The Work Is Working On Me
The Work Is Working On Me
Lately, I’ve been denying myself the simple things I enjoy.
Going to the skatepark.
Playing video games.
Taking time to just be.
I’ve been so focused on building my photography business that it feels like every moment needs to be productive.
Every hour needs to move something forward. More outreach. More editing. More content. More growth.
While there’s nothing wrong with being committed to a goal, somewhere along the way I stopped giving myself permission to enjoy the things that helped shape me.
Yesterday reminded me why that’s important.
A Full-Circle Moment
This weekend I spent the afternoon at a skate jam hosted by the Skate Wars family here in Houston.
I’ve been skating for over twenty years.
When I was younger, all I cared about was skating. Landing tricks. Learning something new. Spending time at the park.
Yesterday was different.
For the first time in a long time, I wasn’t there primarily as a skateboarder.
I was there with my camera.
In fact, I barely skated at all.
Instead, I spent most of my time watching.
Listening.
Having conversations.
Observing.
And somehow, that gave me a completely different perspective on something I’ve loved for most of my life.
More Than Skateboarding
What stood out to me wasn’t who could do the biggest tricks.
It was the people.
The way they dressed.
The way they carried themselves.
The way they expressed who they were.
Skateboarding has always been a place where individuality is celebrated. People from different backgrounds, cultures, ages, and experiences all come together because of one shared thing.
A skateboard.
In a world that often feels divided, it was refreshing to witness people simply enjoying each other’s company, encouraging one another, sharing stories, eating food, and spending time together.
It reminded me that community still matters.
The Conversation That Stayed With Me
One conversation that stuck with me was about injuries.
If you’ve skated long enough, you’ve taken a slam.
Rolled ankles.
Bruised shins.
Falls that make you wonder if getting back on the board is worth it.
And yet, most skaters do.
We talked about professional skateboarders taking devastating falls and still returning because they love what they do.
The more I thought about it, the more it reminded me of the creative journey.
You take hits.
You doubt yourself.
You question if what you’re doing is working.
Then somehow, you get back up and try again.
Not because it’s easy.
Because you love it.
What Skateboarding Gave Me
Photography gave me a voice.
It gave me a way to connect with people.
A way to capture someone’s essence, their story, and the moments that make them who they are.
What started as a camera became a tool for connection.
But skateboarding gave me something photography never could.
It taught me individuality.
It taught me that it’s okay to be different.
That it’s okay to take your own path.
That you don’t have to fit into someone else’s idea of who you’re supposed to be.
Skateboarding taught me to embrace who I am unapologetically.
And maybe that’s why these two parts of my life have always felt connected.
Skateboarding taught me to be myself.
Photography gave me a voice to express it.
Returning To What Matters
As I drove home, I realized something.
The work I’ve been doing isn’t just building a photography business.
It’s shaping the person behind the camera.
The work is working on me.
Yesterday reminded me that growth isn’t always found in doing more.
Sometimes it’s found in returning to the things that made you feel alive in the first place.
For me, skateboarding has always represented freedom.
Not the tricks.
Not the competitions.
The freedom to step on a board, cruise, and simply enjoy the moment.
And maybe every now and then, that’s exactly what we need.
