That's Mental

Aloha Y’all,

I’m Simon Bones and I’m super hyped to be an ambassador for Radical Clothing.   Not only does the brand have roots in my favourite board sports in Surfing, Skateboarding and Snowboarding, they’re also mental health advocates, supporting a mental health charity.  This is awesome!

I’ve been a mental health supporter for a number of years now, leading a men’s group, various ceremonies and retreats.  My latest venture is exploring the ‘flow state’ found in board sports and how this can translate into being embodied at times when life gets hard.  In other words, getting out of our heads and the negative self talk we sometimes have and into our bodies, observing our thoughts rather than acting upon everything that comes into our heads.  I really believe that surfing, snowboarding and skateboarding help us with this process and we can learn from these epic creative sports to help us feel more positive. 

Creating a quiet mind and positive mental health personally has taken me a lot of practise and I’m still a work in progress.  There have been times in my life where I have struggled.  Feeling alone during lockdown was really tough and I have had to deal with a strong internal critic (my mind telling me that I’m not good enough).  For me, practising meditation and mindfulness on a daily basis has been so transformative.  I have learnt to be with my thoughts rather than believing everything my mind tells me and I can now really discern the difference between being lonely and alone.  Sitting on the meditation cushion doing nothing but being present really allows me to be content on my own and without the need for constant stimulations and distractions.  Board sports are also so beneficial to my mental state as mentioned in the previous paragraph. 

I first met Mikie and Radical Clothing at Download Festival this summer and I was instantly drawn to their branding and innovative lines.  When I found out that they support mental health, I was even more stoked to wear the brand.  I’m really looking forward to working with Radical Clothing  and supporting their mission, ‘raising awareness for mental health’.

Watch this space  for some exciting projects over the forthcoming year. 

And remember, reaching out and asking for help is the ultimate strength we can demonstrate.

See you on the water, in the skatepark or on the slopes.

Bones