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Taking a Hit – MEDA WHITE
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Taking a Hit

Meda White

 
I use an application called Podrunner Shift for my cardio workouts. DJ Steve Boyett puts together fun music mixes for a variety of workouts based on Beats per Minute (BPM) and your goals. There are varied BPMs like intervals, conditioning, and ramp mixes. Additionally, there are fixed BPMs which I normally use for low intensity cardio.
A few weeks ago, I downloaded a new mix called Generator. It’s about 55 minutes where the speed builds to a peak and then slows back down. About half way through, just before the big push, Rocky Balboa gives an inspirational speech. It surprised me and I actually said aloud to no one (since I was alone), “It’s Rocky.” His words resounded with me and I made a mental note to research it later.
My mental notepad doesn’t have an alert or reminder, so I forgot about it until a week or so later, when I played the mix again. Afterward, I went straight to the internet to investigate and discovered the speech was from a scene in Rocky V. I watched some of that movie years ago though not all of it, so I missed this speech. It probably wouldn’t have meant us much back then anyway.
Now, since I’m writing romantic fiction and trying to get published, the speech is particularly meaningful. I’m not a pessimist but I’m realistic enough to know that not everyone will like my writing. I decided to tuck this speech away for those days when agents and publishers “pass” on my work or when readers share their unfavorable opinions about my stories.

 

Rocky Balboa’s inspirational speech from Rocky V:

“Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It’s a very mean and nasty place and I don’t care how tough you are it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t about how hard ya hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done! Now if you know what you’re worth then go out and get what you’re worth. But ya gotta be willing to take the hits, and not pointing fingers saying you ain’t where you wanna be because of him, or her, or anybody! Cowards do that and that ain’t you! You’re better than that!”



Thanks Rock! I think the romance writing business helps show us what we’re made of. Meanwhile, I’m learning how to take a hit.

4 Comments

  2. I love that you find the most sage advice in the most unlikely places. My daddy always said,”It isn’t how many times you get knocked down that makes you strong, it’s how many times you can pull yourself back up.” We can all benefit from Rocky’s speech. da da dum! Da da dum! Keep on punching Meda.

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