THE MAN, ANTHONY JOSHUA
As I’ve already alluded to, his demeanour and the values AJ breeds in being polite, courteous, humble, loyal and grateful reflect how I view myself. These are values I not only strive to convey and exercise, but I also feel they’re inherent to who I am. Even if I tried it would be difficult to diverge from these as at my core, when I am my most pure, they are integral to the character I foster. So it was enlightening to encounter someone who I felt also encompassed this.
Moreover, to have achieved excellence and success by being resilient through the adversity that growing up in inner-city urban Britain can wield is one heck of an achievement, particularly when one is non-White. It is inspiring, particularly when combined with having a strong and admirable personality. I am no champion, but I have overcome significant struggles to be where I am today, yet like AJ, I still feel I have so much more ahead of me.
Fan
I’m sure this is a feeling any person identifying themselves as a ‘fan’ of anyone or anything can resonate with but whenever AJ is in a fight, I feel like I am right there with him. This feeling reached its zenith on 2 November 2016 when AJ fought Wladimir Klitschko at Wembley Stadium in London. My room was simmering like a sauna during that fight from the sweating, screaming, and constant jostle of standing and sitting as I beat my table with each punch that sustained a heavy blow.
The elation I felt when AJ won the fight was euphoric, particularly after he was knocked down for the first time in his professional career. Yet the most stirringly human and profound moment came when the fight had finished and AJ showed sincere respect when commending Wladimir Klitschko for a great performance and incredible career. Such qualities are seldom seen in several spheres of life, be that sports or beyond any game.
Stay Hungry
AJ’s ethos as a Boxer is encapsulated by his mantra of Stay Hungry, Stay Humble. Staying hungry is about having the passion, ambition, belief and desire to never settle for less, even when you ‘have it all’. AJ speaks of the only way being up from ground zero, so you keep on achieving. Yet maintenance and consistency is key, as there is always a risk of lethargy, a drop in energy, quality or commitment once someone has achieved their initial goals. One can suffer from success as a taste can hinder one’s long-term progress if the morsel proves to be fulfilling.
Living in the world of boxing, AJ also speaks of being the King of the Jungle and staying hungry enabling his dominance to be known so people approach him with caution. Yet this specific facet doesn’t sit with me, and I think it all comes down to purpose. My hunger resides with wanting to enjoy the world whilst wanting to improve it, and I’m not competing against anyone but myself as I strive to achieve excellence with what I love and am committed to doing.
Stay Humble
Humility has so many dimensions as a concept and in practice. AJ gives impetus to equality, emphasising how he approaches ‘the man on the street with the same respect I approach the man on the hill’. He speaks of carrying himself with dignity and respect, strives to ensure he remains relatable, is able to connect with people and dismisses notions of humility in being timid, quiet and submissive.
His idea of staying humble is value-laden, which I admire, as he speaks of wealth dwelling in one’s character, not in material objects. In particular, what is refreshing is how he speaks of everyone having a story and being able to learn from all regardless of who they are and where they’re from.
However, I don’t like the comparative (and arguably utilitarian) elements implicit in this mobilisation of humility. For me, humility is about gratitude; in appreciating your beginnings, the journey you have undertaken, and the fact that you are never fully formed and ‘perfect’ and forever learning and evolving. Yet I also agree it’s not deeming yourself to be inadequate, passive and quiet as it’s vital to acknowledge your capabilities and qualities, to have confidence in oneself to essentially get things done!
Furthermore, when I approach people, I try to with an open-mind, with courtesy and respect regardless of what they have to offer or have achieved. When talking about people, for me life and relations are all about exchange of meanings, feelings, values, emotions, and experiences. It’s about sharing, which is the essence of my blog. Yet I give so much more value to giving rather than gaining, or even giving without gaining nothing in return (except for minimum respect and courtesy, of course). Sadly, interactions between people are increasingly viewed as a transaction of give and take, but I’m not tallying.
Inextricable
In this context of achieving one’s goals, hunger is about addressing WHAT you want, and humility is about HOW you will do this. Ultimately, hunger and humility in my view are inextricable as the humility of appreciating your journey and progress drives one’s hunger to persist and prevail, to remain motivated and consistent to continue.
Yet to make progress and achieve excellence in life with integrity is an entirely different matter. The ambition of never settling for less and striving to achieve more with consistency is a great quality to have, yet one must remain grateful for what has already been achieved/accumulated and sometimes settle for this. Although much depends on the context of discussion, continuous improvement and accumulation can be harmful and unethical for people and places, from the individual to whatever scale of society, from the local to the global.
Let me throw in the phrases of ‘small is beautiful‘ and ‘less is more‘ to underline my point here. Today’s global, neoliberal world of mass production and consumption demonstrates how systems have become dehumanised with a loss of appreciation of the intricacies and simplicities of craft, skill, sustainability and human wellbeing. Humanity has moved from a kaleidoscope of bespoke jigsaw pieces to large, dull, replicable slabs that shape our existence. Art has diminished and science has supposedly replenished our livelihoods. ‘Progress’ has been made but at a great, unquantifiable human and environmental cost that continues to unravel and unfold on a daily basis.
Meanwhile, on an individual level, to put it simply, hunger kills. For me excellence is about doing the best you can do with something, whilst success is making achievements that conform to wider standards of what is deemed ‘success’. Yet people will harm and wreck themselves in the pursuit of success by staying hungry. So don’t remain hungry forever, or at least give yourself a break on your journey by rewinding and refuelling before you get up and go again. Fulfil and take care of yourself with something sufficient and wholesome, be patient, and appreciate everything you have regardless of whether it is enough.
drBACKPACK 