What Rocky Balboa Taught Me.
I am not a fight fan by any means, so I should not like the Rocky Balboa films right? I don’t like the sport of boxing, never have even way back when I spent Friday nights with my grandfather watching the Friday Night Fights on a black and white TV (which is probably a good thing since there was a lot of blood!).
But, I do like Rocky Balboa and the films about him because they are not just about boxing. They’re all about overcoming your fears, perseverance, and my favorite, the underdog that nobody thinks has a chance…wins. We all want heroes right? Someone who can come from out of nowhere and win, knock the guy out…that’s why we love movies like Pursuit of Happyness, Sea Biscuit, Hoosiers, Blind Side, Cool Running’s, Miracle on Ice…and Rocky.
Rocky relates to the champion that hides in all of us normal everyday “schmucks” as he would say, those of us who have remarkableness (is that a word?) inside us but find it difficult to express. Our unique talents and skills do not naturally display themselves. We must dig deep for them and push them to the forefront in order for others to see and appreciate them. Something that is not comfortable for us, something that we must overcome our inhibitions to do.
Rocky has a great philosophy of life and of being a champion, as he expressed to his son in Rocky Balboa ( the last of the series in 2006):
“Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It is a very mean and nasty place and it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t how hard you hit; it’s about how hard you can get hit, and keep moving forward. How much you can take, and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done. Now, if you know what you’re worth, then go out and get what you’re worth. But you gotta be willing to take the hit, and not pointing fingers saying you ain’t where you are because of him, or her, or anybody. Cowards do that and that ain’t you. You’re better than that!”
And you know something….he’s right. I AM better than that…so are you! Like I said, I love Rocky.
Let me hear what inspires you, what makes you reach to be better. Leave a comment, Please!