Right on man. I also have learned that everything happens for a reason, which is most often to make you who you are meant to be, but it's up to us to open our eyes to seeing that.
Funny thing my first thought was that if skateboarding is a negative, you should see the scene in longboarding. It's actually very positive, AND pro helmet! Mind you i'm biased, for me flying down a mountain on a board is my meditation. Keeps my mind clear of anything but me and the road.