Master Key Wek 14

“Cool Runnings- Peace Be the Journey”

I ended up watching Cool Runnings out of default because it was actually on FLIX the other night.  I thought I had seen it before but, I as I was watching I realized I had not.  I’m glad that I got to see it though because it was definitely an awesome representation of the MKMMA experience and captured ALL of the 4 habits to persistence and Scroll II perfectly.  I’m glad that we got the assignment to watch a movie that further connects our experience.  Sometimes I get caught up in thinking that there needs to be some “grand” thing occurring to realize a goal or my DMP.  However, watching Cool Runnings helped to reinforce that persistence really is having a DMP, PMA, POA and MMA.  These 4 Jamaican bobsledders had a DMP- be the first Jamaican Olympic Bobsled team.  They had a PMA.  They had a POA- practice, practice, practice, make the Olympic trials, compete in the Olympics and finish the race.  They had a MMA- each other along with their coach.  The MMA was key because at times when one may have been slipping on their PMA, one of their teammates boosted them up and gave another the encouragement to keep going.  I don’t’ want to give an spoilers for those who may not have seen the movie but, they helped each other by one member selling his car to give his team money needed to get to Calgary.  Another time, when one teammate was getting harassed in a bar, another gave him encouragement by taking him to the bathroom mirror and showing him his “Guy in the Glass” and that he was a man and couldn’t be taken advantage of; his mantra helped him later when he had to confront his father and he saw his reflection and remembered his friend’s encouragement.

The most striking part of the movie for me though was at the end.  They were on their final run for an Olympic medal and they crashed.  But, that didn’t stop them from fulfilling their DMP- making it to the Olympics and finishing their race.  They picked up their sled and finished.  They persisted.  They won.  They may not have won a medal that first year but, they won in the eyes of their country and their coach.  They won the respect of their fellow Olympians.  They won for themselves.  They persisted.  They succeeded.  They won.

It’s also a powerful reminder that success doesn’t necessarily have to come in the form of a “win”; a “medal”.  Real success comes in knowing that you did everything to manifest your DMP; persisting, never giving up; learning from your experience and improving the next time.

As we enter into this new year, 2016, let’s persist; let’s succeed; let’s win!