Words As Weapons

Stories don't end on the last page anymore than 

they begin on the first page.

We sometimes fail to remember that we have the power of life

 and death in our tongues and keyboards.

 I think it's probably a good idea to remember that we need to have love,

 faith and understanding of ourselves and to share it selflessly. 

No matter what your own perception of personal truth. 

 It's far to easy to use words as weapons especially right before 'a fall'.

 We are hard wired to resist change and when things don't go our way we tend to drag others down with us, usually it's the ones we care about the most.

The people we care about are just as troubled and insecure as we are.

Rope - a - Dope

Ali 'lost his legs' after a period of inactivity in his career.

He didn't float like a butterfly any more.

Because of this he used  legendary fighter, Archie Moores' strategy

Moore called the maneuver  'the turtle', Ali called it 'rope a dope'.

Instead of moving around the ring Ali fought leaning back against the ropes

 taking most of Foremans' heaviest blows.

It worked, he won but in essence he sacrificed himself for the win.

.......In the end Superman dies anyway, it isn't a fairy tale.

In the street the trophy is your life try to do and say the right thing along the way.

 Were all just livin'.

I tell my daughter Alli , "We do the right thing cause it's the right thing to do."

Now I've gotta learn to 'walk that walk.'

.

Take me out to the ball game

A few years ago Alli and I were having spicy chicken tenders 
and a beer at Litchfields Bar.

 Here in Wells, Maine Lichfields is a little reminiscent of T.V.s' cheers.

The conversation with the bar manager led to one about Allis' softball games.

Soon he was asking me to play on the bars' men's team.

Of course Alli was definitely reinforcing that notion...lol

And so it was to be........ I was playing softball for the first time in 20 years.

Of course I approach every endeavour 'like a beast'.

I found muscles I didn't know I had ......

The whole time everyone is concerned because of my repeated surgeries.

I imagine they thought if I fell wrong I would split in half.

Well they were in for a treat.....

 The first or second game Alli was on the third base line and I was rounding second,

not known for my grace in running I sprinted toward third.

A crazy idea since if I had to slide it would be on a gravelly surface

 (is that a word ?)

Needless too say the play was close, REAL close.

I'm not gonna get thrown out in front of my daughter ....

NO WAY !

Sooo I slide, yup on gravel, like a damn cheese grater ....SAFE  !

Ok she's proud but my shin was wrapped in gauze,

leaking nasty stuff for six months...Damn, the things we do to impress our kids !

My team made it to the finals my leg was wrapped in gauze

but WE NEVER NEVER NEVER QUIT !

 I played anyway... by the second inning I had two pulled quadricepts.

Now my teamates were telling me, 'Bro we've got this, sit it out it's not worth it'.

I taped two ice packs to my quads and continued until I couldn't run at all.  

  

I draw from the love of my children to motivate me .

When you have a never quit attitude success is right around the corner.

People do give up though,

 in more cases than not it's just before success is realized.

Every time I hear the phrase never give up I think of Napoleon Hill's

'Think and Grow Rich'

He tells a tale of miners who dug and dug and dug

they found no gold and gave up. 

 It was found later they were 3 feet from a major vein of gold.

If they had the NEVER, NEVER, NEVER QUIT ATTITUDE 

THEY WOULD HAVE REALIZED THEIR DREAM  !!!

I Can....

Other than weighted walking and classes at the Joe Lewis Research Conference,

Since my surgery and resulting infection this was gym day #1.

 I'm staying at the Sheraton Uptown in ABQ New Mexico it's got a great gym and a salt water pool and have put together a training regimen for the next ten days.

First of all I should definitely tell you, 

if you have the opportunity to swim in a salt water pool DO IT !!

Salt water pools have become more popular because they have many advantages.
The first advantage is the level of comfort you experience.

Salt water is softer on your skin than chlorine.
Also, chlorine makes your eyes red and itchy and discolors hair.

 Chlorine pools create organochlorines which mimic human hormones.
They also cause fertility, immune system abnormalities, and various cancers.

 30 minutes of lap swimming in the salt water pool

3/3 minute rounds of footwork / shadow boxing

3/3 minute rounds of Bill Wallace's super stretching and kicking.

After a knee surgery,

 'Superfoot' had recommended I use a recumbent Lifecycle to aid in my recovery.

A woman hopped on the only bike while I was getting a water.

 Rather than kick her in the head,

 I hopped on the Elliptical Cross Trainer...

30 Minutes interval training (HIIT)

 with great music and graphics!

This thing Rocks.....!

HIIT describes any workout that alternates between intense bursts of activity and fixed periods of less intense activity or rest.
 A basic workout is run for a minute then walk for two minutes.
 Repeat this 3 minute interval five times for a 15 minute FAT BLASTING WORKOUT !
Sound to simple to be effective?
Science doesn't stretch the truth HIIT works !

  Mentors like Dr Jerry Beasley, Joe Lewis, Bill 'Superfoot' Wallace
and Dr Gyi are instrumental in my evolution as a martial artist and a person..

Before approaching a potential mentor,
identify what you hope to gain from a mentoring relationship.
Determine then what mentor will best help  you acheive your  objectives.

Start by identifying your short term goals.

What knowlege,skills and abilities do you need to get there ?

Answers to these questions will help you chose your type of mentor.


Outside of Martial Arts.....
Mentors provide wisdom without pain
my mentors provide both
- robb buckland -