Those that know me know that I have a strange love for The Fast and the Furious series. I have no explanation for it. I’m not a car guy. I’m not usually into over the top unbelievable stunts. But for some reason I can’t get enough of these movies. When Paul Walker died I felt like I lost a member of my family.
I constantly wonder “what ridiculous thing will they show next” and “man I wonder how the gang is going to get out of this pickle.” The movies don’t disappoint (even 3 when watched in context is good). Honestly it’s one of the few series that has gotten better as the movies have progressed. Granted 2-4 weren’t the great but 5, 6, and 7 have more than made up for it.
Drink.
Over this past New Years my friends Jordan, Tyler, and I got the idea to turn the series into a drinking game. No idea where it came from. But I was sold when I heard Fast, Furious, and drinking. Warning, this is not a game for the weak willed or uncommitted. It’s hard at times but completely worth it.
A quick overview of the rules would look something like
Drink whenever:
- There is hype up background music
- There is a close up of a car, or women’s boobs/asses
- There is a race scene
- Close up of a character in their car
- Someone says the word Nos or uses it
- Brian says man, bro, or brah
- Someone says ‘8 second car’
- Someone yells ‘DOM’ or ‘TORETTO’
- Whenever Vin makes a mean or broody face
- Hobbs (The Rock) does something or says awesome
- Roman Pierce (Tyrese) says something funny
- A ridiculous stunt takes place
- Whenever two characters fight each other
For anyone that’s ever seen the movies, you can see how that game can be a slippery slope. Fortunately for us there aren’t enough hours in the day to watch all of the movies so we ended up stretching the game over two days. Even over two days that can be a dangerous game.
You’re probably asking, ‘what does any of this have to do with the content usually posted on Of Whiskey and Words?” Well I’m glad you asked.
As I drank and watched Fast & Furious 6 I was struck by the following scene
If you haven’t seen it, shame on you. But the main bad guy is David Shaw.
Shaw: “Growing up my brother told me that every man needs a code. Mine? Precision. A team is nothing but pieces you switch out until get the job done. It’s efficient. It works. But you, you’re loyal to a fault. Your code is about family. And that’s great and all but it makes you predictable. In our line of work predictable means vulnerable and that means I can reach out and break you whenever I want.
Dom: ‘At least when I go, I’ll know what it’s for.”
Shaw: At least you have a code most men don’t. ‘
Both men have codes. They’re completely contradictory but still they have one.
Watching this scene, taking my drink for Dom’s mean face, I started wondering what’s my code? Do I have one? Should I have one? Do I need one? If so, what should it be?
I decide that yes, I did need a code.
My code requirements:
Needed to be applicable to my life for the long term, shortly phrased, and hopefully badass.
I mean, ‘precision’ and ‘family’ are both pretty short sweet and to the point while still being meaningful and deep.
It took some time but I came up with
Know your worth.
No it’s not one word. And to you it may not be badass. But it’s still short, applicable to my entire life, and to me it’s impact and meaning has true badass potential.
A majority of the problems in our lives are self imposed. They come from our insecurities. Our belief that we’re not good enough. Bad jobs, dysfunctional relationships, poor decisions, wasting time etc. These all stem from our inability to understand and appreciate our own self worth.
I’ve been guilty of it throughout my life. More than any of the others I struggle with personal relationships. I always want to give people second, third, even fourth chances after they’ve shown me time and time again who they were and how little I seem to matter in their life. I try to see their potential. I ignore their actions and listen to their words. I try to change them. Even worse I spend way my precious time trying to prove to them that I matter enough to be a priority. How messed up is that? I was going out of my way to prove to them that I was worthy of being in their life. That somehow they were more important and I was lucky to just exist next to them
When this happens it’s easy to blame the other person. Just like it’s easier to blame our boss when we don’t like our job. But it wasn’t their fault. It was mine. Remember, people aren’t against you they’re for themselves. I didn’t ‘know my worth.’ By not knowing it, I kept putting myself in negative situations. I was putting up with something because I was scared I may not be able to do better. I wanted to matter in their life so I could believe I mattered more in my own.
Right there is where “know your worth” has its value. When we stop being scared or insecure we stop putting up with all the bullshit in our lives. We start to walk away from the things that drain us. We embrace new challenges worthy of our attention. We are able to cut out the negative things we devote our time to that drain us and instead focus on the things that build us up and move us toward our goal.
The catch of my code?
You can’t find your worth in other people or other things. You have to find it in yourself. In the things you value. In who you are. In who you want to become. Each and every one of us has different goals, talents, and priorities. Identify yours. Live for them. Once you know what makes you tick and you feed those things everything else in life tends to just fall into place.
To think, this life-changing revelation of mine wouldn’t have been possible had me and some friends not decided to play The Fast and the Furious drinking game. It just goes to show you that you can find inspiration where you least expect it. Now I can proudly place my code right alongside theirs.
Precision.
Family.
Know your worth.
What’s yours?
Stay Gold.
