One of the things I’m learning about being in a city without any of my closest friends or family nearby, is that many moments that long to be shared with these people are left hanging in newly-realized solitude. No high five to clap. No chests to bump. No affirmation for accomplishment. Unfortunately, I am coming to realize this void more and more. Whether it is working out in an empty gym, with no strong workout partner pushing me to get into “attack mode” or no younger brother to do late-night binge eating sessions, this period of my life is growing increasingly empty.
I hit one of my greatest accomplishments today. I set out to achieve a goal and I did it. After a very long week of high stress, sleep loss, and personal soul searching, I finally come out on the other side. Me, myself, I.
Personally, I’m not sad about this fact. I’m actually somewhat happy that there aren’t others around to share in this moment — not because I want to hog the moment, but because it would be impossible to convey exactly how I feel.
This would be a moment that would make a father proud. Unfortunately, that’s not a luxury that I’m afforded in these recent years. Pressure makes the diamond. And the greatest accomplishments in human history have existed when there was a vacuum that demanded them; a void that pulled out something great, from a place where nothing great previously resided.
There was once a moment where I set out to accomplish a goal. It required a proper level of mind focus, determination, and true strength. Sitting down on the bench in the gym, I listened to my good friend, Travis, tell me “You got this, man.” Dead focused on my goal of bench pressing 315lb., I got my mind into the zone. In that moment, I remembered the words of UFC President, Dana White, as he recalled what he said was the greatest fight he had ever experienced. He spoke of the fighter, and the fire he saw in his eyes midway through the fight. He said something to the effect of “And I watched as I saw him, something changed in his eyes that said he was willing to die for this fight. And that’s when I knew he had it.” I remembered the look in that fighters eyes, and his eyes would have terrified a lion. In that moment, I latched on to that fire, took a deep breath, and perfectly executed three reps of 315lb. To this day, I will never forget the way I stood up from that bench, or the look I had in my eyes, as they had seen a place where goals are possible, pain relative, and weakness a thing of the past. Perfection, if only for a moment.
Immediately, I set out to bench press 365lb.
It was that fire in my eyes that I feel I’ve lost. It was the heart that said “I can and I will.” that has stopped beating.
This entire month, I have tried to regain that heart. My recent accomplishment had nothing to do with the number, but with the mindset behind it. My most significant moment this month has nothing to do with what I did, what I made, or obstacles that were crossed. Instead, it’s about the fact that after several months of a stagnant heart, I have begun to see the heart of a warrior flicker once again.
Perhaps we will never feel like the champions that we really are. Perhaps we will never feel that we’re as good of a lover as we really are, or as kind as we show others. Perhaps we will never believe we are as great of a person as we really are, or feel we are somehow less than what we are composed of. However, there is something in my heart, mind, and spirit that knows that I am capable of nothing short of greatness, success, and a life that matters.
And so today, in the moment where my mind is fried, body exhausted, and spirit drained, I can rest in peace knowing that I have put forth my best effort.
Today gentlemen, I am honored to coach you, more honored to take you onto the field of battle. There is another honor to be bestowed upon you, that is the answer that comes with that question
WHO AM I ?
I’M A CHAMPION !
That’s right and i need you to remember that all throughout this game, i will conquer what has not been conquered, defeat will not be in my creed. I will belive what others have doubted. I will always andevor the prestige honor, and respect of my team. I have trained my mind and my body will follow
WHO AM I ? I’M A CHAMPION !
I will acknowledge the fact that my opponents do not expect me to win, but i will never surrender. Weakness will not be in my heart. I will look to my comrades, to those who have brought me into this world and thoses ho have trained me and i will draw strenght from them
WHO AM I ? I’M A CHAMPION !
I will gladly go out into the field of battle, and i will move, groove and do everything thaht I can do, and I will reach my field of battle by ane means at my disposal. And when I get there, I will arrive violently. I will rip the heart from my enemy and leave it bleeding on the ground, beacause he cannot stop me.
WHO AM I ? I’M A CHAMPION !
To my side I have comrades, comrades that have been with me throught thick and thin, throught sacrifice, throught blood, through sweat, through tears. Nver will I let them fall. Never will I let them down and I will never leave an enemy behind, beacause our opponent does not know my heart.
WHO AM I ? I’M A CHAMPION !
No one will deny me, no one will defy me, and no one will tell me who and what I am and can be. Belivef wil change my world, it has moved continents and countries, and put man on the moon, and il will carry me through this battle.
WHO AM I ? I’M A CHAMPION !
Defeat, retreat those are not in my words, I don’t understant those definitions, I don’t understant when things go wrong, I don’t understand mistakes, but I do understand this: I understand victory, and I undertsand never surrendering. NO matter how bad things go, my heart and my mind will carry my body when my linbs are too weak
WHO AM I ? I’M A CHAMPION !
Today will be that day, not tomorrow, not next week, but right now, right here, in your house, and in your home
WHO AM I ? I’M A CHAMPION !
History will remember me, and I will not have to worry about him being kind. I will define myself. I will write my own praises. And non one will tell me what I can and cannot be. I will never go home, not without giving everythiong I have got.
…
And the heartbeat of a warrior begins to stir, once again. Glory, baby. It’s out there. After taking a few minutes to read this and also watch the video associated with the above speech, I’m certainly fired up and ready to tackle another month of hard work.
In order for there to be a resurrection, there has to be a crucifixion. Katabasis. The descent. Bottom. However, there’s sunshine behind the storm clouds.
There can be no substitute for integrity, heart, passion, and inner identity. No dollar, car, trophy wife, or estate will ever replace true character.
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