About the gym and the book the peaceful warrior

I recently saw the movie version of Dan Millman's book way of the peaceful warrior. That's a book I remember seeing on book shelves when I was in high school back in the mid 1980's.

There was a part in the movie where it says: "A warrior doesn't concern himself with perfection, victory, or invulnerability. The warrior's way is about absolute vulnerability--to the world, to life, and to the Presence you felt. All along I've shown you by example that a warrior's life is not about imagined perfection or victory; it is about love. Love is a warrior's sword; wherever it cuts, it gives life, not death.” - Dan Millman

I am very content doing my own thing with people I truly care about. I'm happy being of service to others through the training and honestly doing that for this first time in my life - being happy with the journey and not the destination.

I've recently learned to love the rolling, the stand-up sparring, the learning, and the handful of guys I work with. I used to have stress training before with Caesar, because I was approaching the training as an older athlete chasing vain glory on the mat.

I'm not saying that competition is bad, in fact we have a couple of guys from the gym who compete. Since the gym opened in March, I always make it a point to emphasize that winning the fight isn't the point, it's being in that moment and giving the performance of a lifetime. And not for the crowd, and not for victory, and not for fame -

Think of us all as little tiny lights that turn on when we're born and glow for only a short moment in time.

For those of us who are fortunate enough to live a self-actualized existence, I think the reason for doing anything is clear...

We are put on this world to shine.

So shine on!