I’ve never really been one for confrontation. Maybe that’s why I got shoved in my locker so many times in high school, or why I always ended up losing my lunch money to guy’s named Trent. I guess you can say I’m a pushover. I seem to just sit back and take all the crap people throw at me just so it won’t cause a stir. Even when my Mom signed me up for Karate as a kid, I don’t think I ever fought back, I just thought of clever way’s to forfeit. Funny thing though, the more people learned how easy it was to get over on me, the more they did. My reputation made me out to be more of a human punching bag than an actual person. Reputation is a powerful thing, and mine allowed for people to trick me and for bullies to kick me.

In the dating scene however, I’ve learned that this is one of the least attractive attributes a guy can have. A woman needs someone who can stand up for her, someone who can protect her in the face of danger! Someone who is, well, not a pussy. I realize if I want to find a girl, I need to toughen up and stand up for myself, and to others. I need to take a long walk down that yellow brick road until I find my courage like the cowardly lion did in “The Wizard of OZ.” I need to earn that last badge of bravery that I never got when I was in the boy scouts. Now is the time, not tomorrow. Now is the time, to win at Arm Wrestling!

Let’s face it, I can’t go around picking fights with everyone I meet just to get a rep. Then I would turn out to be just like the bullies that I’ve despised my whole life. No, I have to build my confidence in a less violent way, but still come off tough enough not to be reckoned with. I figure arm wrestling is the best way to start. I decided to hit the local pub “Jumby Bay” the other night to see if I could come across some worthy opponents (and  maybe some pretty girls). I strolled in like I owned the place and went straight to the bar to order some H2O. As I turned around, I bumped into a guy with some of the biggest arms I’d ever seen in my life. His name was Rob.

“Watch where your going geek!” Rob said as he approached the bar. “Or else what?!” I said with a cocky attitude, “Your gonna beat me at arm wrestling? I’m undefeated in 5 states you know!” I said with a challenging demeanor. I could see people’s heads immediately start to turn to face Rob and I, shocked at what they had just heard. “You wanna arm wrestle me wimp?” Rob said with confusion. “That’s right!” I shouted. “Unless your scared.” I could feel my knees start to shake and my heart start to pound, unsure of the reaction I would get from the man with the giant muscles. I didn’t even care if I lost, I just needed to hang in there and not back down. All eyes were on me. I was the one scared.

“Saddle up cowboy.” Rob said, as he rest his mammoth arm atop the bar. By this time, people were gathering around us like they were about to witness a WWF match. “Bring it on.” I said as confidently as possible. The crowd cheered. The minute we locked arms, I could feel Rob’s vice like grip crushing my hand, ready to overpower me. I used all my might to pin his arm to the bar but he didn’t move. He just stared at me and smiled, enjoying watching me squirm for a while before he was ready to take me down. I fought and fought, pushing with all my might, but he just wouldn’t budge. All of a sudden, I saw the most beautiful blonde’s stroll in through the door. They looked at me and winked, like they were rooting for me or something.

“Look.” I said to Rob as I pointed to the hot blondes walking in. As soon as Rob turned around and laid eye’s on the blondes he almost immediately forgot he was arm wrestling. “Hey Ladies! Looking Gooo…..” Rob started to say, as he loosened his grip completely and I slammed his arm down atop of the bar. The crowd went wild and began to cheer. I couldn’t believe it! I had actually won an arm wrestling bout! “Nicely done cowboy.” Rob said as he gave me a bear hug. “Thanks. Rule # 1, Never get distracted when your up against a pro like me.” I said as I flexed my arm. “Haha! Great advice.” Rob said as he gave me a slap on the back. “Let me buy you a beer.” Not only had I won at arm wrestling, but I had also gained Rob’s respect and even made a friend.

After bonding with Rob, the hot blondes that walked in grabbed me and pulled me to the dance floor to boogie with them. They sure knew how to dance! They even got up on the bar and were shaking it like that movie “Coyote Ugly.” One of them even offered me gum and asked to be my girlfriend. She gave me a kiss on the cheek and everything. She told me I was cute and asked her friends if they approved of us being “involved.” They approved. As happy as I was dancing with the blondes however, I thought to myself about the many more challenges I would have to face in life. And no matter the outcome, I knew from that moment on that there is no greater reward than trying your best and giving it your all, win or lose.

-Fin

Photo by Murkem.