You might not make it to the top, but if you are doing what you love, there is much more happiness there than being rich or famous.
Interpretation
Pursuing what you love brings more joy than wealth or fame.
Tony Hawk emphasizes that the true essence of happiness lies not in achieving wealth or fame, but in engaging in activities and passions that one genuinely loves. He suggests that the fulfillment and joy derived from doing what you love far outweigh the superficial benefits of popularity or fortune.
In practice
In a motivational speech about pursuing your dreams.
The pro skaters I know are responsible members of society. Many of them are fathers, homeowners, world travelers and successful entrepreneurs. Their hairdos and tattoos are simply part of our culture, even when they raise eyebrows during PTA meetings.
I believe that people should take pride in what they do, even if it is scorned or misunderstood by the public at large.
If I can stand up when I'm 80, I'll be happy to cruise around on a skateboard. If I feel like my skills are fading, I just won't do it publicly.
When I started skating, it was such a small community. You didn't aspire to be rich or famous or make a career out of it because that wasn't something anyone had done yet.
I consider skateboarding an art form, a lifestyle and a sport. 'Action sport' would be the least offensive categorization.
My definition of success is doing what you love. I feel many people do things because they feel they have to, and are hesitant to risk following their passion.
If someone asked for my recipe for happiness, step one would be finding out what you love most in the world and step two would be finding someone to pay you to do it. I consider myself very lucky indeed to be able to support myself by writing.
Beauty is nothing other than the promise of happiness.
Happiness lies in virtuous activity, and perfect happiness lies in the best activity, which is contemplative
You have no cause for anything but gratitude and joy.
I don't know what good it is to know so much and be smart as whips and all if it doesn't make you happy.
Happy. Just in my swim shorts, barefooted, wild-haired, in the red fire dark, singing, swigging wine, spitting, jumping, running—that's the way to live. All alone and free in the soft sands of the beach by the sigh of the sea out there, with the Ma-Wink fallopian virgin warm stars reflecting on the outer channel fluid belly waters. And if your cans are redhot and you can't hold them in your hands, just use good old railroad gloves, that's all.
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