Yesterday, my creative strategist team and I were filming an interview with a University of Oregon student named Cooper about long boarding. As we attempted to learn the ins and outs of the subculture through Cooper, the gentleman on the left skated past and asked for what we were filming. We told him about our project of delving into the depths of what it means to be a long boarder, and he was incredibly passionate about and invested in boarding so we asked if we could interview him too. He was beyond excited to be asked for his help and knowledge. Seeing people talk about what they are passionate about is such a form of intoxication. It really brings this incredible vibrancy and electricity to a moment to see someone actually, truly care about something, and be willing to share that with other people. Maybe it seems minimal or even trivial, but it was so incredibly amazing to see the types of bonds people can form so easily about something as simple as skating around on four wheels. There was this instant connection between all of us over this subject that we care about and it just lead to this unbelievably warm conversation--the kind that reminds me of what it means to be born into an instinctually social species. Things like these just restore my faith in humanity and help me reflect on the kind nature of people who choose love and solidarity.
