Sunday, May 1, 2011

For Those Who Don't Give Up

This post is dedicated to those who don't give up. Many people are blown around like dead leaves in the wind, but others stick to their guns despite enormous pressure to give up or give in. Some of the people that fit in this category are Gandhi, Thomas Moore, Thomas Edison, old people who still have record players, and Cheeseboy for still not owning a cell phone.

Sometimes I feel there is a fine line between extreme commitment and determination versus insanity. This concept reminds me of one of Werner Herzog's better films called Aguierre. It is about Spanish explorers in South America and how their leader Aguierre plunges them deep into the jungle as the entire expedition eventually dies off due to his wreckless determination to find the city of gold. In the final disturbing scene, he is the sole survivor floating down the Amazon but still undaunted and making plans to conquer the land.

At what point should people put what seems like impossible dreams on the shelf and move on? I'm guessing it would be kind of hard for a 42-year-old man to walk onto an NBA team, so my dream to play in the NBA is long gone. Maybe I'm still in good enough shape to get a job with the kids who run onto the court to wipe the player's sweat off the floor between plays.

I'm not sure what my point is, but I guess it is that I respect people who work hard towards something even though it appears to be impossible. If you are one of these people, just know that you have my respect, even if 99% of the population thinks you are crazy and tells you it can't be done. Time will tell who was a hero for hanging in their and not giving up on their dreams.

5 comments:

Kristina P. said...

All I could think of while reading this is those poor terrible American Idol rejects who think they are awesome.

ISRAEL CARRASCO said...

Great post Chaka. I feel you on this. I always have respect for people that go full force on something they believe in.

Marnie said...

What matters most is that you believe in yourself. So long as your followiog what makes you happy, then that's all that matters. Naysayers are just that. xo

Middle-aged Mormon Man said...

The older I get, the more I understand what Don Quixote is about in his effort to "tilt at windmills". I will fight some battles until I'm dead and buried, even if I know that there is no chance I could ever win.

All of those battles tend to be in the "moral" realm. But I think I still have a shot to play for the Timberwolves.

Kelly said...

I just need to find something worthy of my determination and then I won't ever give up.

I will never give up on reading Chaka's world- how's that?