I’ve been moving forward my entire life.

I’ve kick boxed on and off, for the past 10 years. Nothing gets your heart pumping or relieves stress like beating the hell out of a heavy bag hanging from the ceiling and I try to do this around 3 times a week.

Occasionally, depending on the trainer, they will throw pads on their hands and you get to do your best Rocky impression while following the instructions of what types of punches and combinations to throw. Of all the things involved in the workout, this part is probably my favorite. It’s the closest thing I do to actually sparring with someone and nobody hits you back. I have a pretty face and I want to keep it that way.  I’m also too old for that crap.

In addition to trying to remember the punch combination or to breathe (it’s odd, but sometimes you forget to breathe) I try to work on closing in on the trainer as I am setting up each punch. This past week, my trainer said something to me that stuck in my brain and was very symbolic of the current moment in my life. “Man, you’re always moving forward”.

I grew up watching Mexican boxers like Roberto Duran and Julio Cesar Chavez. My dad taught me how score boxing matches at a young age and the thing I remember most about those fights is how those fighters always seemed to move forward. It’s a testament to their heritage and strength, because most Mexican boxers consistently move forward and towards their opponent. Even when they were getting tagged by punches, they kept moving forward. Kept looking for an opportunity. They kept looking to improve their situation.

Sly Stallone once delivered a speech to his son in the movie Rocky Balboa and it is something that everyone needs to hear at least once in life. I heard it years ago and then again as a set up to a question I was being asked on a podcast I did while doing marketing support for my book #Tryharder.

“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”.

Truer worlds have never been spoken.

My whole life, I’ve been moving forward. I lost count of the times this world has brought me to my knees and physically, as well as metaphorically, bloodied my lip. If I kept count, then life wins and I’m not ready to accept defeat.  I live a blessed life, but I’d be lying if I said it was easy. We’re all fighting something in life and know that I am right there with you.
So I keep moving forward. Personally. Professionally. I #Tryharder to learn from my mistakes and the sucker punches I endure. I move forward and keep breathing as I absorb the beating and sharpen my wits for the next round. You have to…because staying down isn’t an option.

Living ain’t easy, but it sure beats being dead.

Ring the bell.