So my beloved Seattle Seahawks lost the Super Bowl 49 in the most tragic of fashion. One minute I was excited, the next was stunned silence. At the end of the day, I was grateful to watch a team that has gone through a tremendously tough season. A season where many casted them to the side as non-contenders. A season where they lost on the biggest stage mostly by their own mistakes, and not at the hands of another competitor. They are NFC champions and it was a great season of football.
The person I most admired throughout their season is Marshawn Lynch. A man of little words to the media. A person who is trying to be his true self at all times. Who is infuriated with how the media twists his words and portray him as something he is not. Words hurt even the toughest of athletes. But at the same time, it encourages him to find better ways to be his true self to his family, his friends, and his fans. He doesn't care about his obligations to the rich owners and commissioners of the league because they want to control his words and his persona. And to him, that is too precious to offer. Isn't playing good football enough? He's still going to wear his Beast Mode gear, still wear his gold head phones, still eat his skittles, and still do the interviews, commercials, or endorsements that he enjoys. Most of all, Marshawn is going to go back to his community and give back to the kids and families that need it the most. The guy is still a mystery, and as a Hawks fan, you respect it and let him be Beast Mode.
When he was asked why didn't they give him the ball to run in for the touch down, his answer was more brilliant than anyone could ever ask for. He reminded everyone that football is a team sport. You win and lose as a team. You trust the calls that are being made and just go for it. That's it.
As a person who is trying to find a life and a career that allows me to thrive as my true self, I am very inspired by #24's actions and his words. I mean, yes, there will always be an obligation to do things you may not feel like doing, but is it worth losing who you are? There's nothing more terrifying to me than becoming a corporate drone where HR tells me what I can and can't wear, or do my hair a certain way, or speak the way I am most comfortable speaking. I wish our outfits and how we present ourselves to the world wouldn't matter so much in business. Why can't I have a high paying job and be my true self? It doesn't mean I am less articulate or intelligent than the walking Banana Republic catalogs that troll the business districts. Why is standing out such a bad thing? Why minimize distractions? It's because there's a brand and business to protect. The investors that do not see the world the same way as I do. It's all about that money.
We've all been told actions speak louder than words. And even though he continues to be fined by the NFL for not speaking or being who he is, nobody's actions speak louder than Marshawn Lynch.
Stay true to yourself.
Keep being Beast Mode.
