YOUNG PEOPLE REVITALIZE HIM

Mekkar likes to be around young people because it revitalizes him. It also causes him to remember back to his successful, younger days. Since then, the Arctic Warrior has been frequently beat down and kicked around by life. Surprisingly, he still continues to get back up each time, even when he doesn’t want to. That instilled inner drive or determination to success refuses to surrender. Due to a lack of support and answers regarding his purpose, until lately, Mekkar has been unable to locate the place where that inner “thing” exists within him. He figures it is beyond any part of his body or mind.

CAN NEVER HAVE ENOUGH

Sirga (Mekkar’s mama and a former model) says, “You can never have enough beautiful women around you.”

THE NECK

Mekkar’s mama has said the neck is the key to revealing the true age of a person because it is neglected. She was a model herself and normally applied her own makeup during photo shoots and runway fashion shows. Sirga was only a part-time model by choice because she did not want to be ensnared by the many potential hazards lurking behind the scenes.

WORLD WIDE HOCKEY TOUR - PRE TOUR (C)

[Continued from Part B in December, 2015]

Any player who is focused on their feet or frequently looks down at them negates many facets of their game. The issue is that your attention is solely on yourself not on what is going on around you on the ice. Mekkar states, “That if a player cannot skate well then you will not get very far. It won’t matter how good that player’s other skills and abilities are.”

This manner of adaptive thinking Mekkar also exhibits into other areas such as board games like Stratego. Mekkar normally kicks rear ends in the game because it appears that his thought process is a few steps ahead of everyone else. He tries to consider multiple possible scenarios or outcomes that could be sprung upon him, at any time, by his opponent. It’s too bad, that The Native from the North cannot transfer this same forward thinking before opening his mouth.

In Mekkar’s mind, playing a sport on a couple of thin blades is not a natural act for a human being. The difference of not using one’s own, more stable and much wider, two feet is what separates hockey players from other collision and contact sport athletes. Most others are barely adequate at the skating part, and much less adept at the other skills required for hockey to perform well. The Arctic Warrior feels that he can emphatically make this statement since he has participated in quite a few other sports as well.

The dedication of Mekkar, towards sports that he enjoyed participating in, was not without its hazards. It’s well to note, that he spent a lot of time rehabbing many injuries common to athletes, especially hockey players, on a frequent basis. This included foot, ankle, leg, knee, hip, groin, and many other wounds. There was also time spent in a swimming pool with water playing the part of resistance to help him get back to full health. Mekkar seemed to Alf to be habitual water visitor. Alf observed his older brother using the sessions to go through various range of motion exercises, as part of his overall physical recovery routine. When you play the type of games that Mekkar did – it was a constant fight against ailments. Even to this day, when Mekkar is in a pool he unconsciously still performs some of these exercises. Nobody seems to ask why. Many assume that the Native from the North has a desire to check his current flexibility. To this day he has never given an adequate answer.

The international system, mainly developed in Europe, is the type of hockey environment Mekkar was also trained in. The premise is with more practices and increased practice time to develop personal skills and fewer games on the schedule. This is the reverse from the scheme in North America where it was based more so on instinct. There were more live matches to apply those learned abilities at game speed and less practice time.

Mekkar always felt that the smaller ice surfaces in the United States and Canada better fit his play the body, not the puck, style. It did help that he was very good in his positioning toward the play happening around him. In Mekkar’s mind the extra dimensional space of an international ice surface made a big difference.

He felt it was harder on the big ice to play a neutral zone defensive strategy like the trap, wing-lock, or similar system. It was easier to advance the puck and maneuver around it. If a defense first dominated game plan was implemented it was typically a retreat further back closer to one’s own net. This fleeing and clogging up a team’s own the zone with all five skaters reduces offense and play making flair from the game. Fans are not as entertained by that method. 

To Mekkar some of these blueprints are similar to a press defense in hoops. The idea is to force the opposition with the puck to areas where the defense dictates. As contrary to where the offensive team in possession of the biscuit controls the flow. On the smaller rinks these trap and lock systems are easier to implement and would make Mekkar’s tasks much easier. Not only that the center red line, like the fifty yard center line in American football, helps defensemen from being burned by the long homerun breakaway passes. Well, that was the case before leagues began to change the rules negating the two line offside infractions. 

The current Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) in Russia is throwing a wrench in all those previously accepted defense theories due to the focus of skill versus mucking and grinding. How that circuit also has some less talented squads invoking “clogging defense” strategies at their own blue line. Mekkar is waiting to see how it turns out as he watches hockey matches from all over the world on the internet in the twenty-first century.

Another thing, Mekkar is a great fan of contact sports and has played many of them. He is aware that “American” gridiron football (not futbol or soccer) was actually born in Canada by British soldiers against civilians in a game in Toronto on November 9, 1861. [cflhq.ca/articles/gridiron-football-the-evolution-2; ezinearticles.com/?Who-Invented-Football?&id=1364334; Wikipedia]

Unknown to many people, there are many nations with professional or semi-professional gridiron football leagues and those with organized leagues and championships. In fact, there are more than 700 American football clubs in Europe alone: USA, Canada, Mexico, Japan, Ireland, Great Britain, France, Spain, Holland, Belgium, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Poland, Luxembourg, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Slovakia, Russia, Hungary, Ukraine, Turkey, Greece, and Israel. 48 nations on 5 Continents and it is spreading out to other places. [International Federation of American Football (IFAF) - ifaf.org]. Around the world, the game is gaining ground with a future goal of becoming prevalent like ice hockey. There are hockey squads right now in places, one would not normally think of - such as parts of Africa, South America, Mexico, etc.  

Mekkar is convinced that fans in certain areas of the planet are different from the rest of the world in their preferences of many sports. He feels that in North America some are more drawn to games as spectators with higher scoring like indoor soccer, arena or indoor football, etc. in addition to their natural counterparts. In many other places, those modified athletic events wouldn’t fly or draw well. He attributes it to having less appreciation for exceptional defense with the exception of ice hockey in Canada.

The Native from the Far North routinely points out that all sports for viewers are another form of entertainment, a distraction to venture out to the movie theatre. The Romans and many cultures of the past have used diversions to subtlety make their population more docile and easier to control. Mekkar believes that if an individual’s fanaticism becomes an overwhelming distraction to their life survival occupation; then, other additional healthy alternatives are needed.

In lower scoring sports turnovers and mistakes by participants are much more magnified. Even more so, in instances that can lead to an opposition score. Mekkar wisely chose not to focus on those negative aspects. Otherwise, he felt those potential outcomes might occur more frequently due to increased attention to them. That was something he wished to avoid. He did not want to become ridiculously superstitious like many athletes, especially with regard to hockey netminders.

He felt fortunate to have played, in his judgment, as part of the golden age of hockey. Mekkar narrowed the time frame to the mid nineteen sixties to the early part of the nineteen eighties. The minor believes it was a time when there was more experimentation in sports, individuals, cultures, and life itself throughout the world. To him it just seemed like it was more real with more human interaction. In the nineteen fifties fans could still meet the favorite major league athletes face to face, and without as much obstruction, before a game or match. But, the times were changing in rapid order. This has now transitioned into something altogether different in our own individually isolated current time. Maybe, Mekkar is being nostalgic or reflective of an era that is gone, forever.

Free agency in pro sports had its beginnings in the nineteen-seventies. In Mekkar’s own sport hockey, there was time lag before it was swamped by the big money machine and corporate influence we see today. Before all era of great change, most athletes just appeared to Mekkar as more genuine & friendly in those days gone by. The Native from the North considers there were more changes during that time period than any

twenty-year period in history. Innovation was not restricted to technology alone. He speculated that people were more in touch with their environment around them. Well, except for politicians and bureaucrats - who are always out of touch with all reality. Now people just don’t care, because they are so wrapped up in their own little world more than ever before. It doesn’t matter if it is a right or wrong, it matters only how Mekkar sees it.

Top-notch athletic pursuits & leagues, with radical adjustments, grew at unprecedented levels from nineteen-sixty to nineteen eighty. A stodgy, rigid atmosphere that was screaming for transformation. The old way was dead and the stranglehold of the status quo was bursting at the seams. Convinced by these signs, the Arctic Warrior feels that current twenty first century life is just a shadow of its former self. The one big question Mekkar asks is, “Where is the loyalty?” His answer is, “There is none anymore, anywhere.”

Mekkar realizes the settings are not the same anymore. Unfortunately, the hands of time cannot be turned back. In his self-absorbed mind, all things appear to be tainted in today’s world. However, he is unsure to what degree. Mekkar, now places most present professional athletes on comparable ground with politicians. The overwhelming attitude of give me what is mine and unrelatability to their supporters. It actually ticks him off and teases him with the desire to punch them, one-by-one, in the snout. The same maniacal reaction as when encountering a bear at the backdoor steps back home. Mekkar does not think the information age, advanced civilization as a whole. At least, nowhere near as much as the mainstream media wants the people to believe. His conviction is that in many areas society has actually regressed since nineteen eighty. The underbelly of hate and distrust had bubbled over into all areas of society. Sometimes used, by those in charge, to sway public opinion.

The lad from the Far North has a sense that today the essence is different; a needed element is definitely missing. Yet, he is can’t put his finger on what it exactly is. His interpretation is it could many things but people seemed to be more real and less pretentious to him back then. It is possible that Mekkar’s influenced viewpoints were instilled by elders and adults that grew up in a different time. A very unimaginative, predicable surroundings of the post World War II time period. In some ways, a hidden innocence existed, very much unlike today. The native blood flowing through Mekkar determined that he was too close lineage-wise to the old way. In contrast, he was currently in the growth process of forming his character in what he calls, “The Breakout Age”.

Back then, most of the time an individual normally was on a first name basis with most of their neighbors’, where they lived. In Mekkar’s twisted observation, today’s neighborhood community interaction has changed immensely. Nowadays, Mekkar’s main question is, “Who can you trust?” His answer is a select few individuals and they could fall away from being a priority in his book.

He examines whether this state of affairs could be the result of the super disinteraction and depersonalization of further advancing high technology. Mekkar is under the impression that all forms of communication attempt to belittle people. A dumbing-down of society, if you will [Many Books & Sources]. Through convincing them to individually concentrate on more superficial and disengaging pursuits; while missing out on the true enjoyments of life. The young native analyzes it as an underhanded plot carried out through the methodical use of isolate, divide, and conquer. He has stated out loud that he is convinced the activity is for the purpose of complete control of the masses. Perhaps these beliefs are due to Mekkar’s young age at this point and his view of the world at large during his teenage years. There might be something to an alternative perspective. Still, what teen doesn’t have an aversion to all types of authority and authority figures? Think of who makes the rules!

Currently, Mekkar concludes that everything, everywhere is so over the top and in your face all of the time. There is no sense of mystery regarding much anymore. Mekkar, as he normally does, has termed it as, “We live in The Age of Hype and Drama.” He believes there is an intentional directive carried out by a controlled media, with an agenda, to shape perceptions in young people’s minds like his. Those with dominion and clout portray many things as glamorous and attainable for anyone regardless of social status. The truth realized by Mekkar is that the reverse is the case. Many matters are not nearly as enchanting for a great majority of the population but only for a select few of the silver spooners as Mekkar calls them. Another inquiry of his - is who does the selecting?

Often, Mekkar has a definite reaction when sees or hears any advertisement for any product or service. He will usually flip a vulgar gesture and audibly call out the lies, as he hears them, while directing his comments toward the intended target. Mekkar has not been blind to the growth disparity between the common individual and the super wealthy. The Arctic Warrior notices the ongoing robbery prevalent in cultures worldwide and the continuing increase in the wealth gap on a daily basis. Mekkar notices a prevailing trend in his time that matches what has occurred throughout the history of mankind. The scale is clearly unmistakable and the gulfs of social class, as well as status are growing more divided as time goes on. [Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell, 1949]

Due to his native status and appearance, Mekkar is considered to be from a lower echelon on the social caste ladder system. This is even more so, in the larger cities down south, where he is considered similar to a country bumpkin. The daily struggle within Mekkar affects every part of his being. Still, he is aware of the interconnectedness of it all despite living in a contrary manner. Society and life as Mekkar knew it has changed far too much, as well as modifying his own personal nature, and it will never be the same again. He is quite aware that the clock of time can never be turned back.

Yet, as he has hopefully grown up somewhat to discourage reverting back to his more childish viewpoints. The wide array of exposure to many things seen and done, in his young life, has altered him much more than he believes. Not to forget, it is assumed that people will live longer than ever before. Thus, more time to affect more change. In some instances this is considered as progression, more mature, and beneficial. At other times, it creates a raging situation of inner conflict that is difficult to resolve and a potential identity crisis that could affect Mekkar forever.

WORLD WIDE HOCKEY TOUR - PRE TOUR (B)

[Continued from Part A in August, 2015]

Mekkar is a very rhythmatic person. He feels like he is at his best when he is in the rhythm of something. This applies to all areas of his life. Thus, being in rhythm is quite key to him and central to his way of thinking. Mekkar understands that most people are unable to relate to that because it is an ingrained native aspect to his character.

Anyone who knows Mekkar personally can see that his survivor fighter type personality is not an act. It has stemmed from the far north native environment and upbringing he grew up in. This was easily assessed by Mekkar’s quips and retorts on the ice toward other players. Especially ones who wanted to do combat with him or those who desired to ramp up their roughness against him. ”Hey, where I come from we have big bears and you are much smaller than a bear. So, how are you going to scare me?” Mekkar would snap back at times.   

It seemed that every time Mekkar participated in any games against North Americans, exhibition or otherwise, they all wanted to test him. Since he felt that his size, or lack thereof, was like a greeting card advertising an invitation to start the rough stuff with him. Many times the cheap shots and extra aggressiveness would take place, even before the youngster would open his mouth to show that he was an accommodating adversary. It wasn’t like Mekkar was unwilling to oblige either. Mekkar sought an answer that maybe it was something in his countenance on his face or an aspect in his appearance perhaps. However, he never received a satisfactory response to these questions. Ultimately Mekkar discarded that notion due to a lack of useful information gathered on the subject.  He was forced to accept things as another part of hockey environment.

The Arctic Warrior was a product of an era and time that had a different mentality. Many of the most famous big name hockey stars would fight back to defend themselves. The list included the biggest names in the sport - Gordie Howe, Bobby Orr, Bobby Hull, etc. The current specialization of athletes has removed the need for this because there are enforcers who defend their team’s star players. Rarely, if ever, did anyone see Mekkar back down from a direct challenge. The native from the far north figured if the superstars can protect themselves on their own and fight back, why can’t he?

Not to mention many aspects were different in those days along with unwritten rules and conduct that applied as well. Mekkar understood this and still his on-ice demeanor crossed the line of breaking those rules on many occasions while performing for various squads. As for the whole hockey industry, Mekkar refuses to speak for it because maybe many aspects he believed were universal. In his mind, people in all fields take some things for granted whether conscious or not.

For instance, the head injury issues that many have now become aware of were as common as today. Mekkar suspects it was more so at the peak of his athletic career. However, scientific discovery and advancement in technology were not as advanced as today. Concussions were only considered as headaches and, Mekkar knows about this firsthand, some were worse than others.

There are times where Mekkar was incapable of recalling from his memory banks whole days, weeks, and matches that he was involved in. On some of those occasions he would have a portion of the info filled in by his brother, friends, and others that were present. Since they all pretty much played the sport too, Mekkar would do the same for them in return. There was an agreement that if one of the teammates had a blank bout due to head trauma the other players would collectively take care of each other by filling in the missing details.

Mekkar now experiences a consistent level of headache, along with their varying degree throughout everyday of his life due to the frequent rattling of the head. He understands that he took the risks and fully accepts the consequences. Thus, he sucks it up and deals with it in his own way. His ingrained mentality is that he is a hockey player, long after his playing days were over. Thus, don’t be a baby about it and keep your complaints to yourself – despite the deterioration of the physical issues. Everyone around The Arctic Warrior sees this outward expression and attitude including his doctors and neurologist. Yet, no one wants to trade places and endure the daily challenging circumstances that have risen as a result.

Fortunately, Mekkar was always glad that he wasn’t suited up as the backup goaltender for a live game. The backup was usually positioned, closest to the puck bucket, at one end of the bench. The pail was used for the nauseating excretion that could occur as a result of a heavy hit to the head and other reasons. Normally, the second goalie that occupied that spot on the bench rapidly adapted and later became immune to that foul smell. Similar to the garbage man around stinky trash or a plumber who unclogs pipes of human waste. Still, that scent always affected Mekkar and made him want to puke so he would try to sit as far away as possible because he never got used to it.

There were many instances, which involved Mekkar, that would be labelled as concussions today. Little was known about those issues back then as compared to now. For example, Mekkar would suffer a firm blow through contact of his head with an opposing fist, elbow, the ice surface, boards, etc. Team officials or trainers would arrive with smelling salt packets to wake him up if he was completely knocked out. A few times, according to Alf and Lasse, Mekkar didn’t even know who he was and answered all of the questions directed at him incorrectly.

On a number of occasions after regaining his senses Mekkar would then be helped to the bench. Next, vomit into the bucket and go to the dressing room to be given pain pills and commonly alcohol for the numbing effect. He would then hear, “Hurry up; you only have a few minutes for your next shift so be ready.” Ah! The good old days.

Mekkar has experienced times where he was in a blackout, non-remembrance frame of mind for awhile afterward. This happened more often than he would care to admit but the response was suck it up you’re a hockey player. Unfortunately, it also became his normal point of view by not considering the future adverse effects.

It was amazing that Mekkar didn’t miss more time by playing through it all. He rarely missed games and almost never did for an assortment of minor injuries. He feared that he could be replaced if he was out too long. All he wanted to do was play the game. The matches were rewards to him for being diligent in practice, going through the training regimes, and the other preparation activities.

In addition, there is the matter of gaining the respect of your peers, fellow players, coaches, fans, etc. Mekkar didn’t desire to be labeled a wimp, chicken, or one who couldn’t handle the roughness of the game. So, Mekkar soldiered on without consideration of any possible long term negative affects. He didn’t want to disturb his confidence level and that is such a fragile thing at times for most athletes.

That period was very much unlike today where the big money invested in athletes is so much greater and the overall physical contact less. Now, whole careers are taken into account and the athletes can retire on the salaries earned nowadays. Mekkar has mentioned it before that he felt that most athletes back during the duration of his career and before were treated many times like a piece of meat. He has even quipped, “The help was cheaper to replace when the meat was not so delicious anymore.”

Another aspect was the attitude exhibited by a few of the clubs Mekkar played for. If you are injured in any way just get back to the bench. The players were told flatly, “If you are not dead or unconscious we will not come and help you off of the ice. At the very least, be tough and get to the bench under your own power, somehow!” It was a different era. That is the reason why in one game during his playing days Mekkar broke his leg. He was unable to stand up or put any weight onto that limb. He then proceeded to crawl on his hands and knees along part of the defensive blue line while the puck was up ice. Mekkar struggled to get back to his team’s side and only then was helped to the locker room for further analysis.

Due to this inserted conviction, Mekkar feels that many individuals went beyond the call of duty. Some performed with injuries back then that wouldn’t be considered according to the current standard. He attributes it to the expendability factor of yesteryear as the Native from the Far North refers to it.

It was a good thing Mekkar was blessed with a measure of natural athletic ability but quite a few specific skills had to be learned, developed, and ingrained over time. Mekkar was in top physical condition due to the excruciating and demanding training program. Plus, he had such a low center of gravity that made it hard to knock him off of his feet. On the other hand, the lack of height made Mekkar very susceptible to opposition elbows and cheap shots to his upper body especially the head.

Mekkar has affirmed many times that fighting in hockey is preferable than the alternative, more dangerous stick work. Mainly, because there are those individuals that are reserved for that role of policeman for your team. It is a matter of being a deterrent like nuclear arsenals during the Cold War. He has asserted that if there was no fighting allowed at all the abuse suffered could be much worse.

Cheap shots to the club stars and main goal scores would increase dramatically. Injuries from evil stick work would be out of this world. Mekkar knows about these nasty tactics because he has been the target of it himself. He has suffered a host of various induced maladies as a result of opposing maltreatment from vicious hidden uncalled penalty stick infractions. Bad intentioned twig-work has caused Mekkar more trouble to his body than anything he has suffered in any tangle or fighting escapades involving one’s fists. There have been some hockey leagues around the world with the bad-stick label attached to them. Thus, top players avoid those locations like the plague.

The native young man has never lacked internal drive; some others would call it passion or refer to it with other terminology. That resilient fire is sometimes the very thing that kept him going through the bog and the mire. A toughness trait that keeps him upright and still looking forward to make a positive play or set up a prime scoring chance during a game. This all while being checked and possibly crunched into the boards by the opposition like any good hockey player, performing their duty, would do.

Ice Hockey is considered one of the fastest team sports in the world along with Jai Alai, Badminton, Bobsledding, and others. The difference is the added physical element that also makes hockey a violent game and a collision/contact sport. The players are quite aware of the speed that takes place within a game. Most fans will never be able to conceive of it without direct participation. Watching the game on television doesn’t come close to revealing to the non-player how quickly it all moves or how fluid the sport is.

Even now though he prefers listening to a match on the radio to keep his mind sharp, when Mekkar watches a game he sees it from a much different perspective. Friends of his notices when going to a live hockey game with him that Mekkar still actually shouts instructions toward the ice. On other occasions Mekkar becomes very quiet and extremely analytical of the play on the ice. Others can vouch that Mekkar even voices instructions and tactics toward the players during a game – whether live or on TV.

It is not surprising considering Mekkar did later coach a younger championship squad, while he was still playing himself. That team roster had a couple of future pro stars, but Mekkar’s implemented system and training was considered too exhausting for all involved. However, he liked the teaching aspect but not the overall aspect of coaching too much. The main reason is that you can do everything to prepare your team but there is only so much control the coaches can exert in regards to the execution of the game plan.

After all of this time, when Mekkar views a match live, or on television if the cameras are in the correct places, it is in an unequal manner to those around him. Despite all of the head trauma, he presently sees the play in, what he describes as kind of slow motion. He scopes the activity as it develops on the ice, through recognizable patterns, particularly around the net area. There is his early distinguishment of possible scoring chances and resulting goals as they happen in real time. Those observing the match right next to him might only hear an oh! Sound from Mekkar before a goal is scored. Yet, there are other occasions where he has trouble remembering who he is – all inside the same skull.

Parts of the processing center inside Mekkar’s head are much quicker than he could ever describe with his mouth and his trap is pretty fast. Mekkar has what Alf and Lasse describe as an almost non-stop motor mouth with constant yammering. Part of Mekkar’s was being a disturber, or a pest, and he was good at it by chirping away at opposing players. In many cases, he would descend into the realm of uttering similar comments at teammates as well.

References to a player’s error-prone mistakes, how they looked, odd individual traits, regarding their talent level or lack thereof would be capitalized upon. Nothing was sacred and no topic or subject was out of bounds or off limits for use by Mekkar when he was in the provoking mode. Sometimes he was assigned by the coaching staff the purpose of getting inside a specific player’s head so they might take a stupid penalty. This ploy was applied to throw the opposition player off of their game, well at least for that particular tilt. The idea was to positively affect the results in the rink for his own team. Of course, Mekkar was not an expert at this technique or in the same high trash talking stratosphere level as some other players. There are masters of confusion that came along later such as Finn Esa Tikkanen who even invented his own language Tiki-Talk. [Wikipedia; Livestrong.com]

Mekkar has heard the following statement a few times and from a variety of sources in the form of, “Eventually you will get knocked on your backside and it will happen a lot. If it hasn’t happened yet, it is because you are not playing hard enough or not at a high enough level of play.” This was a positive aspect for Mekkar as he saw it. Plus, the Northern Native already had a never give up philosophy and never surrender character no matter what the circumstances he faced or what the scoreboard read. In addition, Mekkar had an extreme level of mental fortitude and toughness. All hockey athletes are aware, as Mekkar was, they could suffer a crushing blow or a career ending injury at any time. Yet, at the same time have a high pain tolerance or be able to bear a continuous level of great discomfort; to a degree that most individuals can never relate to and possibly would drive many to constant wailing. Mekkar just accepted it as part of the sacrifice for the love of the game.

The emerging young man had exceptional hand-eye coordination and instantaneous mental faculties working at top speed together. It was required for Mekkar to endure the rigors of his position such as throwing his body in front of a 90 mile per hour + (144.84 kph) slap shot to block it. [Livestrong.com] Mekkar thought that a person had to be a little bit crazy to do that without hesitation. Certainly, he qualified in that psychological aspect. Even more so, in an era where the protective equipment was nowhere near as good as today. Mekkar would make jokes about this saying that he should be committed to a nuthouse for these types of reactions and on-ice behaviors.

The teenager always tried to give his best effort every day and night, during practices and live games. He is aware that is how you win the respect of your team and the fans.  Mekkar accepted the fact that anybody could be observing him at any time. The realization of being in a fishbowl where everything is visible and out in the open. When he could not do anything without an entirety of people seeing it placed added pressure on Mekkar. Eerie similar to some of the lyrics in the song Somebody's Watching Me. [by Rockwell, 1984]

Mekkar discerned that there were other off-ice areas he needed to markedly improve upon such as humility, approachableness, and conducting himself appropriately when engaging the media. He had a plan of good intentions in not swearing too often (which is common with hockey players) around reporters. Not only that, the Native From The North attempted to show respect to various team officials, along with on-ice officials. The results did not quite pan out as well as he hoped. Mekkar tried to keep, his displeasure at times, inside. However, it was difficult because of his growing lack of trust in any authority figures in general.

Fortunately, scouts and other hockey people saw this as a trait of youth that could be corrected easily with proper teaching and more exposure to a variety of environments. Those in charge focused on Mekkar’s physical abilities such as being a strong skater and his fearlessness. Also, those same individuals admired his ability to maneuver his way through tight windows on the ice due to his compact, low-centre of gravity, stature. Not to forget Mekkar was normally prepared to take a hit, just to make a good play with the puck. [Livestrong]

IT’S PAINFUL TO WATCH

Mekkar has the same condition as other more famous athletes, with more damage done to his brain than most of them had. It’s painful to observe him as he wrestles daily like a rollercoaster with regard to his emotions. At times, Mekkar is in an outwardly obvious hopeless frame of mind, while he tries to find answers to some of his questions. Unfortunately, the lack of anything resembling an explanation or a little feedback spirals him further downward in despair.

He asks why these negative circumstances are continually occurring in a similar manner. Mekkar believes that he has acted upon & carried out his part to the uttermost. That is, with a correct justification according to all conventional wisdom, but still things fail to materialize properly for him. He is always questioning out loud, “What did I do wrong?” Still again, silence. No one else has anything resembling any helpful advice; only statements that current and past elements are all part of an overall plan for him.

Anyone around the Native from the North can clearly see that Mekkar is thoroughly seeking how to turn it around and find resolutions to his troubles. Still, silence to his pleas. He outward begs to be able to try different courses of actions to find relief. However, none arrives.

Mekkar feels that his performance in every area of his life has been exceptional and others have witnessed the extensive efforts put forth to better his life. Even to the point of driving himself into ground through pure effort on multiple occassions. Still, more vicious and painful situations are heaped upon him. He even says for all to hear, “What did I do wrong to earn this? And what could I have done differently to achieve much better results?” How come I suffer tragedies in one non-stop line? Still, not a peep from any outside source. Plus, no major positive deeds are carried out on his behalf.

The truth is, He couldn’t have conducted himself any other way. It has always been a battle of survival for him - even from the start of his life. Many times now, Mekkar believes that he is unable to do anything right and whatever he has “touched” lately has turned to the opposite of gold – mud. Yet, Mekkar is not content & feels as though he has to do something, though the choices available are not good, but could only be bad or worse. If he undertakes no action at all it only aims toward – worse.

This view presently appears to be clouding every area of his life (Finances, Job or Life Status, Outward Appearances, Clear Mind/Intelligence, Health, etc. – no corner has been spared. It has come down to the basics of life – survival or demise, nothing more. Due to his exhaustion, he is tired of constant changes in an unfavorable way regarding the current aspects of his life. He is beginning to question what is the purpose or point to all of this. In his mind, the non-stop storms better end and calm seas arrive to refresh, not to further drain his zest for life. The fuse is dangerously short.

THIS HAS HIT HOME FOR MEKKAR

He is Not so sure about being a strong soul, yet! 
But, Mekkar is aware that he has begun on a path to full understanding of himself.

However, Mekkar gives a definite Yes to being a very different character. His culture instilled in him a sense that each person is unique with individual backgrounds, biases, etc. all contributing to the whole self. 

Where he came from there is a strong view that even inanimate objects have their own soul and can understand how to successfully interact with people.