Yesterday morning I took a Jiu Jitsu class.  My good friend & training partner, Tony, teaches at my school once a week.  He asked the class if they remembered the move he had taught the week before.  Even though many of them were there and Tony tried to explain it, they barely remembered it at all.  I, being the seasoned veteran I am, boldly declared that I remembered the move, which was a guard pass.

Tony picked me to be his dummy and began to review the details of the move with the class.  He was barely two steps into the demonstration when I realized I had forgotten numerous details.  I knew the idea of the move, but as far as the details, I was lost. Thank God I did not have to show it!

@YinVsYang we always write about the power of the spirit.  Well, tonight, I learned a little more about the spirit world than I ever have before.  As a matter of fact, I was completely and utterly moved by a story my mother told me.  It really got me thinking afterward about all sorts of stuff.

So I figured I would share.

My mother has owned a Nursery School for almost 18 years.  She has had many wonderful Teachers and Aids over the years that I have gotten to meet.  One of those was a woman named Jean, who also happened to have two daughters I went to high school with.  Well, sadly, a few months ago, Jean died of cancer in her fifties, leaving behind her two daughters, a husband, and her own mother.  Being that she was so young, it was obviously very hard on the family.

In Jiu Jitsu, life is all made pretty clear right on the mat.  You can always tell if a new guy is going to last by the way they handle competition.  Those who thrive on winning, and throw temper tantrums when they lose, never last too long.  Instead of learning the most consistent ways to be effective, they spend the entire time trying to find cheap, lucky ways to win.

The people who last in Jiu Jitsu typically react to winning and losing exactly the same.  If you looked at their face right after a match, you wouldn’t be able to tell the outcome.  They lose, they move on.  They win, they move on.  Either way, they are just happy to be competing.

In today’s rough economy, every expense can be a burden.  It can be tough choosing which expenses to cut.  One of the toughest expenses to decide on can be your gym membership.  Staying in shape is good for your health, and that can make your gym membership feel like a necessity.  However, in actuality, your membership is really a luxury because there are countless ways to work out without ever going to a gym.

When it comes to staying fit, money should never be an issue.

On that note, I’ve come up with 7 ways to stay in shape and save that monthly gym membership fee.  Not only that, but mixing all 7 ways into your workout routine will actually be 100x better for your body than a continued routine at the gym.  Now, some of my suggestions cost some minor money, but it is nothing compared with a monthly membership.  For example, you can’t do a kettle bell routine without kettle bells.  Therefore, I’ve also broken it down by cost.

I read an article on Yahoo the other day about how another 100 brand new species were discovered recently. I was intrigued that so many new species could be discovered in today’s technologically advanced world. Doing some further research, I learned a shocking piece of news:

In real life, nearly 15,000 to 20,000 new species are discovered each year. According to a recent report from IISE and its partners, 2006 saw 16,969 species named-the first time in scientific literature. (from here)

Think about it. In 2008, even after the invention of all this modern technology that is rapidly shrinking the world, over 15,000 new species are discovered each year. That’s right, over 15,000 and I’m not just talking about some remote, hidden species. This includes frogs, bats, plants, insects, fish, dinosaurs and more. Last year, a brand new species of mushrooms were discovered on Imperial College’s campus in London, right under everyone’s nose!

Growing up, I was always taught to do my best.  Although I did not handle losing very well, I loved to compete in just about anything.  As I grew older, I learned that I had to work harder and smarter than the next man if I wanted to get ahead in life.  It was a constant competition.  Now, however, I realize that times have changed.  In this day and age, getting ahead is all about cooperation, and nothing about competition.

The world has opened up itself to us.  In the last 10 years, China has become a major market and world trade has become more lucrative than ever.  With the internet especially, you never know where your market will come from.  I have a friend who is a big hit with his website in a small section of Canada.  He has never been there, nor does he look or sound Canadian.  But for some reason, he appeals to them.

This past weekend, I was in Cape May, New Jersey for the first time.  What a beautiful, wonderful place pulsating with history.  A little known fact about Cape May is it is the only ‘entire’ town to be declared a historic landmark in all of the USA.

Cape May is also a beautiful beach town and America’s first summer getaway.  Perfectly located where the Delaware Bay feeds into the Atlantic Ocean, it is a town that benefits tremendously from its thriving sea ports. It was at one of these where my wife and I purchased tickets to take a boat out to see dolphins and other animal life.  The tour took us out of the cape and through the nutrient rich waters off the southern tip of NJ, until we finally found a group of dolphins.

Sometimes we can forget what’s really important in life.

It’s meeting people like John Challis that helps put things back into perspective.  His message is Courage + Believe= Life.  It is a message we should all live by every day of our lives.  So go ahead and watch the video, but be forewarned:

Meeting John Challis will definitely change your perspective on life.

America is a giant competitive country built on a dream.  Any person has a chance to make a fortune and everyone is chasing it, especially where I live in the Northeast.  While being financially sound is a necessary goal, the path to getting there may not be as clear.  As a matter of fact, I believe it is hidden for good reason.  But instead of chasing the dollar, what if you could make the money find you?  Sounds crazy?  Maybe not.

Let’s break it down to basics.  You grow up, leave your nest (some earlier than others), and are forced to sink or swim.  Each of us have many options and ways of making money.  What happens is, we tend to focus on the short term.  I need $2000 for expenses this month, therefore where can i get a job making $2000 or more.  Though this seems logical, and it may very well be, but it is extremely short sighted.

Today, after training this morning, I was driving home by myself.  My Jiu Jitsu school is located about a good 25 minutes away from my house.  The ride is quiet, through the backroads and farmland of North Brunswick, Jamesburg, Monroe Township, and Englishtown NJ.  There is not much to see except some old houses and lots of empty land.

I had the radio off and my mind was just wondering.  I was trying to drive and type in some notes on my phone to remember some of the thoughts I had.  This is not recommended.  However, it got me thinking.  Most of my blog ideas, my creative inspirations, and all sorts of ideas, come to me during my alone time.