Roll the Dice

if you’re going to try, go all the
way.
otherwise, don’t even start.
if you’re going to try, go all the
way.
this could mean losing girlfriends,
wives, relatives, jobs and
maybe your mind.
go all the way.
it could mean not eating for 3 or 4 days.
it could mean freezing on a
park bench.
it could mean jail,
it could mean derision,
mockery,
isolation.
isolation is the gift,
all the others are a test of your
endurance, of
how much you really want to
do it.
and you’ll do it
despite rejection and the worst odds
and it will be better than
anything else
you can imagine.
if you’re going to try,
go all the way.
there is no other feeling like
that.
you will be alone with the gods
and the nights will flame with
fire.
do it, do it, do it.
do it.
all the way
all the way.
you will ride life straight to
perfect laughter, its
the only good fight
there is.

- Charles Bukowski

Training

Well its been a while since Ive posted, but Im back again and feel inspired to share a few thoughts on training. Soon I will be vlogging, got myself a sexy little HD camera and ready to roll.

Part of the warrior journey is about being prepared as we never know what life may bring in the next moment. Sure we can set intentions and allow what may come, but life always seems to have a few surprises up its sleeve, and would you really want it any other way?

At the start of this year I was bumped into by a car leaving me with a mild dislocated shoulder and a not so happy bicycle. My recovery is generally fast, partly due to my beliefs, partly my fitness and also my nutrition, but in this case it took much longer than expected. I began working with Colin from ehsproject and instead of working on my shoulder we began preparing the rest of my body for optimal performace and ultimately a stronger body less prone to injury. Now 10 months later I feel blessed by this injury and stronger and better prepared for my life.

Today we will focus on training the body, though training really encompasses much more - mental, emotional, stress and more. I do tend to mix up my training encorporating yoga, intu flow, cross fit, 300 spartan warrior workouts, gorilla workouts, walks, mountain biking and road cycling, outdoor body weight training and transformetrics. Having a good mix keeps it interesting and stops the body for hitting a plateau. Doing a combination also means I am ready if I choose to run through the bush, go wakeboarding and generally live as much life as possible.

Prior to training it is important to know why you are doing it and prepare yourself mentally. What activites do you love to do? What will prepare you for these? Who can help you?

For many years I trained purely on my own and with friends. I now also see the benefit in employing a trainer or coach to help me get myself to the next level.

What are your top tips for training?

Brotherhood

Today is I write the concept of community, of authenticity and of brotherhood are on my mind. I love having friends in my life who will tell me their honest opinion despite the consequences. It is good having support when I need it, and criticism when I need that. Women often form close bonds that last many years, but for many men they have the guys they go to barbeques and the pub with.

Its time for me to be real men, men who can be themselves going crazy on their latest challenge, or allowing their heart to open and real emotions shine through. Some of the old stereotypes are breaking down, leaving confusion in gender roles and many frustrated and disappointed men. In brotherhoood we can grow to strengthen each other, and better serve the world to completely give our gifts from thus place. In brotherhood we can work our masculine edge, and love women as warriors, not sensitive new age guys.

As I go through the challenges of a life served on the edge, prepared to risk it all for true freedom, I am blessed and truly grateful for the brotherhood around me.

Namaste

Change

Change is inevitable - right! But can be super annoying when not the change we want.

Today Lee and I headed off for another board room meeting, aka mountain biking at Terry Hills. This is one of our favourite rides as it flows with enough physical exercion plus technical challenge to keep us interested. It certainly doesn't feel like exercise to me even though we are working like machines.

So back to the change... Today we rode the start of the track all going great and then we came to a section where a bulldozer was knocking down a tree (fortunately we noticed this and avoided) plus the track from then was smooth. Not quite as smooth as a baby's bottom but smooth enough to make the ride a little boring. Frustrating when change like this happens and is out of our control.

Anyway felt a rant in order, and yes we did speak to the guy in the bulldozer (Lee mostly) and turns out there is valid reasoning behind this process to avoid run off from track going in to the bush etc. Seems the state forest are cashed up and taking lots of action.

What I have noticed in life is there are so many agendas. The track is used by walkers, mountain bikers, hopefully dirt bikers (to tear up the track and make more challenging) and ultimately firefighters.

I guess its not that big a deal when potentially a life may be saved from this work, but hoping it gets rough fast anyway.

Oh and while Im writing I think this was the closest I have seen Lee come to crying.

Connecting with nature

Tonight I had spent the afternoon connecting with Christie, and catching up on paperwork that required my attention. The rest of the day was delivering the boxes as part of the http://sydney.foodconnect.com.au/ project. Feels good to be part of a group with a mission that makes a difference.

Lately my exercise has been mountain biking, walking, yoga, some cross fit and recovery exercises and stretches for my shoulder. Very minimal running. It had been raining and I felt inspired to head out for a run. Barefoot trail running felt right and I headed down the street until I met the trail. It started as a gentle massage on my feet as I felt my way along the trail, brushing my face against damp branches and lungs beginning to deepen with each breath as my body warmed up. The gentle massage became intense as the path became covered in small rocks, staying present and continuing to run was a challenge. I focused and meditated on the feeling, and continued feeling my way beyond the senses and finding a flow amongst the rocks that mostly worked. After a while I was running as fast as I would have been in runners, and feeling connected with the great one, with mother nature and super aware and present.

My business partner recently corrected me describing my time in nature as "time out", he articulated that for me it is an essential or "time in". This is my meditation. My centering. My chance to discover all I need to know. My freedom.

What is your "time in"? Having time in or time for ourselves is super important and I recommend booking it in with the same priority we give to our work or business.

Good luck on the warrior path, it is the most challenging but the most rewarding!