Page 152 - THE ENDLESS WAVE | Skateboarding, Death & Spirituality

THE ENDLESS WAVE | PART TWO
skate with occurs because you can relate to one another, you empathise and you celebrate each others’ achievements. Whether you are skating the same spot, different spots, trying the same or different tricks, playing a game of S.K.A.T.E, shooting a photo or video, a win for one is a win for all.
The experience you seek is different, but the feeling and vibe behind it is all so similar. Skateboarding is an activity that facilitates the release of feel-good brain chemicals, so it’s only natural to feel on a high and want to share it with others that are also participating in the environment around you.
The undesirable people that you experience in skateboarding are true tests of what you learn about in your understanding and the application of acceptance and compassion during moments of confrontation. These people might range from the nosy neighbours, heroic bystander, angry shopkeeper, security guard or police officer that shows up to spoil your fun, say if you’re out skating in a place that may not be an ‘approved’ place to play.
When you get excited about skating at a spot in the streets, maybe one that hasn’t skated before, or one that you have some good trick ideas for, your feel- good brain chemicals are already starting to flow. You start trying a few, maybe flicking your board around, warming up and getting a feel for the spot and then someone shows up to try to put an end to it.
What do you do when you are faced with a high and a potential low? It’s prob- ably going to feel like a bit of an emotional rollercoaster going from the high to low, especially if you are faced with someone else’s anger and authority. There are probably going to be times where you might be ill-treated because of what you appear to be doing, that is, skating in a place that someone thinks you shouldn’t be. What do you do in these situations? What can you do to hold it all together in these times? What does the best version of you look like in these moments?
Do you ride the tidal wave of emotion and return the anger, project your frus- tration or respond in an intimidating way? What are the consequences and how do these experiences leave you feeling afterwards? Consider the buildup
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