Rest In Peace Josh Neuman

Josh Neuman.

Link: https://www.wbtv.com/2022/02/08/josh-believed-this-world-union-county-native-skateboarder-social-media-influencer-dies-iceland-plane-crash/

I don't even know where to start this one, but I'm going to try my best to represent the person that Josh was through my words, and even then, I still don't think it will fully encapsulate just the kind of person he was, but I will try my best.

Have you ever been through security at an airport and had a TSA agent smile at you, even though they see plenty of people just like you everyday, some complaining, some not even paying attention their presence? That refreshing reminder that the airport isn't just a mosh pit of humans trying to reach their final destination, but also full of people, just like you, trying to make it through their day.

Josh Neuman was like one of those smile-at-you TSA agents; he was a breath of fresh air, an escape from the madness that is every day life, and a kind soul that serves as a reminder to not take life so seriously.

Josh passed away in early February of 2022 in a plane crash. He was sightseeing in Iceland, doing something he absolutely loved, when the plane went down.

Josh was the definition of an adventurer and an athlete. He has done the coolest things known to man- skydiving off of high air balloons, downhill skateboarding going 70+ mph... just to name a few.

Link: https://www.instagram.com/p/CPBPzbkBbgI/

Josh Neuman's Instagram page: downhill skateboarding

Link: https://www.instagram.com/p/CXtmvHfpuun/

Josh Neuman's Instagram Page: Skydiving from helicopter

But, what set Josh apart from the rest was his heart. When I say he had a heart of gold, I am not kidding that if you were to take his heart out of his body, gold flakes would shed like ashes spewing out of a 30-foot fire.

I was lucky enough to have met Josh my senior year at UNC. A couple of my friends and I made a trip to Kure Beach for the weekend and Josh came with us. I had never met Josh before. I was being silly, dancing around the kitchen and the next thing you know, Josh Neuman was right next to me, slinging his arms around, singing just as loud as I was. I was like, "who is this guy?" There was no judgment about my horrible dance moves from Josh, he just wanted to have fun with me.

Fast forward about 7 months later. Picture this: walking home from a night with friends and we come across the sky. It wasn't your average night sky- it looked like the sky was smoking. It was a truly surreal sight. I remember looking at Josh, knowing all the cool things he had done, and saying, "This is crazy, but I'm sure you've seen crazier." It was at that moment Josh looked at me and said something along the lines of, "This is why I do what I do. For moments like these."

THIS IS NOT SMOKE! Cloudy sky picture I took when I was walking home with Josh and friends

I felt like a wimp. I mean, hell, I barely even get in the ocean when I go to the beach because I'm scared of sharks (I know, I need to get over that). And then you have this absolute legend-of-a-human, who has seen almost all of the world in its purest form, jumped off planes alone, crashed his skateboard going 70 mph downhill, and I just felt almost like a loser, like I needed to experience more.

But, thats the thing about Josh. He made everyone feel special regardless of whether they have jumped out of a hot air balloon. He wanted everyone to feel loved and noticed. He cared so deeply about people around him, even if he didn't know them. He spread love and kindness because he wanted too, not because he had too.

I wish I had been able to know Josh more. My heart goes out to his family and close friends. He was an angel among us. I know that his soul will live on forever.

Let this serve as a reminder to live more like Josh, care more like Josh and love more like Josh. It's people like him that make the world spin. It's people like him that save people from the darkest of days. It's people like him who inspire creativity and passion. To those of you reading this that knew him in any capacity, how lucky are we? He gave everything he had to change the world and he did it.

He always told people to live a good story. So, to whoever is reading this, may we all live in the light that Josh will shine on us forever. Leave your comfort zone, follow your heart, and LIVE A GOOD STORY.

Rest In Peace Josh Neuman. Thank you for inspiring us all.

Me and Josh senior year at UNC