Saturday, August 21, 2010

Trapped in our own World


As we grow from childhood, we are shaped by experiences that create who we are as a human being. Throughout our development, we are faced with desires, impulses, impressions, and an infinite amount of influences in which we choose to act upon or not. The influences that we experience work towards the shaping or influencing of our overall view on life and our self. The libido is a major factor in the self reflection that we possess, as it creates impulses towards satisfaction that we are forced to repress or act upon. We are all working towards an attempt to reach self satisfaction, although with the influences we encounter, this becomes a very difficult procedure as certain influences create conflict between our ideals we have created and the ego which strives for satisfaction.

While reaching towards the development of perfection, we put together our own view of cultural and ethical situations which influence us and create insight into the decisions that we make. Although we are all basically a part of a similar system of influences, some impulses or desires may go un-noticed by one person as the next person has a constant inner struggle with himself, trying to keep his impulses under control. The reason for this is the difference that remains in the ego ideals which people have created for themselves. One person, with strong ethical or cultural influences may shape his mental representation of life around the construct that he has created. As influences or desires enter the subconscious mind, if they interfere or come into conflict with the ego, or the cultural or ethical construct that the individual has created for himself, then they are sublimated or repressed, never reaching the conscious mind. If these boundaries are not constructed, then these impulses are able to enter the conscious awareness and in some cases may even cause an internal battle in the mind of the individual. The constraints are built around the ego ideal which is the ideal created by the person for himself. This construction influences the desires or wishes that the individual decides to give into.

The idea of narcissism comes into place when the ideal ego masks itself with an unrealistic view of perfection or self love. As the ego builds itself up, it creates an image of itself as having all perfections of value. This is often a construct that is created during the attempt to reach self love which is created by the repressed in the form of narcissism. As people develop from childhood, they are often disturbed by the ideas of others and their own critical judgement, since it changes their own views on what it means to retain perfection. Through the attempt to reach an ego ideal of perfection, it becomes impossible to reach the level of self love that has been achieved during childhood. The lack of self love achievable becomes the reason that these narcissistic boundaries are created, which often cause people to become ignorant of things around them, such as the emotions of others. The individual basically becomes so drowned in his own self love that he loses all sense of empathy towards other people.

Narcissism is restricting because it creates boundaries that do not allow you insight outside of your own world. When an influence interferes with an ego ideal, shaping the overall image that we have of ourselves, a cathexis is often created as a projection of hidden desires. Often, this can be a minor flaw, but on occasion, this can create disturbing fetishes or obsessions, such as a lust for shoes. We are all victims of the ego and the restraints it places upon us, but in most cases the ego does not become a problem until it has completely placed us in a state of self pride that limits us from the world.

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

A Loss of Direction

“I knew this was a bad idea. Why couldn’t you have just been happy floating near the beach? This was a really bad idea.”

“Jeff, you need to shut up.” whispered Luke. “If you don’t keep your mouth shut we are going to end up buried in this forest somewhere.”

Jeff sat there sobbing into his hands and shaking uncontrollably. I watched him quietly, a knot starting to build in my stomach. The volume of his sobs were increasing and we had to maintain our composure. Looking into the distance, I could see the small blur of where our boat sat; docked, next to the borders of the forest, overlooking the far side of the lake.

“You seriously need to calm down. Things are going to be okay, we can get out of this. If you don’t settle down, we are going to attract attention. I am going to do everything I can to get us out of this mess okay?”

Jeff looked up with a look of fear and trust. “Did you know things like this went on here?”

“Do you think that I’d bring you here if I knew this was going on? I’m not completely out of my mind.”

“What is this; some kind of cult or something? These people are going to kill us. What if they find our boat before we get a chance to get out of here?”

“Jeff listen; I’m as scared as you are but if you don’t keep your cool this may be our last night alive. Please, please, please just relax, take a couple of deep breaths and try to think about something good.”

“Think about something good!? Stumbling into a situation like this cannot spark a positive feeling. Look around you. There are people being carried into some underground pits that these people must have been digging for months. Those weren’t machine dug pits and you seen how far they went down. There was no end to them. There are people in suits standing all over an abandoned forest. Anything could happen here. Anything!”

“I’m not going to take this. I’m going to get home and sleep in my own bed tonight and so are you. Follow my lead.” Luke slowly stood up from the hiding spot behind the brush. He took a couple slow steps towards the water where the boat was anchored, but before he had a chance to make a run to it, voices in the distance caused him to become paralyzed in fear.

“Boss; I found something.”

“What is it?”

“There’s a boat or something parked against shore. We’re not here alone. You think it could be cops or something?”

“I have no idea, but we can’t take our chances. Find whoever is in this forest.”

“We are dead, we are dead, we are dead. I wish that I could tell Mandy that I love her one last time.”

“Jeff. We are not going to die. We are going to find a way out of this mess.”

Sunday, August 15, 2010

Shake the Lake 2010


In Sylvan Lake, Alberta from August 13th to 15th, the whole weekend included skateboard and BMX competitions, live bands, street performers, and even things to amuse the children at “Shake the Lake 2010”.

The event started out with disappointment on Friday, due to rainy weather, but throughout the afternoon the sky cleared up to pave way for one of Sylvan’s best events. This was the second ever “Shake the Lake” to happen in Sylvan Lake, started by Incline Industries, with an attempt to create the largest BMX event in Canada.

Starting Thursday afternoon, Sean Macintyre, with a group of volunteers, worked hard to get the park together inside of the Medican Multiplex. The area was put together with precision to create the best possible set up for both BMX and skateboarding.

Outside, a large stage was put together that hosted a large list of bands that rocked out all weekend long, while people flocked out to witness the event. The crowed was heavy, as were the events taking place all around the promenade area, with street performers, inflatable bouncy tents, face painters, and much more.

There were people with skateboards and bikes all over town, enjoying the beautiful weather, the music, and the activities. A block away, at the local skate park, contestants of the competitions were practicing their tricks before entering the heat of the competition.

The Multiplex was packed with viewers witnessing the execution of the competitors, while they performed stunts that captured the attention of the entire crowed. The marvel that took place was a great success, and surprisingly, completely free.

Incline Industries put the event together last year with an attempt to try and create something that the town has never experiences. With the help of volunteers and sponsors, the work of the event was created to give everyone something to do, while creating excitement for the entire town, and giving local musician spotlight closer to home. The bands playing did an excellent job, as well as the competitors in the skate and BMX competitions. Shake the Lake was a memorable event that gave the town of Sylvan Lake a weekend that most will never forget.