The year 2020 has been an absolute blur. Many regard it as one of the worst years they can remember. In a time when it seemed like there would be no end, there finally seems to be light at the end of the tunnel. Many companies such as Pfizer and Moderna are sending out their clinically-approved vaccines to help bring the disaster of the coronavirus to an end. For many, such as myself, the vaccine is not only a sign of physical healing but also a psychological burden being gradually lifted from our shoulders.
The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.
Martin Luther King
Life is not easy. Life recently has especially not easy. There are tons and tons of quotes about perseverance but Martin Luther King Jr.’s quote here is one I have looked to repeatedly in times of turmoil.
“I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.” – Michael Jordan
There is something about reading the failures of successful people that is almost encouraging to normal people such as myself. When you look at a person like Michael Jordan who has achieved the pinnacles of fame and basketball excellence, it’s seems as if the path there was seamless. But it was not. What this quote really encompasses is an ode to trial and failure which ultimately leads to success. Jordan documented many of his gut-wrenching shortcomings yet we still know wha he was able to achieve. It certainly speaks to the fact that failures are just roadblocks and does not completely impede the path to get where you want to go.
As I was driving down Geary Boulevard in San Francisco, CA, this past weekend, throngs of cars with American flags and orange flags reading “No farmers, no food” lined Arguello street. Upon further research, I found out that people were protesting new policies that affected farmers in the Indian agricultural industry. According to AMNY, the new policies destroy the farmers’ access to wholesale markets where they are guaranteed a minimum crop price. Farmers in India have historically had a very hard time financially and these new regulations threaten to undermine the livelihood of millions of people.
“The mindset isn’t about seeking a result – it’s more about the process of getting that result. It’s about the journey and the approach. It’s a way of life. I do think it’s important, in all endeavors, to have that mentality.”
Kobe Bryant in The Mamba Mentality
On January 29th, 2020, basketball legend Kobe Bryant tragically passed away in a freak helicopter accident. It was a tragedy. The day was one of those “where-were-you” moments as the world received the horrific and heart-breaking news that he had died. Aside from the basketball accolades and world recognition, what people will remember most about Kobe Bryant is the “Mamba Mentality.” It is a hard concept to define but in his own words, he described it as, “The constant quest to be the best version of one’s self.” This phrase was born out of Kobe’s relentless dedication to being the best basketball player he could be. Through 3am workouts, post-game practices, and going the extra mile to take care of his body, it really was/is a mentality that is geared for greatness. This mentality has influenced people all across the world, not just athletes, but regular people in their every day pursuits. The world thanks Kobe Bryant and certainly will live out his memory in their quest to be the best version of themselves.
School massacres in America have occurred way too frequently in the 21st century. Aaron Stark was about twelve years old when his life began to devolve. Suffering from constant bullying at school and an abusive life at home, he was homeless and living on the streets. In the TED Talk, he recalled how many times he was told he was worthless and useless. With the constant bombardment of these phrases, he began to believe that they must be true. With so much anger built up inside of him, he felt as if there was only one way to express his frustrations: a massacre. In the days where he was waiting for his firearm, the acts of kindness showed to him by his friend who had taken him in stopped him from committing an atrocity and helped Aaron turn his life around. What sticks out the most from this story is that the acts of kindness Aaron referred to were not “major” acts of kindness. They were things as simple as asking him if he wanted to grab some food or simply sitting next to him on the couch to watch some TV. We really never know what someone might be going through and small gestures can go a very long way. I imagine there are hundreds of other people who have felt at the end of their rope such as Aaron did, yet some small gesture showed them that there was much more to life than creating chaos. All of this is just something to remember. It’s easy to lash out and disregard someone’s uncharacteristic behavior as just being weird, but a little act of friendship and humanization can go a long way.
“Start writing no matter what. The water does not flow until the faucet has turned on.” – Louis L’Amour
As soon as I read this quote by American novelist, I immediately thought about what Professor Hoskins repeatedly told me when I was trying to start my essay. He said that he could sit there and blabber away about structure and content but it wouldn’t really help me unless I had something to go off of. Hoskins’ parameters of a 5 page draft instantly made sense. This quote has meaning that goes much further than writing; it is really a metaphor for life. A similar quote is “The journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step.” – Laozi. What became evident is that we cannot possibly know what is achievable unless we try. I was amazed to find out how much I could come with as soon as I made myself sit down, focus, and just write everything that came into my brain. We can succeed in a lot of what we do as long as we simply turn the faucet on.
