Replying to Avatar mcshane

lot of people in my life say they want to try jiu jitsu/ mma / etc but won’t commit to a trial class when offered.

the first time i ever went to a boxing gym I just sat in my car in the parking lot, severely out of shape, drug addicted, broke. I wasn’t there to meet anyone. no one knew i was there. I didn’t know anyone there. I didn’t know why I was there. I didn’t go inside.

But for me to even pull up to a gym for the first time was passing a hurdle that changed my life. the next day I held my self accountable, and returned. I just watched. The day after that I put on some borrowed gloves and participated. demonstrable intent, embracing failure.

I’ve built on that slowly. defeating core limiting beliefs by degrees. The gains have been exponential over time, tho many ups and downs. I’m not a world champion in anything, but I have learned how to learn, and embrace new and uncomfortable lifestyles & communities. Learned a lot, failed even more, but importantly just ever broadening my human experience.

My point is try new things. Say yes to people. Erase your calendar. Go camping alone. Go on a blind date. Move to thailand. You can do whatever the fuck you want in this life. Quit your job. Go broke. Take a salsa class. Volunteer at a halfway house. Talk to strangers. Buy a boat. Spray paint something. Just don’t become complacent and too comfortable. embrace, Don’t waste this inexplicable existence.

If your ambitions outpace your ability, and you are showing up for life. you can’t lose.

no need to broadcast or virtue signal that you intend to do or start something to feed your ego or mask a social insecurity. no need to be successful in the eyes of others. catch myself doing these a lot honestly.

but important to remember it’s you vs you. Others can serve as occasional benchmarks or inspiration, but how you push to improve yourself when no one is around is the only relevant measure of progress.

so just go do that new thing. enjoy it, enjoy the new people you meet and the learning process 🤙 oss

-photo from my first week of boxing, 2019

Great post 💜🫂🫡

The two years I spent learning boxing were the best time for me to recover both physically and mentally. The weekly sparring sessions always made me feel nervous yet excited, stepping into the ring and putting on protective gear with my friends at the gym to spar. After each sparring session, we would share a smile and a hug, feeling grateful to be alive.

A few of us participated in boxing competitions, getting knocked down but always getting back up to continue fighting. The roars and cheers from outside the ring, pushing us forward until the moment of victory, was incredibly exhilarating. That kind of happiness is indescribable. If given the opportunity,

I would recommend everyone try learning boxing and experiencing sparring. It’s a feeling that’s hard to put into words.

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