The Message

I was watching one of those survival shows. I was sitting here, thinking to myself how interesting it is that people seek those sorts of experiences. Obviously I can only speculate to the different motives of the participants, but one that always comes through with every single one of them is the need to push themselves to whatever limit or edge imagined.

I stopped paying attention to the show not even half way through. Out of twenty people attempting to make it across the Serengeti, the first one dropped out before the group even set foot out on their quest. Having been up all night, plaqued with flashbacks from Afghanistan, his PTSD wouldn't allow him to be in an environment that bears any resemblance of what his soul has suffered. Then not even five hours into walking, the second guy dropped out. He lives “off the grid” with his partner and children somewhere, so he would be very well equipped to overcome the physical challenges of this quest. Yet he can’t handle the group dynamics and having to accommodate every individual member in the group. Solitary he came, solitary he is leaving. And then there are of course all the other varied reasons for people to push themselves or more so prove something. To themselves and to the world. The egos participating in those sorts of challenges are the same ones us non-thrill seekers are encountering daily in our average life of making it through the desert or the jungle of society.

Depending on how you view the world you live in, you can feel like you are fighting your way through a jungle all day, cutting your path with a machete, ready to attack anything that comes your way, out of sheer fear and being in constant survival mode. Or you can feel totally isolated throughout your entire day despite being surrounded by masses of people, because there is no connection between you and any other person you encounter. So you feel like you are crawling on your hands and knees across the desert of society until you reach an oasis. That oasis being someone you finally connect with or some sort of refuge you created for your soul to revive you in your isolation.

I have watched a couple variations of these sorts of survival shows before. And what it really always boils down to is the group dynamic, as every individual seems to default into their learned role of being part of a group. As they interact with each other under extreme circumstances to make it through the challenge, that is actually indeed how they interact in our “civilized” society to make it through the day. It is eye opening to watch the participants true character emerge. Be it the martyr, taking on others responsibilities, carrying others' weight to get them through or be it the egotistical prick who struggles to extend a hand or support to a “weaker” member. And of course any other role people assume in between the manipulator to the coordinator.

It makes me wonder if any of the participants ever watch themselves in their recorded interactions with others and gain insight into their own behavior. If their eyes are opened enough in any way to change.

“..A child is born with no state of mind Blind to the ways of mankind God is smilin' on you but he's frownin' too Because only God knows what you'll go through..” ~Grandmaster Flash The message

https://youtu.be/O4o8TeqKhgY