Tell Someone that you Love them Today. RIP Nicolo.

I woke up this morning and discovered that an old friend, Nicolo Noche, has passed away at 35 years young. I still don't know all the details, but I read that he passed while teaching at his MMA academy in Union City, CA. My heart is aching, thinking about my old friend and how the world has lost a truly kind and gentle person.

Nicolo was a multi-talented dude and a genuinely friendly person

I first met Nicolo in the Bay Area poppin' world. We met in an all-styles dance battle at "The Crackhouse," an abandoned warehouse near Jack London Square in Oakland. Nicolo's personality came out in his dancing. He wasn't one of those poppers who tried to act hard. He was humble and warm, full of good vibes and smiles.

I got to know Nicolo over the years after this event. He was one of my early popping teachers and an amazing DJ. Nicolo used to DJ all sorts of events and would spin a mixture of old school Hip Hop and old school freestyle records (a la Stevie B and Buffy, Pinoy fam stand up) that would make the robot kids go beserk.

I've been reading the messages on a GoFundMe page for his family. They speak volumes about Nicolo's impact on everyone around him. It's clear that he's truly going to be missed.

We all get caught up in life and sometimes lose sight of the fact that life, in the big scheme of things, is but a short ride. Maybe you're super busy at work, or feeling stressed out about something in your personal life. Or maybe you've been putting something off for awhile. Today is a new day. Let it go and fill your precious time with important, meaningful thoughts and actions.

I hope you read about my old friend and that it inspires you to live and love more. Make sure to tell your family and friends that you love them today. We can celebrate his life and keep his memory alive by being kind, humble, and generous to those around us.

RIP Nicolo. You will be missed. From your old school poppin' brother. 😢

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