We Are The Champions

“I've paid my dues

Time after time

I've done my sentence

But committed no crime

And bad mistakes

I've made a few

I've had my share of sand

Kicked in my face

But I've come through”

~ We are the Champions, Queen

I’m sitting here watching Army of the Dead, another zombie apocalypse movie that may seem rather far-fetched, but still attracts my attention when I have down moments at home.  Without getting into the premise too much, zombies happen, a group of non-zombies goes on a mission, most of them die. The end.

What strikes me as I watch the final scene is how fucking stubborn we are.  We as humans are so frail, so gingerly built, so weak when it comes to many of the other animals in the world, yet we have two things going for us:

We think.  Yet, this one can get us in as much trouble as it gets us out of.

And we don’t give up.

I don’t need a fiction movie to tell me the triumphs of the human spirit.

Gandhi.

Henry Ford. 

Freddie Mercury.

John Wesley.

Steve Jobs.

Stan Lee.

Jason Chatham.

Amanda Lewis.

Some very public, others know to only a few.  But you have them in your life as well.  Those people who stand regardless.  Sometimes they piss you off, sometimes they make you scratch your head, but yet they keep standing.  And they come back.  Failure, disheartened-ness (is that even a word), grief, loss; all the ‘stuff’ just moves them one step further.  After they take the time to regroup, that is.

They are the champions.  Not to the world mostly, unless you’re an iPhone user or enjoy the Marvel movies.  They show us just how strong we all can be.  They are the Titans that help move us forward.  Even if they are sometimes incredible introverts like me.

These real heroes aren’t very heroic at times.  It’s ugly to stand.  Movies don’t get made about the battles that are fought inside the mind, the press and stress of dealing through life one day at a time.  But every once in a while we get to see a glimpse.

I’ve witnessed several in my life.  And I’ve also seen the Hero fall and fail, unable to return.  But today, I think about all the mighty voices present and past that I’ve experienced just in my lifetime.

And I call myself one of them. Not because of any deeds that put me above anyone else.  But because I am here.  I am still standing.  Sometimes kneeling, yet striving to move forward - though some days it’s just in doing laundry and being real with those around me.

Who are your champions?  I’d like to know…

~ Peace

 

The Burtle