That movie’s supposed to be about how a small band of warriors can overcome the humungous force against them with sheer willpower, strength of mind, and some pretty ripped abs too, right? Well, I’ve never seen it, but pretty much everyone I’ve talked to who has seen it told me some variation of the above. And I think it succeeded for the very same reason the Trojan horse did, as well as the American Revolution. When you don’t have sheer force of numbers on your side, you get creative and you do the unexpected. That element of surprise can get things done and turn an obvious defeat into a delicious victory.
I’m reminded of the cliched nerd who stops feeling sorry for himself and stops letting the bully push him around. He uses his smarts to turn things around and get the better of his dumber foe. How many times have you seen a TV show or movie where that happens? And we well up inside because he has turned the tables and done something we all wish we had the cojones to do, to stand up for what we think is right, and become victorious. I am reminded of the Seinfeld episode with the over-enthusiastic running enthusiast. “We’re all winners!”
But we aren’t all winners. Far from it. Some people win all the time, and some people consistently lose out. There aren’t always those success stories, those stories where the underdog wins the day. Most times the underdog remains underfoot, and the bully gets away with the abuse, and sometimes the underdog fights back, but they’ve been beaten down so long they overwhelm with their fury. And it’s a sad world we live in when we let it get to that point. People need help to get through difficult times. They need people to share with, who can understand and support them. The bully cannot win, but neither can we afford to let the abused become the abuser. There’s a fine line that separates the two.
Which brings me back to the 300 brave souls who fought bravely and won bravely against massive odds. Each one singularly believed in himself and in the righteousness of their mission, something we should all strive to achieve in our own personal lives. That’s how we maintain balance. If we believe in ourselves and in what we’re doing (both professionally and personally) we will maintain a strong quality of life, we will be happier, and we won’t allow ourselves to get overwhelmed, even when things are tough. That’s what I strive to maintain in my own life, and that’s why I started this journal, to allow myself the time and space to get things out that have been hogging space in my brain, weighing me down. And the bonus is that now, due to that, I have a built-in group of confidants who help me with those self-esteem issues, those stressful topics, and those bigger picture thoughts that creep in every now and again. Thank you for being you, and being here for me for just this one post, for several posts, or even for the entire 300. Much appreciated. Here’s to 300 more!
Sam
Sam's Online Journal 