Be invincible

For any of those die hard sports fans and more so, lovers of underdog, comeback movies, I suggest that you all watch "Invincible". It's a movie by Ericson Core and tells the tale of Vince Papale (Mark Wahlberg) a 30 year old part time bar tender from Philadelphia who tries out for the American Football team, the Eagles. 

I love the movie. The true live drama is not only an action packed, gripping tale but a heart wrenching film for the whole family as well.

Papale is criticized by his team mates who just can't quite wrap their heads around the idea of an old washed out football lover, stepping into their arena to make the team. Papale through hours of bullying on the field, returns to his locker each day to a note in which his ex wife had left the night she left him. "You will never amount to anything, you are going nowhere..." Are the words that capture your attention on the note. The scenes are touching. You see Papale in this sea of emotions, wrestling with himself constantly as whether to believe the note, or to simply try. His battle rages silently as he fights battles on the football field each day as well as in his suburb where most silently agree with the "you are going nowhere" note. 

Although Papale has a mountain to face, he retreats inside himself to inner strength to deal with his life which suddenly has become so complicated. It would have been so simple to have just remained comfortable where he was in life. 

But the character of Papale mirrored by Wahlberg in the movie is one which might often be overlooked by society. Reaching the top is about getting ahead, standing on others while using power, courage, stubbornness and greed to launch yourself into heights you can only dream of. Yet Papale, long haired, down to earth bartender, stays humble. His years of feeling like his voice wasn't heard , mixed with his social class that echoes "you are nothing" shines through in the situation. Papale has everything to learn, he takes advice, he learns new things and takes the hits. Day after day he is pounded on the field. 

In one scene after a "nutcracker" session which involves two players in a gauntlet trying to out muscle each other to get to the other side, Papale finally makes progress. He gets past two players using things he has learnt from others in the side  . Though the victory is massive for him, the team thinks nothing of it. They go at him again and again until Papale is to tired to stand let alone battle off these monster sized men. Papale gets smashed in the next tackle, his helmet digs into the ground as he hits the turf. He lies there, exhausted. The team jog onto the next exercise casually as if nothing happened while Papalye fights to get enough oxygen into his lungs from being winded. Just as in life, nobody has time for his dreams he has shaped in his mind. The ideas and success he has carved through his 30 years of his life mean nothing, they simply leave him there...and jog on.

Papale gingerly plants his palms on the grass while his eyes, barely open, stare at the torn ground that his body has caused. His shoulder blades arch as his spine and back fall inwards. He pushes hard on the ground trying to lift his heavy body. His head hangs as he rises onto one knee, and then slowly the other. The camera swivels around him as the setting sun casts a silhouette on his tired body. The music releases you into deep thought as an audience can barely help feeling for his obstacles he attempts to overcome. On the grand stand sit about 50 people. 

Now the team is gone, left him their in his dirt, as he grapples to get up, get going and catch up with them. The sounds of clapping come from those who sit on the stand as they cheer him on. Their local bartender hero is showing guys against great players and even if he fails to make the team, he has offered them a small insight into the life of possibilities.  

Papale rises to his feet in the setting sun and breathes deeply for a second and starts to move his feet. His running looks as if he is tripping over his feet with every step. 

Are you behind today? Have you been bullied? Are you going nowhere? We can learn lessons from Papale. Stay humble, work hard, never think you are anything and always learn. Keep moving forward, take the hits, don't sidestep them. The path of least resistance is never an option! Very often the world makes "dreams" sound like a happy fair tale path to follow. It's not! That is the biggest bullshit I have ever heard! Instead of dreams think purpose, instead of happiness thing toughness! What is your purpose? What is your reason for getting to breath oxygen each day. What will history books say about your character? What do you need to show the world through your life. It's not easy and definitely not "happy" 

Get on your feet today! The sun hasn't set yet! 

Keegan "kunjani" Longueira