Today I reaffirmed to myself the importance of never giving up. It’s something I tell my kids all the time and has been the central reason that me and my son have watched Naruto, the Japanese manga anime since he was little. It’s the core value of the main character to never give up, and never ditch his friends.
Many months ago now (could be year even) I signed up for a local event called ‘Mud Sweat And Tears’ . It’s basically like Tough Mudder. This one was an 8k obstacle mud run.
toughmudder.com/
I train my Kung Fu every day and had planned to integrate training for the race alongside but due to injuries and having four kids that never happened. Only time for Kung Fu these days alongside being a full time dad. I was going to give it a miss but something in me would not allow it.
Race started at 9:30 am so I left with what I thought would be enough time. It wasn’t! I could not find the place and drove around getting more and more worried I was going to be late. I had to pull over twice and get directions and the directions I did get sent me to the wrong place.
At 9:30 am when my race had started I pulled into a gas station and the attendant was unfortunately no help at all. He had no idea where this place was either so I turned back to my car. At this point I realized my team had started and I had missed it and I had a feeling of letting them down. For a brief moment I thought ‘perhaps I should just go back home’. But I quickly fucked that right off. Commit don’t quit.
I drove off and stopped by a guy walking his dog who gave me the directions I needed and I quickly made it there. I was lucky enough to find the race organizer and explain that I was late etc. I asked if I could still race and he said sure he can put me in another race. I told him that was no good, I need to catch up with my team and he told me they were over 30 minutes in but I could try!
I got my ass in gear and jumped in the mud. Over 8ft the wall, electrified barb wire fences, tire pulls etc. I kept going and on the way I helped out a couple of other teams with certain obstacles too!. I remember thinking I was doing ok for not having trained but no way I would catch up. But guess what? I never gave up.
Near the end I helped another team carry a log on the second to last obstacle and made it to a climbing wall just before the finish. I looked over and realized I had caught up with my team! I got over the wall and we all ran to the finish line together for a team pic. When I get the pic, I’ll post it up.
Having the will to never give up is not just for training. It is through training that we can forge that iron will though. My Sifu has an iron will and I often look up to him and strive to be as good and as determined and passionate about our Kung Fu.
It is my iron will that got me equal parenting with my kids in court, enabled me to move to another country and build a new life, help people with addiction and many other things. Never give up on yourself or your dreams and use the small things like I did today to sharpen your will!
“The key to immortality is first living a life worth remembering.” – Bruce Lee
If you never give up on yourself or what you desire you always win no matter what happens because the biggest victory is to overcome yourself.
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