FaceBook Posts

These are a few FaceBook posts I've written in the recent past. I hope they help.

Abyss

Every time I think I've reached a certain depth of understanding in Jiu Jitsu I find a way to dig myself deeper. I've concluded that Jiu Jitsu is an endless abyss of learning. But no matter how deep I dig, Jiu Jitsu digs more deeply into ME, and I'm faced with my own vulnerabilities. There's no other way to say it: Jiu Jitsu is a beautiful art; a life changing art that has never, not even once, let me down. I can't imagine a life without it. I look around and wonder how people get by without it in their lives. When I was younger I thought I was going to change the world. I woke up from that dream, but now I have another one: share Jiu Jitsu to everyone I meet. It changed my life. Maybe it can change lives.

Gratefulness

If you live a life of gratefulness, there's no way you can be unhappy. Only the ungrateful person can be an unhappy person. If you don't know what to be thankful for, start with being thankful you're alive. Then start cataloguing whatever comes into your mind: your kids, your friends, your health. If you don't have those, search long enough and you'll find something. I'm sad when I hear people say they hate life, or complain about their life situation. If they stopped and truly counted their blessings they'd become happy; and probably feel a bit silly that they had ever complained. Want to be truly grateful? Be truly thankful. And if you don't know what to be thankful for, you're not looking closely enough.

Better People

"To be better people." That's what I've said for years. It is for that reason alone that we train in MMA and jiu jitsu. Each and every one of us messes up; says the wrong thing, does the wrong thing, thinks the wrong thing. But we are all fighters. The cage is nothing more than a metaphor for life. Those who will never step in the cage are still fighters. They fight to be better people, day by day. Yeah, it's great to learn a new armbar setup or another takedown. But if we don't learn to be better people, we shouldn't be in this. Train to be better people!

Open Up

‎"The emptiness of the sky prevents it from falling." This is from the 39th chapter of the Tao Te Ching. It means that we need to open up. We need to stop clinging to our points of views as if they're the only ones; stop believing they're ordained by God. When stress builds up, give it space. Open up to it and experience it for what it is. Live life with an unclenched fist. Soften up. Rocks crumble and eventually turn to sand. The sky can't fall because it doesn't contract and cling. Loosen up. The sky isn't falling. Learn from it.

Technology

My friends will tell you I don't like technology; this isn't true. But I think it needs to be kept in perspective. We spend all our time plugged in. We need time to just unplug. Leave the cell at home once in a while, and if you get all stressed out that it's not with you, you can be pretty sure you're addicted to it. Leave the computer off for a day or two. Can't even imagine doing that? Then I have a feeling you really need to. We need to make time to unplug, to distance ourselves from the noise. Otherwise, we gain the whole world but lose our souls.

Smile

Don't do a single thing unless you're smiling. Jog with a smile. Wash dishes with a smile. Train with a smile. Get yelled at with a smile. If you're not smiling, slow down and let your smile catch up; you have outrun your smile. Take a few breaths, let your smile return, and continue on. Life isn't about working harder with a grimace, but living more playfully with a smile.

Look Somewhere Else

If you're in MMA to beat people up, or to prove you're a badass, I don't want you at the gym. MMA is a medium through which we can test ourselves and become better people. If that's not your goal, you've missed the point. Find another gym.

Argument

I've learned there are two times you should never argue: when you're right and when you're wrong. If right, what's the point? If wrong, why push it? When two people argue, all they do is cling more savagely to their own point of view. The effort they put into defending it makes it an even stronger opinion. No one gains a thing. So when someone tries to argue: breathe, smile, don't say a word. Let them deal with their own struggle. Whether you're right or you're wrong, why battle?

Perspective

Life isn't about rushing home to find out who friended you on FaceBook; or spending mindless hours on a forum badmouthing someone you haven't even met; or walking the mall, ignoring your child, texting people you never see. Life is about living fully, in the moment. It's about throwing yourself headlong into life, fearless of failure, because if you truly live, you can't truly fail. Love fully the people you're with, because one day they won't be there. You can always buy another BlackBerry.