Insights & Stories
We love what we do so, we came up with a blog section called: Insights & Stories! From art & skate to everyday wins, we share good moments & sharp ideas to keep the community rolling. Scroll down, pick a story & get inspired. It’s that simple!
An article about Lena - a cool gal we recently met - just for you. She’s a skater & an urbanist (you might see some of her designed obstacles soon, but we won’t spoil the surprise).
Balance is hard to preserve. This article reflects on my personal journey of designing environment for myself amidst the chaotic energy of Barcelona. I explain how I’ve learned to curate meaningful social interactions & practice mindfulness to protect my mental peace.
Skate for Balance, a global initiative
Skate for Balance is an international initiative we created in 2025 to improve our community's wellbeing through Art & Skateboarding.
Find your balance
Lena Germanese: skate city planner
Written by Nadège Monge
Written by Jessy N. Marine
Written by Jessy N. Marine
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Unedited photo by Jessy N. Marine in Bordeaux, 2024
Designing my own environment
Living in deep Raval, now that’s an experience! Noise, smells, junkies... Yeah, I’m in that shxt. At first, it was the pulse of the city that pulled me in. Barcelona’s energy is chaotic & wild. I loved it at first, then I got trapped. Or maybe I let myself get trapped in this fun chaos. When I decided to stay, I had this “fxck it all” mindset mixed with “let’s finally be happy” & I guess, in some weird way, it worked. But not in the way I imagined... I used every crutch I could find. Alcohol, drugs, living constantly on the edge. It was fun for a while, I wasn't miserable as I still managed to grow that way. But eventually, the distractions weren’t enough. I started feeling hollow.
That’s when I knew I needed something else. So, I moved. Berlin was where I found what I was looking for. I met people there who lived consciously, who didn’t need consumption to be the point of everything. Parties sober? Yes. Lake trips? Yes. Skating in the German cold? Not my favorite part but, yes. Making moves on projects like SOA Paris? Hell yes! There was an energy in Berlin I hadn’t felt before. A groundedness. It made me realize this “fxck it all” lifestyle had its limits & I needed more. I needed depth.
Back in Barna, my vision’s shifted. A lot of things, a lot of people, lost their appeal. Not that they were “bad” or anything, they just didn’t share the same values anymore & that’s okay. People change & so do priorities. My inner circle now looks very different. I’ve learned to prioritize those who share common values, who respect me & my boundaries. These are the people who make life easier, the ones who don’t flinch when things get tough. I admire them for their emotional intelligence, their ability to navigate life with grace. I’m learning from them every day.
Living in Barcelona was never really part of my dream. But in many ways, it saved me. After bouncing back & forth between Paris, Berlin, Lisbon & who knows where else, I ended up here. It’s strange because I’m still getting used to how the city feels, how the spaces work. Sometimes, the hustle of the streets feels too loud, too overwhelming. There’s always someone around, someone I know & I feel like every corner is filled with faces I recognize. It’s exhausting. I can’t focus or fully relax.
So, I’ve started paying more attention to the environment I’m creating for myself. It’s not about trying to control everything, mission impossible. & it’s not about avoiding people either. It’s more about making the environment work for me, to shape it in a way that supports my wellbeing, rather than drains it.
Text by Jessy N. Marine, image AI generated