I have a pain in the neck. Actually it’s more along my left temple and it’s coming from a molar. I should have it removed in a week or two depending my my insurance and my medicine man’s schedule. We’re all at the mercy of our own frailties.
Several years ago I asked myself why I was interested in buying the Navy SEAL workout video from somebody who probably wasn’t in the Navy. Maybe he was. But I did like the idea that I wouldn’t have to spend money on a gym membership. Little did I know that I’m not really motivated for my own benefit. I eventually joined a gym and grew to be one of the old farts that helped motivate everybody else by being old and decrepit yet still giving 110%. It was mutually motivating. I can still easily do five pullups by myself, but that’s about all. I get bored. After all, what am I trying to prove? Nothing really.
In this video, filmed in December of 2022, I ramble on about what it looks like to be philosophical about that motivation. It’s about two years out of date, and I’m happy to say that I am right at 185 where I’ve always wanted to be, but now I’m thinking maybe 175 plus some jiu jitsu. Maybe I’m crazy. But when I looked at this video, there’s a very interesting part about Monster Kody which echoes what I’ve long known about getting one’s ass kicked. If you listened to the recent interview by Lex Fridman of Dana White, president of the UFC you may remember that part.
There is nothing so real and life altering as knowing you have been completely and totally defeated in a fight. I have not but I’ve been close - enough times to understand it fully. Fortunately for me they have been fair fights (mostly). The unfair fights were against Crips, one of which I walked away bloody but unbowed. The other I was rescued by the chance of friends walking nearby who were known to my Crip assailant. That fight ended before it started. Most fights I’ve been in both of us fight until exhaustion. There have never been knives or sticks. I will not ever again take for granted that there will not be weapons. I may be crazy but I’m not stupid.
My problem is that I haven’t been to a boxing gym or dojo recently where I am reminded how fragile I am. Not since March of 2020. I hang around too many affluent poofs of the Manhattan or Manhattan Beach varieties. Maybe I’ll remedy this and start wearing contact lenses more often. Anyway, enjoy