Late Friday night, the great one, Muhammad Ali, passed away at 74. Since his passing, fans around the world have been remembering the boxing sensation in many different ways. He inspired generations of people, not just with his talent, but with his profound beliefs and compassion.
A 1977 interview has resurfaced since his passing that truly showcases what an exceptional man he was. When asked by a young fan what he will do when he retires, Ali gives a powerful speech in response. That is, after he got a bit silly with the young fan first, pretending to be asleep and then telling the boy that he's going to sleep when he retires!
At the time of this interview, Ali was only 35, yet he gave an answer well beyond his years. Ali told the young boy: "Life is not really long, let's say the average person is 30 years old. If you're 30 years old, you're not but about 7 years old. Add up all the seven, eight, nine hours you slept for 30 years, out of 30 years add up all the nights when you went to bed and this morning don't remember a thing."
He went on to explain how much time we spend sleeping every night, traveling the country (and just to work), and in school. He says how we don't even realize this time is just flying by us and in 30 years, he'll be 65 and what will he have to show for it?
But what he ends with is the most powerful component of his response. "I'm going to dedicate my life to using my name and popularity to helping charities, helping people, uniting people," Ali said. "We need somebody in the world to help us all make peace. So when I die, if there's a heaven, I want to see it."
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