Sometimes, it can be pretty cathartic to vent out our grievances, but it also bares in mind the question of when it’s acceptable to complain about a handful of things and when it just becomes annoying. No one likes a complainer Karen, so chill out with your degenerative disks and arthritic fingers. Guess what, if you do Jiu Jitsu long enough, you’re always going to have aches and pains, sore joints, sprained ligaments, fatigue, arthritis, degenerative something, bursitis, bruises, bumps, abrasions, and a handful of other things that make you say ‘ouch.’ But you know what else? As you age, you’re going to have all kinds of aches and pains anyways, sometimes from simply sleeping at a weird angle and getting up too fast, so at least with Jiu Jitsu, our bodies are sore for a reason; and we are all that much better because of it.
Fight camp is one of the most grueling experiences an athlete can endure. You are pushed to your limits both mentally and physically. Getting the crap kicked out of you on a daily basis, pushing your cardio limits with training 2-3 times a day, cutting weight, and nonstop rolls. But there is nothing in the world I love more than stepping into the cage. It is my reward for all the hard work I put in. Hard camps make for easy fights and that is what I keep telling myself so I trudge on by. There are always difficulties in our lives and obstacles that will pop up in our way to try and stifle our success or impede our journey. It is how we react to the hardships thrown on our course that will determine whether we rise up to the challenge or succumb to its defeat. I believe we all have the capability of being so strong in our abilities that we can conquer anything, but many of us just need some help with confidence to believe it is so.
Be your own biggest fan and supporter. I can’t tell you how many times I was able to accomplish something just because I believed so strongly that I could. Almost like speaking our truths into reality, we all have the ability to reach new levels of accomplishments that we previously never dreamed possible. No one knows that battles an individual must endure in their lives, and they say that everyone has a story that will break your heart. The greatest thing about the gym is that once you step on the mats, it’s almost like nothing else matters. You are in your happy place and you are there to train and get better and by reflection, make your teammates better as well. Don’t be that person always coming to the gym with complaints about what’s going on in your life, because I promise you, we all have crap that drives us up the wall. Being at the gym is our therapy and it’s our time to forget about life’s little annoyances and enjoy some quality time choking the life out of one another. Be like me and save your complaints for hilarious facebook statuses or chuckle-worthy tweets. Self deprecating humor y’all, am I right?
Sometimes it’s hard, but I try and remember that each day in this life is a gift. So on the days that I’m crying, bleeding, or puking (or let’s be honest, all 3), I try and cherish the fact that others may never get the opportunity I have been given, and what an absolute disgrace it would be for me to waste it. Now, that’s not to say to continue to push yourself until you have a mental breakdown. Sometimes you need to take that lavender epsom salt bath, lock the door away from the kids, pour a glass of wine, and listen to your favorite podcast as you soak, or if you’re a huge nerd like me, read a book while the bubbles engulf your body. Also, surrounding yourself with great people will do wonders for your sanity and self esteem. I have an exceptionally rough weekend of training and fight prep ahead, so I know by Sunday evening I will be clamoring for John to stroke my head while I eat some protein and he tells me I’m beautiful, or something along those lines. Seriously, just imagine a snarling, rabid weasel frothing at the mouth shoving fistfuls of grilled chicken down my gullet and screaming “tell me I’m pretty!” while choking back tears. Boy, he is one lucky man to have locked down this national treasure of a woman believe me. Honestly, it’s the little things in life that can keep one from teetering over the edge.
No matter how rough of a day I have, nothing beats coming home to my super sweet doggo. He doesn’t care how beat up I’m feeling, he doesn’t ever have moody days, all he knows is wagging his tail and licking my face because he missed his mom. Every fighter should invest in a dog, because their love and affection and loyalty will never waver, but only grow exponentially with time. So screw all the nagging pains we suffer through, because it’s unavoidable and Father Time catches up with all of us eventually. Leap past the aches, grievances, and road bumps in your journey and just grind it out. Enjoy the ride and most importantly, take pleasure in the little things in your everyday life that bring you joy. 2019 is the year I will choose to stop focusing on negative energy and embrace those fleeting glimpses that make me smile, or laugh, or feel good. So while I’m sitting here in my Bengay coma, I will leave you with some images from this past week that made me forget about any soreness or self doubt in the hopes that it brightens your day or helps you to reminisce on what gave you some glee through the tribulations.
