Semi-Charmed Life

Happy Thanksgiving! – 2011 Edition

Happy Thanksgiving everybody

I am thankful for my health. We don't often stop to think just how fragile we are as humans. Life and health can be taken away from you in an instant. As a person that tries to train 3-5 days a week, I am so thankful that I am blessed with the health and ability to allow me to pursue that type of lifestyle.

I am thankful for the health of my friends and family. It is never a good time when loved ones become ill. When loved ones suffer, it becomes your suffering as well.

I am thankful that I am alive. Every moment on earth is a chance to create an experience.

I am thankful for jiu jitsu. It has given me a certain type of structure and order to my life. Jiu jitsu is a personal journey that revolves around progress and cultivating yourself to be the best you can be. Jiu jitsu teaches humility. It is hard to have an ego when you constantly have these better and more experienced training partners who just demolish you day after day. But as you grow over the years, you can see the improvement in your game, and at points you start falling into the role of a teacher. It's a great feeling to have somebody ask me what move I just pulled off on them. I love sharing whatever little knowledge I have acquired in these past 3 and half years. It's such a fulfilling experience because the more I train, the more I realize just how LITTLE I know. Jiu jitsu is a lifelong journey and there is ALWAYS something new to learn because there will always be someone out there who is better than you who will have something to show you.

I am thankful for the human experience. I never want to lose my sense of wonder and this awe and appreciation of life.

And that's it.

The common theme I've been seeing is that people are just thankful for health, friends and family. And really, that is ALL WE NEED. Material possessions just are not in the equation.

I am not thankful, however, for the two FAT pimples on my nose. I am also not thankful for having to go in to work tomorrow.

Anyway, hope everyone had a grand old time today!

Cheers