“I grew up with heroes, people who made me aspire to raise my game, to dream bigger and I like to keep it that simple.” PeopleMadeDreamGamesSimpleGrewHeroGrew UpBiggerRaisesAspire Author:Mike Vallely
“Everything that I'm really about is being an individualist. I believe in individuality.” BelieveI BelieveIndividualityI Believe In Author:Mike Vallely
“First of all, "no self" doesn't mean there is no self, haha. So the "no problem" is jumped at a little too fast I'm afraid. Especially in American culture where people tend to be materialistic philosophically. I don't mean running to the mall, but philosophically, you see?” PeopleFirstsMeanLittlesSelfProblemRunningCultureNo ProblemAmerican CultureMaterialisticMallsHaha Author:Robert Thurman
“I'm not out here on the front lines trying to create clones, or consumers, or worshippers of who I am, and what I do. I'm trying to nurture the idea that you should do your own thing, which is really powerful.” ShouldTryingIdeasLinesPowerfulFrontsWho I AmConsumersNurtureWorshippersReally Powerful Author:Mike Vallely
“The idea that somehow "no self, no problem"- I don't exist because I don't have a self- would be a mistaken understanding. However, the selflessness teaching is not that hard to understand. What it means is a type of self that people feel they have, like a fixed, unchanging identity. Either they know they have it, or for some, they feel they need to seek it, and possibly have an experience where they feel like they found something. That type of fixed, unchanging, essential self, or absolute self doesn't exist. That's what "no self" means.” PeopleKnowsNeedsFeelsMeanIdeasSelfHardProblemWould BeFoundUnderstandingTeachingIdentityTypeEssentialsAbsolutesFixedMistakenSelflessnessNo ProblemUnchanging Author:Robert Thurman
“I don't like to get too involved in the idea that "I'm a role model" and that everything I do is right. I don't think that's the case at all, but I think who I am at my core, and what I represent at my core, is something that is meaningful, and can be something that other people can gain inspiration from.” PeopleThinkingIdeasInspirationRolesCasesInvolvedModelsGainsMeaningfulCoreWho I AmRole Models Author:Mike Vallely
“I feel like the best thing, as far as what I do with kids, is I treat them like human beings.” FeelsHumansKidsHuman BeingsTreatsBest Things Author:Mike Vallely
“I don't talk down to kids. Usually someone my age who's talking to a ten or twelve year old is yelling at them.” YearsKidsAgeTalkingTenTwelveYelling Author:Mike Vallely
“Through skateboarding, I have an open line of communication, some common ground and common ground is big man. That enables me to travel around the world and no matter where I am, or who I'm with, connect with other young people, and I can have an instant dialogue and an instant relationship based on the fact that we skateboard, and when I'm doing appearances and demos, that's not lost on me.” PeopleMenWorldI CanMatterFactsBigsYoungLostLinesCommonCommunicationAppearanceDialogueAround The WorldInstantCommon GroundDemosSkateboardingLines Of Communication Author:Mike Vallely
“I understand that these people are all there to see me ride, that that's why they're in the building, and whether I have ten people, or a thousand people come out to see me, they still came out to see me, and I take that to heart.” PeopleHeartStillsBuildingThousandTen Author:Mike Vallely