Let Us Live… and Buy a T-shirt.

Mark Twain is quoted as saying, “Most men die at 27, we just bury them at 72.” I would argue that most people have not truly lived, regardless of their age. At the end of your life, and it could be sooner than you think, what proof will you have to show that you lived?Continue reading “Let Us Live… and Buy a T-shirt.”

3 Things You Need to Know About Being Prepared

There was a time in my life where I tried being a preacher. Public speaking was natural to me and I enjoyed looking for little nuggets of truth or application in the texts I read, particularly the Bible. I still search for bits of wisdom there though I stepped away from the pulpit several yearsContinue reading “3 Things You Need to Know About Being Prepared”

We Were Meant To Be Courageous

What does it take to stand up for your beliefs? Have you ever asked yourself what you would do if you were faced with giving up or fighting back? We are witnessing an interesting phenomenon in our country and our world right now. People are fighting back, sometimes literally. The unrest is real and palpable,Continue reading “We Were Meant To Be Courageous”

2 Reasons to Improve Your Body Language

How many times have you seen the memes on social media displaying how nature differentiates apex predators? There’s one with a black snake that looks like a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt. Then there’s one (see inset) about people with cauliflower ears. These memes make for an interesting discussion. What about your appearance indicates you knowContinue reading “2 Reasons to Improve Your Body Language”

Why Me?: Unfairness and Life

“No fair,” cries my son when he thinks his sister got a bigger piece of candy. “No fair,” he cries when I tell him he can’t go outside and play until he cleans his room. I politely remind him that sometimes, life isn’t fair. We see this often with children, but we don’t recognize itContinue reading “Why Me?: Unfairness and Life”

Persevering with Patience (Perspective for a Pandemic)

Amid the mire of COVID-19 (the Corona Virus), I have been soul-searching for what matters most in life. Judging by the pilfering of the bread aisle and toilet paper from grocery stores, it would seem that many think bathroom visits and toast are essential to human prosperity. The world is watching, waiting to see whatContinue reading “Persevering with Patience (Perspective for a Pandemic)”

Readings: The Obstacle is the Way – The Timeless Art of Turning Trials into Triumph

Continuing with a previous post about failure and how it can lead to successes, I want to discuss a book I am reading. For Christmas, I received Ryan Holiday’s “The Obstacle is the Way: The Timeless Are of Turning Trials into Triumph.” I have been a follower of Holiday’s blog, The Daily Stoic, and I’veContinue reading “Readings: The Obstacle is the Way – The Timeless Art of Turning Trials into Triumph”

Building a Legacy

I know it’s been a few months since my last post, so I wanted to touch base. I haven’t given up opining—quite the contrary. I have had numerous things on my mind lately, much of which I am eager to share with you in the coming months. In my last post, I mentioned that IContinue reading “Building a Legacy”

A Lesson Learned

If you ever wonder what I do when I am not training or waxing philosophical on a mat, here is one thing I do in what little spare time I have: write. If you read this blog, you already knew that. I write for local newspapers and magazines as well as research papers for graduateContinue reading “A Lesson Learned”

Are You Using Your Fear Properly?

If not, here’s how you can make the most of it. “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do, so throw off the bowlines, sail away from safe harbor, catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” –Continue reading “Are You Using Your Fear Properly?”