The Color of your Dreams

For my part I know nothing with any certainty but the sight of stars makes me dream.

Winter will invariably pass and become Spring again.

I know that our heart knows things that our minds can't explain.

A person is at their best when they are passionate about something,

you can see that love and passion in their eyes.

I recently observed a Black Belt test for the J.L.F.S. .

The administrators of the test were some amazing Black Belt friends of mine .

Three candidates stood out in my memory.

Doug Arcidino, Rose Lysak & Brook Purcell ;

all the candidates were outstanding but these three were different.

They showed a perfect blend of softness and power,

as their physical power drained from them when they fought through the 'gauntlet' ,

but their powerful spirit and unwavering commitment to their goal

was clearly evidenced in their eyes.

'....or in Doug's case by Eric Chester's 'cream' on his face.   LOL

You have to leave the city of comfort to explore the wilderness of the unknown.

 What you'll discover is yourself.

 You feel a tap on your shoulder and there it is the world behind you.

The only real voyage of discovery consists of not seeing new landscapes but in having new eyes

-proust-

THE SINS OF EXCESS....GLUTTONY

"Gluttony"

I get it started and then I'm broken hearted
'Cause I can't get a hold of the beast
It's like I'm blind, I'm running out of time
And everything I crave is out of reach

You say I drink too much,
 you say I fuck too much
So what the hell am I supposed to do?

I take a dive and medicate my mind
'Cause I hate what I fucking see
It's all a grind, we're filling up our time
With the rules of society

You say I eat too much,
 you say I smoke too much

What the fuck am I supposed to do?
I wanna die and kill my dirty mind

-Buckcherry-

Where is my ball gag ? 

We live the predominant part of our lives obsessed about our fitness, our Martial arts , 

and especially our relationships; over thinking, over training, and over reacting..

 I remember the bars on the windows obscuring the view of the 

beautiful blue moon light.

I've missed plenty of opportunities because of bad judgement,

Often though, it is difficult because more often than not you are the only one who sees 

the evil and the underhandedness while everyone else is blind to it.

I spent alot  of time reflecting my actions, missing many 

opportunities because of my stubbornness or ignorance.

We create the prison of our mind through superstition,

 dependence on the advice of damaged people

 and our own fear of personal failure

 due to our knowledge of who we truly are inside.

The only thing a man/woman need fear

 is what they know about themselves inside.

-Clint Eastwood-

"That's The Way The World Goes 'Round"

I know a gal that's got a lot to lose
She's a pretty nice lady, kinda confused
Got muscles in her head, ain't never been used
Thinks she owns half of this town

Starts drinking heavy, gets a big red nose
She beats her old man with her panty hose
Then she takes him out, buys him new clothes

I was sitting in the tub just counting my toes
When the radiator broke and the water froze
I got stuck in the ice without any clothes
Naked as the eyes of a clown

I was crying ice cubes, hoping that I'd croak
When the sun come through the window and the ice all broke
I said "son of a gun", man, that's just a joke

One minute you're up and the next you're down
Got a half an inch of water and you think you're gonna drown
That's the way that the world goes 'round

-Miranda Lambert-

We were talking about 'damaged people' and how everyone was to one degree or another; and my friend Jerry says,
 'There are plenty of psychotic fish in the sea.'

I'm thinking, 'O.K. I'm not a 'fisherman so let them  swim on by !!!'

You Will encounter all kinds of 'wack jobs'

in sales , martial arts and fitness...Stay safe, love yourself  and

TRUST YOUR JUDGEMENT.

Let us not forget 'Grimms' Rapunzel 

who's indiscretions left her destitute.

External beauty, in speech and appearance will eventually

expose it's true essence. That essence will be their down fall.

Like the 'Stones' song says time is on your side.......

If that's not enough look to the  'Art of War'.

"A warrior must have the patience to wait  by the river

for the bodies of their enemies to float by."

More often than not after sharing your knowledge, resources

 or just your heart, you will be disappointed.

A warrior doesn't quit they persevere.

I've been disappointed , misled in about every endeavor I undertook.

A champion gets knocked down 5 times and gets up 6

I've used bad judgement in most aspects of my life ...

Understand the benchmark to your personal success

is unity and loyalty and perseverance.

Choose your 'TEAM' wisely !

Sophia and the Circle of Life

A friends daughter told me story about a week ago.

It's too good not to share, so here goes.

Sophia has dogs and cats but she wanted a fish.

After all kids love animals as pets.

They have a magical capacity to love unconditionally.

I think they see the word like an animal does.

Sophias' parents got her a fish,

and they set up a bowl as the fishes home.

Sophias' mom asked me to not use her name in this story'

you'll discover why in a minute.

Children are born with a love and affinity for nature,

Sophia loved her fish .

One day while Sophia was at school her mom decided to

'spice up the bowl' with some sea glass.

"Hey Lady I'm a fresh water fish, sea glass is from the sea".

But Sophias' mom apparently didn't hear what the fish was saying;

maybe she couldn't speak goldfish.......

The fish died almost instantly.

How was 'mom' gonna tell Sophia .....

'Mom' decided to feed the dead fish to their chickens.

'Mom' told me the upside was she got to teach Sophia about

'The Circle of Life'.

WHAT  !?!

In the future mom is only allowed to nurture Swedish fish....lol

It's easier to build up a child  than too repair an adult
so choose your words carefully.

I measure my life in moments not milestones.
My kids have taught me to be happy for no reason , always be curious
and to fight tirelessly for something I believe in.

While we try to teach our children something about life,
 they are teaching us what lifes' all about.

 The World of Kings and Liars

The 'Kings' are the dictators, 
those who would dictate to us what we are and are not capable of.

The 'Liars' are those who misdirect us for the sake of their own agenda.

In this brave new world we are the sculptor and the clay.

 As human beings we all develop emotional patterns.
These are mental or emotional states that tend to filter how we look at our lives.
You can change your emotional mood by a radical change in your physiology.

BTW  Sophia is just fine  and she has a wonderful  loving family.
She also has a friend named Robb Buckland !!

Cleanse that Palate

There Comes A Time When You Realize

 Turning The page is the Best Feeling in the World,

Because You Realize there is so much more to 

'YOUR BOOK' 

than the Page you were Stuck On.

'adapted'

-Robb Buckland-

A common ritual in both wine tasting and fine dining is to cleanse the palate.

It is easier to appreciate all the complex and varied flavors you are sampling

if you clear one taste from your senses before attempting the next.

Change isn't easy, especially if you have a bad taste in your mouth.

Whether it's changing coaches,trainers,gyms, Dojos or training methods.

Separating from what we feel comfortable with is not easy but ...

Life is Change

Feel the Fire when she walks

Lola Montez so Beautiful

Shady and a tempered dame

Blinding your eyes with her spider dance

no words will later come

 Did the spider bite your tongue ? 

 We will surely not forget

The Lola Spider Dance

'Lola Montez'
-Volbeat-

Love , Martial Arts training and business are sooo similar.

Just like with Lola, when she's dirty & flirtatious with you it's HOT.

As soon as she's with someone else we call her a whore.

(When she was your whore it was o.k. though, RIGHT  ??)

It's a psychosis , I have it too.

In business we 'take the gloves off' !!!

What does that really mean ?

We'll say or do WHATEVER to get that deal.
That doesn't generate alot of referrals.

We leave a gym, martial arts style or instructor
 we 'knock' the other style, instructor or coaches methodologies,
Because we are hard wired to resist change.

Twisted but true.

Who is she  ??

After a separation she became a ‘shipboard liaison’.

She thought her escapades were a secret.....

But, Lola Montez was the talk of the town.

The ‘real’ story of Lola Montez was no secret.

She wasn't much of a dancer but her suggestive,

 eccentric antics excited the crowd.

My friend Jerry  ridicules me on regular basis

 on the subject of love  vs  'just gettin some'

In business, love and Fitness,

 GETTIN IT DONE ISN'T GOOD ENOUGH !

We need to aspire to inspire,
We need to have the courage to tell the truth,
The heart to face our fears
and the perseverance to never quit.

Someone I used to know said to me,

" I don't want to be just 'another'."

If you don't wanna be 'Just Another'
You've Gotta, 

Be the One, 
Do not Dwell in the past,
Do not Dream of the Future
The answer isn't in the Why
It's in Living in the Present

-Robb Buckland-

In everyones' life, at some time, our inner fire goes out.

 It is then burst into flame

 by an encounter with another human being.

 We all should be thankful for those who rekindle our spirit.

-Albert Schweitzer-

A Month in the Life... "April Showers"

In sales it is often difficult to discern where the lies stop and the truth begins.

 I have the unpleasant task of dealing with unscrupulous developers,

owners and marketing companies.

Fortunately along the way I had the pleasure of meeting great young salespeople,

 bright and infinite in their potential.

 Forging friendships is paramount to success whether its on the table or in training .

A moment with Linda Thorson  (The Avengers TV)

The will to win,

the desire to succeed,

the urge to reach for your full potential...

These are the keys that will unlock 

the door to personal excellence.

-Confucius-

Its too bad martial arts and the occasional movie, 

T.V. show or commercial doesn't pay the bills.

I'm relegated to continuing to deal with the umbrageous characters

that own and run these stores and 'road shows'.

 It leaves me with the feeling that I need a shower.

Thank goodness for 'April Showers'.

April was a great month for martial arts conferences and seminars.

Usually the beach brings to mind sun and sand.

Surf, bikinis and the occasional individual who should stay clothed year round.

This years Martial Arts Symposium weekend.....

 I had a sidekick,

 Bostons own Molly MacPhail tried to take on two days in the life of the 'Beast'.

It proved to be a busy weekend.

The Symposium is expertly engineered by Master Terry Dow

 and his lovely wife Christina.

 The annual 'Supercamp' is held here in the Northeast every Spring.

My Ninja ...Brent Crisci

The camp features such notable Grand Masters as

 Michael DePasquale Jr, Bill 'Superfoot' Wallace, Walt Lysak, Brent Crisci

and may more.....

Soke Michael DePasquale Jr "Jujitsu at it's best !!

As always the Symposium proved to be a great weekend of fellowship and fun !

Another of my Friends and Mentors Grand Master Buzz Durkin and his lovely wife Judy Durkin celebrated the 40th anniversary of there amazing martial arts journey.

Grand Masters George Mattson, James Thompson,

 and Canadian Uechi Ryu founder Jim Maloney and a host of others were honored

 at this Butokukai graduation ceremony. I am always humbled by the quality of great martial artists and the overwhelming sense of community displayed by this great family of practitioners.

GM George Mattson

                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

GM Buzz Durkin                                                                      Gm Jim Maloney

The next morning I emerged from my bedroom at the 'Bat Cave' 

to find 'the lovely and talented Molly MacPhail' in a 'pup pile' on my couch.

After much needed coffee we were off to shoot a scene for

 Terry Traynors' Narrow Street Films. 

https://www.facebook.com/NarrowStreetFilms?ref=br_tf

https://www.youtube.com/user/NarrowStreetFilms

You'll have to look for that one on Facebook or you tube in the near future.

 It's still in post production !!!!

Who are you when im not looking ?

“Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.”
 - Dr. Seuss -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xXD9-1mLBY

  On the inside I know what I really want.

 I know what my values are.

 My ambition must not get in in the way.
Around me, things are falling apart;
 within me,
 they're falling together.

I've learned when you don’t understand your emotions;
you have only a limited capacity for self-respect,
 and you don’t have healthy relationships with people.

It's interesting the stories that we make up about who we are,
what we’re capable of, and what’s achievable or not.

The big question then becomes,
 how can we change our state of mind when not maximizing our true potential?

Tony Robbins poses an interesting question......
The toughest thing about chasing your dreams is managing the disciplines of persistent action and hopeful patience that are required to ultimately see the vision come to be.
This is an area of huge tension.
 How do dream chasers manage that tension and thrive?

After an exhausting weekend with the former Mikki Buckland,
 it is definitely time to move on.
In a book I read called The Energy Bus it talks about people like Mikki.
They're called Energy Vampires !!!

As human "beings" we all make mistakes...

We'd all do things differently......

 had we known then what we know now.

 What matters now is what you do now.

Let go of guilt. Let go of shame. Let go of blame.

This is "being" in the moment.

This is an empowered human being—the empowered YOU.

-Mike Klinger-