Skateboarding is one of those things that can take over your life when you are young.
You spend hours on the board, traveling to contests, filming parts, and skating with the homies.
But as pro skateboarder Joey Brezinski recently shared, that chapter does not last forever.
After years of skating at a high level, Joey decided to step away from the professional scene and start a new career as a USPS mailman.
READ MORE: Joey Brezinski Proves You Can Be Successful as Both a Pro Skateboarder and a USPS Postman
Brezinski has been open about the changes in his life.
He admitted that at first, he felt like he had downgraded after leaving pro skateboarding, but he told himself he should not be ashamed of what he does for a living.
Finding satisfaction in a different kind of work has been an important part of adjusting to life after skating.
As we previously reported, Joey was skating with the good homies, including pro skater Lucas Puig.
Puig, skating alongside his son, shared some advice about life beyond skateboarding. His son mentioned that he hopes to become a pro skater like his dad, and Puig used the moment to pass on some wisdom.
"Skateboarding is good," Puig said, "but it doesn't last forever and then after you need to find a job."
He noted that it is better to find a job that you truly enjoy, something that you can be passionate about, because that is what will sustain you in the long term.
"This is when you have fun," he added. "When you put all your goals on your passion, then it is hard when you stop."
There's a balance between following your dreams and preparing for the future. Even though skateboarding is a big part of their lives, Puig and Brezinski show that there is value in finding work that keeps you grounded, provides stability, and allows you to keep enjoying life in other ways.
For both Brezinski and Puig, skateboarding remains a part of their lives, but they are honest about how important it is to plan ahead.
Whatever it is, they show that life after professional skateboarding can be meaningful, full, and rewarding.