All Hallows Eve

I bet living in a nudist colony takes all the fun out of Halloween !

Halloween wraps fear in innocence.
Even a focused eye doesn't guarantee a keen imagination.

Without imagination there can be no horror.

The darkness on this night,
 has a special place in the hearts and minds of everyone.

Imagine if the whole world hated you, how terribly alone you'd feel.

But, if you're conscience absolved you of guilt, you wouldn't be without friends.
You would though surely feel like a soulless caricature.

Parents can try to give guidance to the right paths but the 

final formation of ones character is in our own hands.

I think pleasure is found in the wonder of the unexplored

 and the unexpected things that lay hidden ...muted even,

 behind the 'walls' we use to disguise our true selves.

Tonight I'm down with the clown,
I crawl like a tarantula on my toes and thumbs.
Born to carnies, gypsies and bums....

Outside the air feels different, it's cool and bright, 
the veil between realms is thinnest tonight,
whether you believe in spirits 
or not this night, they surely believe in you.

Humans are amphibians, half spirit and half animal.
As spirits they belong to the eternal world, 
but as animals they inhabit time.

-C. S. Lewis-

Suffering is from Resisting Pain

Suffering is not caused by pain but by resisting pain.

 -Unknown-

(I like reading with theme music)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oa-ae6_okmg

Today I learned that the toughest athlete in the world is a 62 year-old woman.

 Spanning back 35 years to the first try, 1978, but especially these past four years.
From August, 2009, to Labor Day, 2013, there was nothing but Cuba.

 Every day, every hour, the focus was laser sharp. No stone unturned 

62-year-old Diana Nyad swam without a shark cage 103 miles
between Cuba and Florida !

  Despite deadly Box Jellyfish stings,
Diana courageously continued for 41  hours,

 eventually compromised by the physical effects of the stings.

 A year later, she again faced the seemingly impossible,

 this time with a secret weapon:
a jellyfish suit, a thin nylon covering that prevents stings.

  She swam 51 hours, 5 minutes, much of the country following her every stroke.

 Again the jellyfish attacked, striking her repeatedly on the lips,

where the nylon suit opens to allow her to breathe.

Life-threatening lightning storms and the powerful Gulf Stream

 current literally spun the Teams fleet compasses in circles,

shoving Diana on a winding route of nearly 100 miles through the water
 before the team had to removed her.

On Labor day 2013 she emerged on Smathers beach and gave us a message..

Nothing is impossible !!

What keeps us from being super acheivers ?
In my case, it was crippling fear, but in generalization,
 it’s attachment to any negative self-talk you have.
 

Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved.

-Helen Keller-

By giving up my attachment to that abusive inner dialogue,
I was able to release the fear and anxiety associated with change
or the possibility of failure.

 I was able to look at it objectively by removing myself from it emotionally.
I have to remind myself every day to hold onto that objectivity and release the fear,
 but so far it’s working.

Bulletproof

Have you ever been a victim of an emotional shakedown ?

Someone you know or trust questions your integrity,

and it shakes your confidence.

Self-worth comes from one thing,
thinking that you are worthy.
-Wayne Dyer-
Joe Lewis taught me that we defeat opponents on different levels.
Mentally defeating an opponent by creating self doubt.

Physically defeating opponent is a matter of
victory through superior firepower, tactics or strategy.

Defeat a fighters spirit or 'heart' by analyzing a fighter, 
keeping him off balance by taking away his strong points.
This will erode his confidence. 

A fighter that embraces their inner awareness
 will become unstoppable
-Joe Lewis- 

In our lives we must embrace change and personal awareness.
or
We'll work tirelessly to cultivate an external environment that we lack inside.
We'll use superficial benchmarks to validate our existence grades,
 jobs, money and degrees from schools.

The road to rebuilding confidence begins with finding success.
Success in meeting your most basic and heart-felt needs.
 The black hole of needing will begin to be appeased,
 one nourishing meal or cup of coffee or honest conversation at time.


 If you don’t nurture the spirit and become self aware
 you will never be a real champion;
 in the ring, life, family, friendships, sports, school or on the job.

 

I can see clearly now

People may have certain knowledge,

but remain totally unaware of how to use it.

 

I see this in both martial arts marketing and in fighting.

 

To me it is all about two things, attitude and approach.

If one is off, this can automatically defuse or negate the other.

 

 A great system of marketing or fighting is only as good as the implementation of a proper psychology (with its practice) behind it.

 

-Joe Lewis-

Fitness First

If you look good you'll feel good.
Learn to be proud of your own body.

If you allow the judgement of other people to affect the way you view your own body you will quickly become just like them.

 Take your health and fitness into your own hands,
 be proud of your accomplishment.

You’ve got to be satisfied with your body and building a great physique has to be a positive and motivating experience.
You only get one body and the effect it can have on your life is too important to leave your satisfaction up to the feedback of others.

Visualize yourself the way you want to look,
or employing a skill your trying to learn.

This really does make all the difference.

 Believe that you can do it.

Visualize a real-life situation where you are using the skill.
  Imagine the sense of accomplishment you’ll feel.
It's a great way to motivate yourself when you feel like giving up.

In fighting violence is rarely the answer,but when it's the only answer physical preparedness is paramount.
 
If you are truly threatened your technique must produce injury.
An injury can be to the sensory system or a structural destruction.

You need to be psychologically prepared to assert the authority of your will with violence of action.

 The two worst strategic mistakes to make are acting prematurely and letting an opportunity slip;

 to avoid this, the warrior treats each situation as if it were unique and never resorts to formulae,
 recipes or other people's opinions.

-Paulo Coelho-