Sign In

Muhammad Ali Center > Ali Center Blog

9/26/2008

My Favorite Muhammad Ali Quote

“A man who views the world the same at fifty as he did at twenty has wasted thirty years of his life.”

-Muhammad Ali

 

It is among Muhammad’s many talents to be able to turn a phrase so packed full of power that it rivals his signature left jab. For me, the above quote is among his most powerful.

 

Though I do not claim to be as wise as Muhammad, I like to think I have an understanding of this particular advice. Muhammad is drawing on his experience to tell us that we didn’t have life figured out when we were younger, and it isn’t magically going to become clear to us with age. Our journey through life is an ongoing learning experience; a series of opportunities to engage our spirits and expand our minds. If we do not learn from our experiences, then those experiences were in vain. If we remain unchanged by our trials and triumphs, then we have wasted those opportunities to enrich ourselves.  From a man who has endured so many hardships and enjoyed so many successes, these words are especially meaningful. In reflecting on Muhammad’s life so far, one does not see a man who had it all figured out from the beginning (as if such a man exists!). One sees a man who spent the time it takes to learn, to change the mind and to develop the heart into something greater than they were before. The ability to use one’s life experience as a platform from which to jump beyond oneself is truly a mark of greatness.

 

Though his example is in years, take his advice for every moment. If you view the world tomorrow the same as you see it right now, then you have wasted a day! Do not lose a second which you could spend learning and improving yourself. Experience life! Let the troubles of the world shake you to your core, and let the feats of mankind lift your soul to greater heights. Do not fear change! Make mistakes and learn from them. Redefine yourself as often as you can. Examine your life with a fresh eye every day and strive to become as great as you can be.

Posted at 11:18 AM by Communications | Permalink | Email this Post | Comments (76)

8/8/2008

Confidence

“I am the greatest; I said that even before I knew I was.”  - Muhammad Ali

It has been said that Olympic athletes spend the moments before a competition envisioning themselves competing perfectly - to the best of their ability. These incredible individuals have set very high goals for themselves; in order to meet their own high expectations, they must have confidence that they will perform at the top of their respective games. It is no coincidence that this confident mindset is the mindset of champions.

At its heart, confidence isn’t about bragging. It’s not about trash-talking your opponents. It’s not about being noisy, brash or reckless. Confidence is, simply, the capacity to believe in yourself and your abilities.

The achievements of Muhammad Ali, both in the ring and around the world, could not have been possible without his sense of confidence. During his boxing career he demonstrated his confidence with the characteristic showmanship that helped to earn him the title of “The Greatest.”  In his retirement, his confidence has matured into an unwavering knowledge of his self and how he can make the world a better place.

Of course, confidence is not just for professional athletes. In pursuing any endeavor, be it a good grade on a history test or negotiating an important account at work, believe in yourself and what you know you can achieve. Set high expectations for yourself, and know that you have the capacity to meet them. In fact, borrow a page from the Olympians. Close your eyes and envision how you would reach your goal if you were to do it perfectly - to the best of your ability. And when you open your eyes, know that you have the potential to perform exactly as you imagined. You just may find that all you needed was a little confidence.

Posted at 1:54 PM by Communications | Permalink | Email this Post | Comments (443)

7/3/2008

Giving

Muhammad Ali is quoted as saying, “Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on Earth.”  Throughout his life, he proved that adage; doing for others without expecting anything in return.  He was already the greatest, what more could anyone give him?

However, giving and service to those of us who haven’t yet become all we hoped is sometimes a little more difficult.  It is easy to see serving others as a means of obtaining our own hopes and dreams, instead of looking outside of ourselves to be a blessing to others.

There are endless examples of ordinary people, on an ordinary day stepping out of their comfort zone and igniting a spark that they never imagined.  One such person sparked a 27 year boxing career and found a legend in a skinny 12 year old kid named Cassius Clay.

Joe Martin may not be a name that every Louisvillian is familiar with.  A Louisville police officer, Martin was the one to whom 12-year old Cassius Clay reported his stolen bike.  Martin was also the one who introduced young Cassius to boxing.  In giving of his time and support, Martin was influential, among other of Ali’s mentors and trainers along the way, in turning an ordinary Louisville kid into the Heavyweight Champion of the World.

There is an old saying, “what you want most, you must give away.”  It is a daily struggle to accomplish.  Daily you must look outside of your small view of the world, into the “big picture.”  Daily, you must forgo your immediate convenience and comfort to bless someone else.  It is amazing how, in giving away that which is most important to you, money, time, etc, that is exactly what you gain back in excess.

I encourage you today, to take a stock of your blessings.  Then, use what you have to bless others.  You never know who the next ordinary person you meet has the potential of becoming.

So, today, what are you going to do to give to the world?  Are you willing to make yourself a little uncomfortable, experience a little inconvenience to change a life?  Are you willing to stick out your hand, make a friend, and inspire someone?

Posted at 9:13 AM by Communications | Permalink | Email this Post | Comments (80)

4/7/2008

Conviction

Having conviction in today’s world is no easy task.  There are so many things going on in our sensory saturated environment that we can become disconnected by the noise filling our minds.  From wars and global warming to cyber bullies and talking heads, we are constantly inundated with information and issues - making it difficult to find our own personal passion.  This tends to leave people confused or apathetic to the world around them. 

 

Conviction can have different meaning depending on the person.  Many people have convictions about a particular “hot button” issue – immigration, education and abortion are all issues that many people have a strong opinion, but what about issues that are important in your everyday life?  What are those convictions that affect you on a daily basis?  Maybe one of the “hot button” issues tests your conviction daily, but I think that there are a lot of people out there who have convictions about issues that have a direct impact on their lives. This, I believe, is what really drives individuals.  When someone has a conviction so strong that it bursts out and flows from one’s unconscious, then, and only then, do we get to see and experience that person’s soul and figure out who he or she truly is.

 

Conviction goes to the core of humanity.  We all have our own belief system and emotional requirements and each day people act in accordance to these laws.  People need to listen to other people’s convictions in order to understand that person or group because these beliefs are the foundation of their being.  However, just because someone has different convictions doesn’t give you the right to convict them.  Too often, people pass judgment on those whose fixed beliefs are different than their own, when instead they could work to understand where that person is coming from.  It is important to find within yourself what you believe so that you can go through life with a purpose.  But, be careful not to become so wrapped up in your own belief system that you do not hear what other people see as good, true and beautiful.  Understanding differing convictions is what opens up the dialogue for positive change.  Polarized thinking only creates more separation between humanity…right?

Posted at 1:23 PM by Communications | Permalink | Email this Post | Comments (81)

1/10/2008

How Do You Want to Be Remembered?

There is a solidified strength and poignancy to Muhammad Ali’s Legacy that is so concrete it can be bottled and shipped around the world in packages that promote love, peace and strength of soul. To be the greatest and maintain a humble walk like Ali is not easy and the combination of the two not only encourages diversity but it allows others to be of more than one element themselves.

I want to be remembered as an artsy business woman. These two things are not commonly found joined together but, just as Ali dared to, I want to create my own solidified identity and break away from stereotypes. I hope to encourage people to let their passion and creativity, guide their success and lead them on their own spiritual journey. Finding the image inside is the first step to bringing that person into reality. How can people remember the person that you never showed them?

Whether it is by shedding your “slave name” or just forgetting about the names and stereotypes people tied to you or your people, you must cultivate and strengthen your own identity by understanding who you are. There are two ways people can respond to you, either they embrace who you are or they don’t; but once you realize who you are, their stance on you should not manipulate how you present yourself.

I want people to remember me as someone who worshiped with her life and honored her beliefs through exercising them on a daily basis. When you choose to believe you are then tied to the presence of that in your life. There is a responsibility that comes with any education. Your responsibility is to put the things you know into action, to make change and promote opportunities for others to do the same. I intend to leave a legacy of love and to have opened doors for others to live that same way. The Ali Center is all about leaving your legacy, inspiring people and opening doors for others. It goes beyond a physical building and into dedicating your life to the things that you believe in and the strength of who you are.  How do you want to be remembered?

- Kristen Marie Lawrence
  Collegiate Ali Center Youth Council Member

Posted at 2:07 PM by Communications | Permalink | Email this Post | Comments (119)

11/28/2007

1996 Atlanta Torch Lighting: Muhammad Ali

I was fortunate enough to have attended the 1996 Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta. Getting caught up in the Olympic spirit was easy because there is so much more to the Games than what we see on television: pin trading, ticket buying and selling, food vendors, music, beer tents, and people from all over the world converging, sharing, and celebrating their countries and all athletes.

 

Giving prior thought to the Opening Ceremonies and especially who would carry the torch to light the Olympics cauldron had not been on my radar.  In retrospect, it seems odd—for upon entering the stadium, you were met with an exhilarating wave of excitement and anticipation that was all new to me.  Sharing this physical space with Olympic fans—and four billion people worldwide—was humbling, and oddly spiritual. It didn’t matter who you were or where you came from.

 

When Janet Evans ran up to the stage with the torch and Muhammad Ali stepped out for the torch-lighting exchange, the whole crowd gasped at once. Whether we witnessed that moment from the front row of the stadium, from a giant screen while sitting in back, or from our own home television sets, this was an emotional and transforming moment. Thirty-seven years after Ali had earned a gold medal at the Rome Olympics—and 15 years after he retired from the ring—“The Greatest” was back.  And there he was in front of us—not as an athlete—but as a man of courage and self-confidence and humility.  With one arm raised high, holding the torch—and the other trembling—Ali stood for a moment acknowledging the cheering crowd. Some were crying while others chanted his name. It was electrifying.  I shall never forget it.

 

When people today mention the Atlanta Olympics, they remember Muhammad Ali… and still with a tear in their eye. I think because it was the day Muhammad inspired the world and the day Muhammad realized he could.

Posted at 3:47 PM by Communications | Permalink | Email this Post | Comments (261)