STRANGE THINGS

Some strange things that get me to thinking--when I was in South Africa, I saw alot of poverty and starvation, try telling a starving African that you can get to heavy from eating to much food and then get disability because of it in the USA, or if my daughter in High School has a headache the nurse wont give her an aspirin unless we fill out consent papers but she can go down the road and get an abortion, with no questions asked. why do they call Reality shows real? why is it if 10 crossbred cur pit bulls attack somebody or something they want to outlaw the whole breed? Why do we go to war and not try and win?? Why do we make more laws when we dont enforce the ones already on the books? Why do traffic tickets ALWAYS cost money?? Why do people say I own my house free and clear? if that person dont pay Uncle Sam taxes he wont have a house any more but he will be free and clear on the curb. Anybody ever figure out the mind of our most valuable resource-Woman? whats the difference between violence and gun violence? does it matter if you get killed with a gun or a hammer?  I dont have the answers to these questions, I do know people who dont want to go to hell find religion and people who already have been there find  Spirituality--I know why two men go into a cage or a ring and beat each other into submission and hug each other afterwards-I know a dog is only as good as the parents before him-I know people seldom rise above their leadership, but when they do great changes occur, I have learned the hard way we usually get what we deserve good or bad-we reap what we sow-I know in this world we need to be strong or smart--smart lasts longer

REGRETS ARE HARD TO FIX

I've always tried to live my life with no regrets, but many disappointments cannot be avoided no matter what you do - it's part of the game. You can move on and learn, but regrets are a different story - they hurt and are hard to fix.  As I get older and look back on different times and seasons in my life I've realized I do have quite a few regrets.  Regrets I tried to avoid at all costs and still they are there. Disappointments are not too hard to clean up - you dont repeat the matter.  You learn why things didnt work out, many times its people that need to be cut loose, or situations - you learn and move on. Regrets are on a different level tho - many times the damage cannot be reversed.  How do you move forward from a regret you cannot change or fix?  I'm finding that I can move forward, but I cannot change the situation.  Regrets seem to happen when many other stressers are happening in life and the stress clouds your judgment or as your dealing with the stress the best you can at the time - other things in life suffer and the wrong decisons lead to regrets.

Sometimes I think it's the times we live in when we are totally honest with people and tell them how we think or feel about a situation or problem and people feel you are letting out cutting remarks.  They feel damaged by the truth - their feelings are hurt. They don't rememeber the good things you say and feel and they dont listen to anything all in the name of protecting their feelings. This is a great weakness in people - especially young people.  I find people turning to me and wanting to know what I think and what they really want is for me to agree with them. 

I have 4 children and they all like to hold me accountable for things that they really should be accountable for themselves.  I wonder if other Fathers go thru this?  Kids these days like to blame everybody and everything thing for their problems and short comings.  When told the truth they rebel and then wonder why things don't work out so well.  Then they are ill prepared for the world they are thrust into. 
When I was young I wouldnt listen to anybody.  I grew up without a father of which I have no regets.  I know my mother has some regrets, but she shouldn't because she taught me to be accountable for my own life.  It was a very hard lesson at the time, but it has proved to be a very valuable assest.  I am more than willing to be accountable for my mistakes and short comings because there is alot of freedom in that. I am willing to be accountable for my regrets, but figuring out how to clean them up is the challenge. Regrets that involve other people need all parties trying to reach the answers - without that, it might be impossible.

So what does a person do to make wrongs into rights?  I dont care about being right - I just want to win and want my friends, fighters and loved ones to win.  I mean anybody can teach technique or teach a young athlete how to fight, but teaching them how to win is a much better road, and not just in the cage, but in all aspects of life--that is the challange for today!

LIVING THE DREAM

LIVING THE DREAM

There are lots of young fighters in Vegas these days. They have a dream of being a pro fighter, maybe a UFC Champion. Some follow the dream and move to Vegas, find a gym, start training – it’s what we like to call Living The Dream –  problem is this is only the beginning. 

Getting fight ready, getting fights and supporting that dream is where the real trials begin. It’s commendable that a young athlete would give up everything he knows to come to Las Vegas and pursue The Dream – some consider themselves half way there just doing that. The sooner they realize that they are just at the base of the Mountain – the better suited they will be to get to work. Dreams have a way of weeding out the less committed and the less focused. The prize will only be awarded to the man that will stand through every trial and tribulation the world will throw at them. Money problems will come and will come hard, a fighter will have to sacrifice many pleasures and even needs, sharing apartments, eating peanut butter sandwiches, going from crappy job to crappy job, many ass whippings in the gym, sore and tired and wondering what the hell they’re doing in Vegas trying to be a fighter.  People telling you to go back home – maybe missing the comforts of mom’s cooking.  Being a pro fighter is not for the faint of heart and being a successful fighter will take every ounce of faith and focus you can muster – everyday – day in and day out. I hear fans say, “fighter so and so made a half million dollars for a 5 round fight, I would fight anybody for a half of million dollars.”  What they dont see is what it took for that man to be worth a half a million dollars to fight in the first place. Trainers, managers and promoters are not stupid – they know full well what it takes to make it in the fight world and they know if you are focused, committed, and sacrificing all.  The fight game is a tough business and we are in a hurt sport – all the money and glory in the world will never change that.  It’s all some of us are good at – for others it might be a good idea to pack up and go home. It takes a special breed to stay in the business for the long haul and I would dare to say most in the fight game are set apart and are great people. So anybody who wants to join this faternity – be prepared to have laser like focus, be committed to no return and learn to give, not take – body, mind and spirit-  for its what we give into MMA that brings the return.  And be ready to hang on like a Bulldog –  its going to be a very ruff ride!

DBM

http://knuxx.com/nv/2012/08/living-the-dream/#more-279