My family and I love to watch movies together and we especially enjoy watching our favorites repeatedly. Invincible, the true story about Vince Papale’s inconceivable rise to become a professional football player is one of our top five. We have played that DVD countless times but tonight prior to playing the movie we decided to watch the ‘bonus’ features about the real Vince. It was then that I began to slowly assimilate the harmonized kinship of our lives.
For the skeptics, let’s disclose the obvious differences. Yes, he is a man, (don’t hold that against him ladies; wink, wink) he is 6 ft. 2 inches tall compared to my ‘fun sized’ 5 ft. 3 inches, and he happened to play professional football for the Philadelphia Eagles versus my nonprofessional, short lived college career of soccer. He is a diehard Eagles fanatic and I just happen to be a Raider fan that bleeds black and silver. (Although my boys have had some tough seasons, I still stand behind them; Go Raiders!) Vince lives in New Jersey and I’m a California girl who enjoys the beautiful weather and crazy drivers of my grand state. It’s true, you could perceive the two of us as polar opposites but I’m not one to back down from a challenge so please humor me while I plead my case.
Although I am not a football player and there isn’t a movie that has been fashioned after me, Vince and I share two things in common; the love of our family and the spirit of a dream. These are characteristics many people have in common you might say, but when inspiration hits you like a ton of bricks, you pull yourself up from under the pile and write a blog about it! I suppose I could also compare the fact that we both waited until our thirties to pursue our dream. I’m a thirty-something year old rookie but not in the NFL, I’m a literary rookie and proud of it! I’ve taken my hits, been banged up a bit with reviews and probably will take a few more as time goes on. I’ll keep on getting up and continue to press forward because I have just enough Scottish stubbornness and Irish grit to take a beating without the wisdom to know when to throw in the towel. I’ll chase after my fantastical illusion because I WILL NOT be one of those parents who spouts off to her children about life lessons and doesn’t follow in the footsteps of her own advice. Taking the first step into the unknown is horrifying, intimidating, and downright scary but how will one know if you don’t at least try and try again until that goal comes within reaching distance.
Vince has been compared to Sylvester Stallone’s famous ‘Rocky Balboa’ character who has come from a tough neighborhood, makes a comeback and proved he had something to give even though everyone else said he didn’t. To give credit where credit is due, he did just that! For those who have not had the pleasure of watching the movie, go out and rent the DVD, it's a GREAT flick for anyone to watch. The sheer resilience and determination he personified was remarkable! Of course, it didn't hurt that Mark Wahlberg played Vince, so it was easy on the eyes throughout the film, from my standpoint anyway.
My simplistic advice for this blog post; be an example and a source of inspiration as often as you are able. You never know who will be watching you or what set of eyes will fix upon your actions. It is my hope that my own children will be able to look back from their youth (when they get older) and understand how much of an impact they made on me! Thank you does not closely associate my gratitude for the unconditional support I receive from my wonderful family and the infinite graciousness they pour upon me each and every day. They are the fire that fuels my intensity to succeed and the refreshing voices that help me to stay focused. I'm deeply blessed!
For more information about Vince Papale, you can visit his website http://vincepapale.com/ or follow him on twitter @83Invincible
Living the ELEMENT of my dream! To learn more about the YA fiction series I have created, visit http://katefuentes.com/ . Available online and in select book stores for purchase.
For the skeptics, let’s disclose the obvious differences. Yes, he is a man, (don’t hold that against him ladies; wink, wink) he is 6 ft. 2 inches tall compared to my ‘fun sized’ 5 ft. 3 inches, and he happened to play professional football for the Philadelphia Eagles versus my nonprofessional, short lived college career of soccer. He is a diehard Eagles fanatic and I just happen to be a Raider fan that bleeds black and silver. (Although my boys have had some tough seasons, I still stand behind them; Go Raiders!) Vince lives in New Jersey and I’m a California girl who enjoys the beautiful weather and crazy drivers of my grand state. It’s true, you could perceive the two of us as polar opposites but I’m not one to back down from a challenge so please humor me while I plead my case.
Although I am not a football player and there isn’t a movie that has been fashioned after me, Vince and I share two things in common; the love of our family and the spirit of a dream. These are characteristics many people have in common you might say, but when inspiration hits you like a ton of bricks, you pull yourself up from under the pile and write a blog about it! I suppose I could also compare the fact that we both waited until our thirties to pursue our dream. I’m a thirty-something year old rookie but not in the NFL, I’m a literary rookie and proud of it! I’ve taken my hits, been banged up a bit with reviews and probably will take a few more as time goes on. I’ll keep on getting up and continue to press forward because I have just enough Scottish stubbornness and Irish grit to take a beating without the wisdom to know when to throw in the towel. I’ll chase after my fantastical illusion because I WILL NOT be one of those parents who spouts off to her children about life lessons and doesn’t follow in the footsteps of her own advice. Taking the first step into the unknown is horrifying, intimidating, and downright scary but how will one know if you don’t at least try and try again until that goal comes within reaching distance.
Vince has been compared to Sylvester Stallone’s famous ‘Rocky Balboa’ character who has come from a tough neighborhood, makes a comeback and proved he had something to give even though everyone else said he didn’t. To give credit where credit is due, he did just that! For those who have not had the pleasure of watching the movie, go out and rent the DVD, it's a GREAT flick for anyone to watch. The sheer resilience and determination he personified was remarkable! Of course, it didn't hurt that Mark Wahlberg played Vince, so it was easy on the eyes throughout the film, from my standpoint anyway.
I don’t want to take away anything from Vince because he earned every bit of it, but I’d like to think I have some of those same qualities of strength and fortitude. I won’t be running up hundreds of stairs in Philadelphia or punching a rack of meat to prove how tough I am. I will continue to keep pushing out as many novels as my imagination allows and I’ll do it not out of spite but because I made a promise to my children, my word of honor to follow your dream because anything is possible. There is NO expiration date on dreams, go after them until it becomes your reality. As Vince has been quoted, “Don’t stop living your dream!” There are many of us out in the world who believe it is too late, they are too old, they don’t have what it takes; they would be wrong! The gift of free will is something all of us have within our spirit; let the will of conviction and courage break free and set flight. I was inspired one Sunday by a sermon I listened to from a good friend speaking on temptations and thought it was a great lesson to include: Do not give into the temptation of negativity but persevere the test of positive actions.
For more information about Vince Papale, you can visit his website http://vincepapale.com/ or follow him on twitter @83Invincible
Living the ELEMENT of my dream! To learn more about the YA fiction series I have created, visit http://katefuentes.com/ . Available online and in select book stores for purchase.
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