The Stuff In The Basement

I just finished watching Rocky Balboa, after a strong recommendation from an unlikely source. The movie did not disappoint, and is a great reminder of why I like Stallone's work and always have.

In the film (mini-spoiler alert) Rocky is in a scene with his brother-in-law. He talks about the reason he's getting back into the ring is because he's still got some "stuff in the basement". I thought it was a great metaphor of the realization one has that they still got one more round in 'em. One still has something to prove. Maybe not a whole lot, but enough to put it all on the line, one more time. Enough to risk getting hit hard and knocked the #$%@ out.

There are so many reasons in life to give up, give in, and settle for inertia, or worse, mediocrity. A bunch of them are even logical. It's especially easy when you've got dependents, or you're at mid-life or beyond, or you're sick, or you're broke, or you're (insert excuse here). The body's not what it used to be. Maybe the energy now comes in spurts, instead of the torrent of youth. Perhaps a slow burn now replaces what was once an inferno. It's clear...you're past your peak.

You're now most likely to be overlooked, than looked over. People who know you and love you admonish you for letting pride deceive you into a comeback. At the edge of it, you may even begin to doubt yourself.

Then you remember the stuff in the basement. The pilot light only in need of some gas. The eye of the tiger. O fogo na barriga (the fire in the belly). You remember that to get up eight times is to fall seven times. You remember that fighters fight.