For my entire life, I have always challenged myself, and I knew I could accomplish ANYTHING if I wanted to. I wrestled for 37 years, amateur and pro, and I dabbled in MMA training because I wanted to fight. I have been in numerous movies where I did my own stunts.
I’ve always been a physical person. Whether we are ready to admit it or not, there comes a time where our bodies can only take so much. It’s a tough pill to swallow, but then it’s time to hang up the things that have been tough on our bodies. Up until 3 years ago, there was nothing I wouldn’t do. But now that I’m 47 years old, I find myself in a position where it’s no longer what my body can do for me, but what my brain can do for me. Yes! I have a brain, and a high school and college education. I’m not a dumb jock like some may think.
It’s difficult to admit that I can’t “kick ass” like I used to. Don’t get me wrong. I can still “go”, but I need a lot more recovery time. It’s time for change, and I’m okay with that. When you’re young, you feel invincible. I used to train for 10 hours a day, every single day. Now, one hour a day is sufficient. I will continue to train as hard as I can, because I have found out quickly that if I stop pushing myself physically I will lose the physical attributes that God has blessed me with. If you don’t move it, you will lose it. My overall health depends on how active I am and what I utilize to fuel my body, and exercise and proper diet will allow me to live another 40-50 years. So I will keep training. But it’s time for a change because I’m NOT invincible… anymore. So now is the time for me to start thinking about how I can contribute from a cerebral point of view.
Helping my kids accomplish their dreams seems to be the next chapter in my life. And the longer I can do that, the better it will be for my kids. So I expect my life to change dramatically over the next 2 years, and I’m ok with that. It’s just the circle of life, and it’s time for me to “give back”.
So now, it’s about my children, and I need to stay active and healthy to assist them in accomplishing their dreams. I will teach my kids my “never quit” attitude. And they WILL learn it. Then they will take the ball from me and score the touchdown. Hey, that’s life. None of us will remain invincible. But we can teach others our ability to overcome obstacles. And to be honest? It will be lots of fun for me. And that is damn true.
