Inspirational Swimming Video Featuring Michael Phelps, Ryan Lochte, Ian Thorpe, Cesar Cielo, Alain Bernard, James Magnusson, Nathan Adrian.
I hated every minute of training, but I said, “Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.”
Rise and shine.
6am and your hand can’t make it to the alarm clock before the voices in your head start telling you that it’s too early, too dark, and too cold to get out of a bed.
Aching muscles lie still in rebellion, pretending not to hear your brain commanding them to move.
A legion of voices are shouting their unanimous permission for you to hit the snooze button and go back to dreamland, but you didn’t ask their opinion.
The voice you’ve chosen to listen to is one of defiance.
A voice that’s says there was a reason you set that alarm in the first place. So sit up, put your feet on the floor, and don’t look back because we’ve got work to do.
Welcome to The Grind.
For what is each day but a series of conflicts between the right way and the easy way, 10,000 streams fan out like a river delta before you, Each one promising the path of least resistance.
Thing is, you’re headed upstream. And when you make that choice, when you decide to turn your back on what’s comfortable and what’s safe and what some would call “common sense”, well that’s day 1. From there it only gets tougher.
So just make sure this is something you want. Because the easy way out will always be there, ready to wash you away, all you have to do is pick up your feet.
But you aren’t going to are you?
With each step comes the decision to take another.
You’re on your way now.
But this is no time to dwell on how far you’ve come. You’re in a fight against an opponent you can’t see.
Oh but you can feel him on your heels can’t you?
Feel him breathing down your neck.
You know what that is? That’s you…Your fears, your doubts and insecurities all lined up like a firing squad ready to shoot you out of the sky.
But don’t lose heart
While they aren’t easily defeated, they are far from invincible.
Remember this is The Grind.
The Battle Royale between you and your mind, your body and the devil on your shoulder who’s telling you that this is just a game, this is just a waste of time, your opponents are stronger than you.
Drown out the voice of uncertainty with the sound of your own heartbeat.
Burn away your self doubt with the fire that’s beneath you.
Remember what you’re fighting for.
And never forget that momentum is a cruel mistress, She can turn on a dime with the smallest mistake.
She is ever searching for that weak place in your armor, that one tiny thing you forgot to prepare for.
So as long as the devil is hiding the details, the question remains,”is that all you got?”, “are you sure?”
And when the answer is “yes”. That you’ve done all you can to prepare yourself for battle THEN it’s time to go forth and boldly face your enemy, the enemy within.
Only now you must take that fight into the open, into hostile territory.
You’re a lion in a field of lions…
All hunting the same elusive prey with a desperate starvation that says VICTORY is the only thing that can keep you alive.
So believe that voice that says ” you CAN run a little faster ” and that ” you CAN throw a little harder ” and that ” you CAN dive a little deeper” and that, for you, the laws of physics are merely a suggestion.
Luck is the last dying wish of those who wanna believe that winning can happen by accident, sweat on the other hand is for those who know it’s a choice, so decide now because destiny waits for no man. And when your time comes and a thousand different voices are trying to tell you you’re not ready for it, listen instead for that lone voice in decent the one that says you are ready, you are prepared, it’s all up to you now.
Tribute to Robin McLaurin Williams
(July 21, 1951 – August 11, 2014)
who has passed away on Monday at age 63. Although Robin is no longer with us now, his work and contributions will be an everlasting legacy that serves as an inspiration to many generations to come.
His wife, Susan Schneider, said in a statement on Monday, “This morning, I lost my husband and my best friend, while the world lost one of its most beloved artists and beautiful human beings.”
She added: “As he is remembered, it is out hope the focus will not be on Robin’s death, but on the countless moments of joy and laughter he gave to millions.”
My initial exposure to Robin Williams was from the film “Dead Poets Society” where he starred as John Keating. An unorthodox English teacher, he taught us how to look at the world in a different way. To always Seize the Day – Carpe Diem, to make our lives extraordinary, to challenge social norms and status quo, and to be passionate about what you love and have the courage to follow your dreams despite discouragement from neysayers.
Below are some famous quotes you can find in the film Dead Poets Society:
“No matter what anybody tells you, words and ideas can change the world.”
“There’s a time for daring and there’s a time for caution, and a wise man understands which is called for.”
“Boys, you must strive to find your own voice. Because the longer you wait to begin, the less likely you are to find it at all. Thoreau said, “Most men lead lives of quiet desperation.” Don’t be resigned to that. Break out!”
“We don’t read and write poetry because it’s cute. We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race. And the human race is filled with passion. And medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for. To quote from Whitman, “O me! O life!… of the questions of these recurring; of the endless trains of the faithless… of cities filled with the foolish; what good amid these, O me, O life?”
Answer. That you are here – that life exists, and identity; that the powerful play goes on and you may contribute a verse. What will your verse be?”
17/8/2014 – Just finished watching Good Will Hunting. Written by Affleck and Damon, the film follows 20-year-old South Boston laborer Will Hunting (Matt Damon), an unrecognized genius who, as part of a deferred prosecution agreement after assaulting a police officer, becomes a patient of a therapist (Robin Williams) and studies advanced mathematics with a renowned professor (Skarsgård). Through his therapy sessions, Will re-evaluates his relationships with his best friend Chuckie (Affleck), his girlfriend Skylar (Driver), and himself, facing the significant task of thinking about his future.
Sean: Thought about what you said to me the other day, about my painting. Stayed up half the night thinking about it. Something occurred to me… fell into a deep peaceful sleep, and haven’t thought about you since. Do you know what occurred to me?
Will: No.
Sean: You’re just a kid, you don’t have the faintest idea what you’re talkin’ about.
Will: Why thank you.
Sean: It’s all right. You’ve never been out of Boston.
Will: Nope.
Sean: So if I asked you about art, you’d probably give me the skinny on every art book ever written. Michelangelo, you know a lot about him. Life’s work, political aspirations, him and the pope, sexual orientations, the whole works, right? But I’ll bet you can’t tell me what it smells like in the Sistine Chapel. You’ve never actually stood there and looked up at that beautiful ceiling; seen that. If I ask you about women, you’d probably give me a syllabus about your personal favorites. You may have even been laid a few times. But you can’t tell me what it feels like to wake up next to a woman and feel truly happy. You’re a tough kid. And I’d ask you about war, you’d probably throw Shakespeare at me, right, “once more unto the breach dear friends.” But you’ve never been near one. You’ve never held your best friend’s head in your lap, watch him gasp his last breath looking to you for help. I’d ask you about love, you’d probably quote me a sonnet. But you’ve never looked at a woman and been totally vulnerable. Known someone that could level you with her eyes, feeling like God put an angel on earth just for you. Who could rescue you from the depths of hell. And you wouldn’t know what it’s like to be her angel, to have that love for her, be there forever, through anything, through cancer. And you wouldn’t know about sleeping sitting up in the hospital room for two months, holding her hand, because the doctors could see in your eyes, that the terms “visiting hours” don’t apply to you. You don’t know about real loss, ’cause it only occurs when you’ve loved something more than you love yourself. And I doubt you’ve ever dared to love anybody that much. And look at you… I don’t see an intelligent, confident man… I see a cocky, scared shitless kid. But you’re a genius Will. No one denies that. No one could possibly understand the depths of you. But you presume to know everything about me because you saw a painting of mine, and you ripped my fucking life apart. You’re an orphan right?
[Will nods]
Sean: You think I know the first thing about how hard your life has been, how you feel, who you are, because I read Oliver Twist? Does that encapsulate you? Personally… I don’t give a shit about all that, because you know what, I can’t learn anything from you, I can’t read in some fuckin’ book. Unless you want to talk about you, who you are. Then I’m fascinated. I’m in. But you don’t want to do that do you sport? You’re terrified of what you might say. Your move, chief.
Will: [about Skylar] Don’t worry about me, I know what I’m doin’. Yeah, but this girl is like, you know, beautiful. She’s smart. She’s funny. She’s different from most of the girls I’ve been with.
Sean: So, call her up, Romeo.
Will: Why? So I can realize she’s not that smart, that she’s fuckin’ boring? Y’know? I mean…this girl is like fuckin’ perfect right now, I don’t wanna ruin that.
Sean: Maybe you’re perfect right now. Maybe you don’t wanna ruin that. I think that’s a super philosophy, Will, that way you can go through your entire life without ever having to really know anybody…My wife used to fart when she was nervous. She had all sorts of wonderful idiosyncrasies. You know what? She used to fart in her sleep. [they laugh] Sorry I shared that with you. One night it was so loud it woke the dog up. She woke up and gone like “oh was that you?” I’d say yeah…I didn’t have the heart to tell her…[cracks up] Oh God…
Will: [laughing hysterically] She woke herself up?
Sean: [in hysterics himself] Yes!…. Oh Christ….aahhh, but, Will, she’s been dead two years and that’s the shit I remember. [Will stops laughing] Wonderful stuff, you know, little things like that. Ah, but, those are the things I miss the most. The little idiosyncrasies that only I knew about. That’s what made her my wife. Oh, and she had the goods on me, too; she knew all my little peccadillos. People call these things imperfections, but they’re not — aw that’s the good stuff. And then we get to choose who we let into our weird little worlds. You’re not perfect, sport. And let me save you the suspense. This girl you met, she isn’t perfect either. But the question is: whether or not you’re perfect for each other. That’s the whole deal. That’s what intimacy is all about. Now you can know everything in the world, sport, but the only way you’re findin’ out that one is by givin’ it a shot. You certainly won’t learn from an old fucker like me. Even if I did know, I wouldn’t tell a pissant like you.
Will: Why not? You told me every other fuckin’ thing. Jesus Christ. Fuckin’ talk more than any shrink I ever seen in my life.
Sean: I teach this shit, I didn’t say I know how to do it.
Will: Yeah…You ever think about gettin’ remarried?
Sean: My wife’s dead.
Will: Hence the word: remarried.
Sean: She’s dead.
Will: Yeah…Well, I think that’s a super philosophy, Sean. I mean that way you could actually go through the rest of your life without ever really knowing anybody.
Sean: [smiles uncomfortably] Time’s up.
Related Post: Robin Williams Inspirational Movie Speech
Because I said I would is a social movement dedicated to the betterment of humanity through the importance of a promise.
Founder Alex Sheen’s father died of small cell lung cancer on September 4th, 2012. His father was good with his promises, so Alex titled his father’s eulogy “because I said I would” and created the promise card in his memory. Eventually Alex would decide to resign from his corporate position in order to advance because I said I would‘s mission.
To encourage positive change and acts of kindness, because I said I would send “promise cards“ to anywhere in the world at no cost. People use these cards to remember the importance of their word, for promises both big and small. It might just seem like a piece of paper, but those promise cards have motivated people to stick with their commitments to better humanity. A heroin addict’s promise to stay in rehab. A young girl’s promise to stop cutting herself. Or a simple promise to volunteer at the local food bank.
This social movement came into the spotlight when a video confession was recorded and released to the public of a drink and drive fatal accident.
Matthew Cordle has been sentenced to 6.5 years in prison with no chance of early release and a lifetime driver’s license suspension. As Matthew promised, he plead guilty and took responsibility for the horrible crime that ended Vincent Canzani’s life. Because I said I would recorded and released Matthew’s confession video with the hope that it would convince others to make the commitment to not drink and drive.
During the sentencing hearing, Cordle read a statement to the court: “The true punishment is simply living. Living with the knowledge I took a man’s life.”
On a lighter note, look back at your life and reflect on it. Think of all the broken promises and unkept resolutions that you fail to fulfill. You can make things better if you stay true to your promises.
Write your promise down and let it be a symbol of your commitment.
Stay true to your word. Don’t give up.
It may just be a piece of paper, but sometimes you just need something to hold on to.
Get your promise cards and start with a small promise to yourself or your loved ones.
Visit the website to find out more: because I said I would
Sam Berns’s Philosophy for a Happy Life Sam Berns was a junior at Foxboro High School in Foxboro, Massachusetts, where he had achieved highest honours and was a percussion section leader in the high school marching band. He had achieved the rank of Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America.
17-year-old Sam Berns was diagnosed with Progeria, a rare, rapid aging disease, at the age of 2. He outlived the 13-years expected life expectancy and continued living his life while raising awareness about the disease.
Despite being stricken by a terrible illness, Sam did not let the disease define him, and encouraged others to live with a positive mentality, something he stressed during his talk at the TEDxMidAtlantic conference.
In his TEDx talk, he spoke of his heart’s desire: to play the snare drum with the Foxborough High School marching band. The trouble was that the drum and its harness weighed 40 pounds and Sam barely weighed 50 pounds. Together with his parents and an engineer, they managed to develop a snare drum apparatus weighing only about six pounds, thus fulfilling his ambition of performing and marching with the band.
The main takeaway from the talk is his attitude towards Life despite having to live with such a rare illness
Sam Berns’s Philosophy for a Happy Life:
Be OK with what you ultimately can’t do, because there is so much you CAN do
Surround yourself with people you want to be around
Keep moving forward
Never miss a party if you can help it
“No matter what I choose to become, I believe that I can change the world.”
“And as I’m striving to change the world, I will be happy.”
He was featured in the documentary Life According to Sam, which premiered on HBO on October 21, 2013.
Tribute to Sam Berns (October 23, 1996 – January 10, 2014)
