Doing What You Can When You Can

Constant learning is necessary for everything we do in life if we want to succeed. In the 4 years that I've been training in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, I have had the pleasure of training with amazing people, bringing abilities and personalities to the mat. What may be most impressive is how people deal with adversity in the form of injury. Now, when high intensity activity happens so do injuries, its just part of it. And at my school they stress that injury is not a reason to skip training. Its a matter of doing what you can and getting on the mat. So many of my training partners have come in bandaged up or with braces to train in what they really love doing. The latest is a friend of mine who has been a huge inspiration in how he carries himself on and off the mat. He is in his 50's and looks at least half that. So during training about 2 weeks ago he tore the biceps tendon in his right arm. He has the benefit of some top notch medical care and was able to get surgery done quickly with a prognosis of 6 months until full recovery. But there he was tonight with his right arm covered in a brace, strapping his Gi on and going out and working his ass off on the mat. Yep he couldnt do everything we were doing but almost. We all were inspired by what he was doing, but to him it was just getting on the mat and doing what he loves.

So where does that leave the people who dont train at my school? No different. We all have to deal with injuries at one time or another both physical and mental. Thats a given,\.But whether we go hide and heal and play it safe or get out there and do what we can starts to define who we are. The work you do is way more far reaching than the immediate discomfort. We spend every day carving out what our life is going to be. Inspire yourself and others. Today. NOW!

P.s. To all my training partners, pleas edont be offended if i didnt mention you specifically in this . You are all brave amazing people and its an honor to work and grow with you.

Everyday Heroes

When you look at the best in any field one of the characteristics is the disdain of mediocrity. Constant improvement and learning characterize these men and women. But I put it to you that it shouldn't and in fact can't be something relegated to a small section of society. For an entirely too long of a period mediocrity and just "getting by" has been the mode of operation. And it germinates. When we expect less of ourselves we put out less to others. An then some hold others to higher expectations than they do themselves which is well, ridiculous.
Whether its at work or in our relationships, accepting mediocrity or just getting by doesn't increase our ability to be happy or make more money or get better as an Individual.
So can you go out and be Michael Jordan? Maybe not but your life can be a damn sight better than it was yesterday. Are you ready to take the plunge?