Arnold Schwarzenegger, the legend with many titles and trophies, goes by the mantra of shaping destiny through hard work. Peak after peak, he conquered the mountains of difficulties through sheer determination. Schwarzenegger pushed himself out of his comfort zone and ventured into unknown lands. However, despite all the glittering success, Schwarzenegger faced many trials and tribulations. Sometimes, his dogged approach to fame and success would hurt those around him, especially his mother.

The Austrian Oak, in his autobiography, “Total Recall: My Unbelievable True Life,” talked about his familial relationships. He revealed that, in his youth, Schwarzenegger spent most of his time honing his skills. He was resilient in his approach to winning titles. Moreover, he never really thought about how his actions affected his family. However, all this changed when the Terminator experienced familial bliss.

Arnold Schwarzenegger reminisced about leaving his mother

The Austrian Oak’s mother passed away in 1998, succumbing to a heart condition. Schwarzenegger learned about the “heart murmurs” caused by a faulty aortic valve in the heart in the 1970s. He requested his mother, Aurelia, to get treated, but she placed her destiny in the almighty’s hands. Recounting the incident, the ex-Governor wrote in his autobiography, “She had been fine and cheerful as always during her annual spring visit, staying all through May, so of course, this came as a terrible shock. But later, looking back on her life, I felt that by the time she passed away, I had no regrets.” However, his stance changed when he became a father. He realized the separation from his mother might have caused her immense pain.

“Now that I had kids, I realized how my leaving must have upset her. I’d appreciated her earlier as a devoted mother, but I’d never thought about the pain my leaving caused,” added the Conan actor. Nonetheless, the Terminator was glad that he was able to nurture a good relationship with his mother. But it was a different story with his brother and father. “That maturing happened too late for me to reconnect with my brother or dad,” revealed Schwarzenegger.

Read More: “Austria Has Not Lived Up to Its Promise”: Arnold Schwarzenegger Doesn’t Hesitate to Blatantly Call Out His Motherland, Not Sticking to the Commitment They Made in 2015

The bodybuilding scenario in Austria was not very conducive in the 1960s. So at age 21, after winning Mr. Universe in England, the Austrian Oak moved to America. Once he left Austria, away from his restrictive parentage, Schwarzenegger immersed himself in American culture. However, Arnie’s process of assimilation had its own set of challenges in America.

Even the language barrier could not deter the Austrian Oak

The 7x Mr. Olympia was so excited to be part of the American bodybuilding scene that he decided not to return to Munich and get his things. He told his friends, “I’m not coming back.” However, in his excitement to be at the epicenter of bodybuilding activities, he faced many hurdles, including language barriers.

The Austrian Oak felt an immediate sense of belongingness when he moved to America. He was so intent on taking up the American way of life that he chose to speak only German. This often resulted in strange incidents. Schwarzenegger once recalled his interaction with a vegetable vendor. Once, Arnie went to buy a cabbage and told the seller, “I loved his garbage.” People made fun of Schwarzenegger for his language faux pas, but he never let it dampen his spirits. He added, “I didn’t let it bother me because I knew I was in the right place, and that was their problem.” 

This shows Arnold Schwarzenegger’s conviction in pursuing his dreams. While his personal life was fraught with challenges, his professional laurels filled the vacuum. What do you think about Arnie’s personal and professional journeys? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section.

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