Page 139 - THE ENDLESS WAVE | Skateboarding, Death & Spirituality

THE ENDLESS WAVE | PART TWO
is a mindset focussed on being productive. Some people will have this plan figured out early on and others later on, which can feel stressful if there is pressure to have an answer or have something to show that they are growing up and being responsible.
Focusing only on the doing, as a representation of desire towards a projected future outcome and purpose creates the potential for judgment of self and others based on their answer to these questions. This also has its impacts on one’s own appreciation of their own abilities and affects their relationships, self-esteem, self-worth and value of life. Everyone has their own timing in life, just like in skateboarding. Skateboarders communicating through the language of love, can understand the value of this timing and can usually show their ac- ceptance for others and the different stages of their journeys because they can relate. They have been there before and they know what it’s like.
To address this, an additional key question to focus on asking is, “what do you want to be in your life?” This ensures that the focus is on the present moment and the representation of purpose itself is flexible. There is the included op- portunity to explore purpose in the context and realm of emotion and feeling the value of the situation.
What is most important is that we seek to serve a purpose rather than to have it so clearly defined with one straight purpose or mapped out on a set path. One’s purpose can change many times throughout their lifetime and it isn’t a static one-way path. While it is great to have aspirations and goals in mind, life isn’t so much enriched by how many goals that one can achieve, but rather it’s about the meaning behind them. Anything done with passion can illustrate this momentarily in the context of one’s self-expression, while for skateboard- ing, this permeates holistically into life inside and outside of the activity itself.
When arriving at a skatepark or spot, is there a clear definition of how to skate it? Is there a set track in the bowl that you have to carve? Every place you’ll ever skate is made differently and try as they may to replicate them, there’ll always be differences in the physical and environment around them. Life is the same in this way. No one can ever tell you what your purpose is, you have
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