Failure is Not Fatal Success is Not Final It is the Courage to Continue That Counts
Aloha!
Raised on a surfing city, I have experienced the tremendous power of fully immersion with nature, spending hours on top of a board, trying to dominate the direction, speed and perform all types of acrobatics.
Sure I have not became a good surfer, not even closer to reach at competitive level like my brother. Instead, I am a true admirer: Nature has no master, and people may not understand the turbulence and forces and lack of direction that one is pounded with, during a split mistake and the wave crushes over! Better be prepared and have big lungs!
As young, a kid has alway some idols, and the level of competitive of professional sports have always driven me to understand that the courage to continue is the key to overcome difficulties, to master a skill, to win your biggest enemy: your fears.
Not easy to live on constant test, constant competition and with the enormous pressure that the professional athletes face on daily basis. It came to my attention the Documentary released by Amazon Prime Video - Andy Irons: Kissed by God: "Bipolar disorder and addiction as seen through the life of three-time world champion surfer Andy Irons. The untold story of Andy's life serves to tear down the myths associated with these two ferocious diseases."
This documentary really made an impression on myself! I have never fully understood the decision process and the road that took Andy to his sudden and tragic death on Nov 2, 2010: alone, away from all his family and friends! Our mind is constantly challenging us, and the documentary has put into context how difficult all the competitive process has been, with a bipolar disorder and the addiction on top!
I am a father of a competitive pro-tennis sub-12 girl, Ada. And I keep rolling my mind on why shall we put her exposed to such stress, as the competitive arena? Why she works everyday after school, for 03 to 04 hours on weekdays and having games on weekends? Is it so cruel?
One of the moments in Andy's documentary has been presented by his brother: Bruce Irons - also a professional surfer. In a nutshell, surf has been a therapy for both of them. Each on his own way! While life has been hard on the boys, with all the challenges that can be presented by a family divorce and the learning difficulties that Andy has presented while at school, surf has been the ultimate bench and foundation to clear all problems, and keep only enjoying the power and energy that such fantastic sport has to offer. The competitive arena, however, has been also brutal, presenting a huge impact on everybody's life, inclusive Kelly Slater (the name behind the amazing: Kelly Slater Wave Company).
And today I have seen something on my daughter that resembles what Bruce mentioned as surf as therapy: Not feeling well after a not-so-well sleep night and presenting some flue symptoms, She did not want to play at the tournament. First and most difficult is to keep the kids motivated! While on the way to the venue, a short nap, and her energy level very low, mind resonating on other things and losing the focus. Suddenly magical happens: she is called, go to warm herself, and after all warming ritual, she is playing, laughing and having all fun while at a competitive game! Tennis fills her up with Energy!! It is burst, not a drain! Clears her mind!
Sleeping on the way, arrives and 10 minutes later she has been called up: Ada basically turned on, played and won (6x0, 6x0), came back to the car, and went to sleep again! (12 yrs old!).
Sport is therapy! No doubt!
And to celebrate the magic moments and the genius of Andy, here a collection and tribute video! "May his name be written of the book of life"! Aloha and thanks for all inspirational moments you provided us! And now, more than ever, thanks for sharing all difficulties - we all learning a lot! It is never easy!!!
With all my respect and admiration - Bruno Lima.
Source: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/success-final-failure-fatal-courage-continue-counts-winston-lima
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