I know where I’m going and I know the truth, and I don’t have to be what you want me to be. I’m free to be what I want. – Muhammad Ali
With the passing of the G.O.A.T, Muhammad Ali there is a flood of images, memories, and articles overtaking every system out there.
The first time I learned about Muhammad Ali was by my grandfather. He was fighting on ESPN’s Classic Fights which showed short documentary clips.
“Boy, that’s the greatest boxer you’ll ever see,” my gradfather told me.
I remember hearing, ““I’m so fast that last night I turned off the light switch in my hotel room and was in bed before the room was dark.”
That night I went to my room, looked at my bed, stood by the light switch, and turned it off with an attempt to be in bed as fast as Ali. I laid in bed that night thinking, “Whoa. That’s fast.”
The Greatest Lesson I Learned from Muhammad Ali
Believe in Yourself.
To be a great champion, you must believe you are the best. If you are not, pretend you are. – Muhammad Ali
We can be our worse enemies and our best motivators. Ali taught me that. Listen to any of his rhythmic press conferences of affirmations and truths, and you’ll see just how much he motivated himself especially during a time where African Americans were surrounded with so much negativity.
He wasn’t afraid to be who he wanted to be and who he believed he was – The Greatest of All Time.
Many who tell themselves who they want to become and try to be a certain way forget the main ingredient that Ali had.
Action.
He took action and made it look good.
If you believe you are to be the greatest then you must take action towards becoming the greatest. Sitting and thinking out all the steps won’t help you unless you take action.
I hated every minute of training, but I said, ‘Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.’ – Muhammad Ali
Ali believed in himself so much that he made the world believe in him. His repetitiveness and charisma made him infectious. He made people want to be like him.
Who hasn’t danced around shadow boxing while saying, “Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.”?
I’m always looking for ways on how to become stronger, how to be Kū and live Kū. Muhammad Ali has definitely taught me more than one lesson but the ultimate one that we should all be practicing more often is to believe in yourself.
“It’s the repetition of affirmations that leads to belief. And once that belief becomes a deep conviction, things begin to happen.” – Muhammad Ali
As I write this, memories of a young boy shuffling his feet, throwing jabs and crosses, dodging left, right and under, and hitting my mom’s pahu drum chanting, “The Champ is Here,” only makes me realize just how much influence he had on me.
And maybe one day, I can be fast enough to be in bed before the room is dark.
Mahalo for being the Greatest Of All Time.
E ho’omaha me ka maluhia (rest in peace).
