10 LESSONS: ALEX HIAM
HALF MAN HALF AMAZING! LOCAL HERO ALEX HIAM SHARES HIS 10 BIGGEST LESSONS OF LIFE AS A PRO BMX RIDER
1.
Just have fun and relax, everyone wonders how do you get sponsored? Just relax, have fun, chase what you love! Do what you love to do, do what makes you happy and those things you want will find you.
2.
Be kind! Growing up, I was so thankful for the kind people around me at the skatepark. I learned to take care of my brothers and sisters, treating everyone equally. Look after the earth, the animals and Insects, put your litter in the bin. We need each other more than ever right now.
Images courtesy of: Jack Phoenix (@jackphoenix__)
3.
Diet is important. Not just the stuff you’re eating either.
I learned through trying to speed recoveries up from injuries that everything holds energy: sounds, foods, thoughts. Our bodies are just vehicles to transport the spirit, and my vehicle is a formula one...so if I want to go as fast as an F1 and stay on track, I have to be putting the right fuel (food) into me and getting the right maintenance and services (rest, exercise and massage). If I don't put the right fuel in, I can still go as fast, but not for as long before I start to break apart, wear down and burn out.
4.
F**K what others think! I have spent some time trying to please others or fit into places I didn’t fit in, changing myself for others. I learned to just let your true colours shine and to do what is best for me. Do those things that make me happy & those things I think that are positive, everything else falls Into place, and if anyone tries to bring negative stuff, I learned to not give a sh*t!
Photo: Jack Phoenix
5.
Dreams come true so DREAM BIG and don't give up. Really believe in yourself, listen to your heart and spend time and energy on forming good habits to help believe in yourself & when you do this it enables other people too live their dreams too; because anything is possible. Believe and you will achieve: work hard, push through those uncomfortable times, hustle hard & be firece; don’t let any one stop you.
6.
GRATITUDE
I learnt gratitude from filming. On occasions where I’m thankful for the skatepark spot, my healthy body and the the person filming, things just flow good. It’s easy to focus on what could go wrong, so I love writing a list of 10 things I am grateful for, it really helps me focus on the light. I also love journaling and doing random creative things like painting or freestyle raps or cooking. It really helps me calm down and I believe it helps me to be innovative!
7.
Know your limits - lately I have been learning when to stop, rest, when to go and when to play! I got sick of getting injured, or over doing it to the point where I was resting more than riding. Be generous but don't give it all so you have nothing left for yourself, it's all about balance. I do yoga to practice balance and breathing; to calm down and rest.
8.
Keep it moving!
Stay busy and be wild! Sometimes you just gotta go against everything, including all those thoughts in your head and just give it your best shot!
9.
Compete against yourself.
When your competing with yourself you will never lose, and wont have any competition because you will want everyone else to win too! Just do your best, in other words for your SELF.
PHOTOS ABOVE: Jack Phoenix