My dearest
readers,
the game is on, and regardless of how and when
your year has (effectively) started, let me remind you that it’s never too late
to get your hands on it and play. As I intend to reserve the February post(s)
for something ‘special’ I want to fall in line with this one and play this game
right; because the one who inspired it played his game right, he just played, had fun, and enjoyed it, and most
significantly, he stayed true to it.
Imagine an arena full of chanting and cheering,
hysterically screaming fans waiting for you to come out and give it your all.
You’re in the locker room, knuckle-cracking, breathing deep, keeping your focus
and slowing everything down to own this moment and make the world stop just for
you in that very second. You want to truly understand what Horace meant by
“carpe diem,” rather want you to seize and freeze that moment, because it is your day; and in
a given minute you want to go out there, into the bullring to deliver the lucky
punch. Hell yeah, that is what you
want.
Now imagine the same scenario, but fast-forward
to where you do understand what
Horace meant, because you went out
there and delivered the lucky punch.
Then this ain’t what you want any
longer, hell no. It is what you earned, deserve, and accomplished, because you went
out there to play and played, and were true to the game and the game had been
true to you. The people in the bullring who were and are cheering for you still came to see you perform: show them
their chants are worth it, and play, have fun, and enjoy it!
But when you walk out into the arena—some call that life—be aware that you’re not the only player out there and not the only one people are cheering for. Note that there is an unlimited number of players out there that all pursue the same thing, the glorious win. Note that these other players may have a profound aversion toward you, because it may be you who gets to hold up the trophy, and not them. Note that these obstinate self-centered players will do anything to keep you from being fortunate; and note that they will stir up the crowd to laugh at you, discourage you, and when you start shaking bring you down; but with the game on the line, in all that mayhem, you can do the unexpected and rise again. You can be the one to play true and walk out there and affront ill will and enmity and bid a full load of defiance to the ones that play foul and approve shortcuts for foul play and personal gain. Rise to your feet and affront these deceivers. Be like Mike, know that “[i]f you try to shortcut the game, then the game will shortcut you”; and that is for others, for the ones that are long gone when you get to hold up the trophy and present all the respect you earned by playing true.
Be good and true to the game you play, for then it will be good and true to you. Then, and just then, you will be able to own the moment, the second, the minute, the quarter, the half, and the whole game. And when you own the game you own this life, and the other bulls in the ring will keep trying and trying to knock you down, but they will fail, over and over. They may think ‘trying’ will make you succeed eventually, and Mike said that even repeatedly ‘failing’ will make you succeed in the end—both of which is true, but both also requires a true game being played. Respect the game. Play it true, because then it will be fun and you get to carpe diem all you want…and as these reddish sneakers as my witness: no matter what your game is, bring it on, your A-game…and play it, play it true…be like Mike, be 23…and win! #BeLikeMike
But when you walk out into the arena—some call that life—be aware that you’re not the only player out there and not the only one people are cheering for. Note that there is an unlimited number of players out there that all pursue the same thing, the glorious win. Note that these other players may have a profound aversion toward you, because it may be you who gets to hold up the trophy, and not them. Note that these obstinate self-centered players will do anything to keep you from being fortunate; and note that they will stir up the crowd to laugh at you, discourage you, and when you start shaking bring you down; but with the game on the line, in all that mayhem, you can do the unexpected and rise again. You can be the one to play true and walk out there and affront ill will and enmity and bid a full load of defiance to the ones that play foul and approve shortcuts for foul play and personal gain. Rise to your feet and affront these deceivers. Be like Mike, know that “[i]f you try to shortcut the game, then the game will shortcut you”; and that is for others, for the ones that are long gone when you get to hold up the trophy and present all the respect you earned by playing true.
Be good and true to the game you play, for then it will be good and true to you. Then, and just then, you will be able to own the moment, the second, the minute, the quarter, the half, and the whole game. And when you own the game you own this life, and the other bulls in the ring will keep trying and trying to knock you down, but they will fail, over and over. They may think ‘trying’ will make you succeed eventually, and Mike said that even repeatedly ‘failing’ will make you succeed in the end—both of which is true, but both also requires a true game being played. Respect the game. Play it true, because then it will be fun and you get to carpe diem all you want…and as these reddish sneakers as my witness: no matter what your game is, bring it on, your A-game…and play it, play it true…be like Mike, be 23…and win! #BeLikeMike
