
Soon, I began to have an interest in some body building. The WWF (now WWE) had a Saturday morning cartoon show staring the ever popular "professional" wrestlers and their zanny adventures. And then I wanted to build muscle like Hulk Hogan. My folks got me his Hulkimania workout tape which included weights and a Hulkamania headband! And so I started exercising and lifting weights. Hulk Hogan was my hero!
As with all fads, I started to lose interest. My muscles weren't bulging (I think I was 10 the time) and I wasn't looking anything like Hulk Hogan. But I still kept him in high esteem. When I started doing weight lifting in high school, I used the pep talks Hulk Hogan used to give on my Hulkimania tape (now stored in my memory banks) as motivators.
And when I started lifting again about 6 1/2 years ago, I kept thinking of Hulk Hogan and that inspired me.

But I pursue on. The words from Philippians 3 start coming to my mind at times like these
"What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ."
I know, I know..my strength is not in Hulk Hogan. It isn't in Arnold Schwarzen-however-you-spell-it. Not in exercise books nor in the very weights I lift. I know with certainty where strength lies, both in my muscles, in my heart and in my spirit. And I know that I can do all things through him who gives me strength.
I just need to remember that when I put just a little bit too many plates when I bench.
What about you...have you had a change in how you viewed a childhood hero? What gives you strength to keep on keeping on?
I loved Hulk Hogan in the '80s. He was "showy" and the ripping of the t-shirt was so kewl. However, I never had a real childhood hero... There were plenty of celebrities I admired, but never had a real hero. Your post is very inspiring! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteYeah.. I always wanted to try to rip a t-shirt off too. My brother ruined the coolness of it when he informed me that the back part of the T-shirt was already ripped...
ReplyDeleteI think it's always good to have a person to admire... glad you were inspired..