always been about fostering creativity through sobriety. Inspired by that encounter, I felt dedicated to creating a custom-made board designed just for him. There’s something truly special about the life that lit up in his eyes when we connected over something as simple and profound as a skateboard. At the end of the day, that’s someone’s son, brother, or friend. I genuinely believe that there’s always hope, and everyone deserves a second chance; sometimes all it takes is a tiny push to help them get over the hill of life.