The Pursuit of Fulfillment

So as some of you might have noticed, I have been quite busy lately! Just trying to get my life together. These past few weeks have been a series of huge ups (and not necessarily downs), and serious reflection. At times, its easier to keep busy, rather than to contemplate about life ;). This post is going to be a bit of a tangent, so bear with me…I have a lot going on and I want to release it!

I have high standards. But damn my friends have a ridiculous amount of faith in me, which results in at times,what it feels like, infeasable results. However, its a refreshing to know that they believe in me, and my abilities. Though its a bit overwhelming, I feel good when they do push me. Ohh the pressure to excel. I’m just scared that I won’t meet their expectations. Again, this goes back to my post about overbearing feelings: The War Zone. On one hand I want to continue proving them right, by pushing myself, and on the other hand, I just want to show that I struggle as well, even if its in a different way. SOMETIMES ALL I WANT IS A HUG! …and none of those crappy side hugs, I only befriend people who give real, teddy bear-like hugs.

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Sometimes life is like a tide. Extremely overwhelming, and full of emotion. But at the end of the day, its how you interpret the situation. Did it come in and destroy, or has it given you the opportunity to rebuild yourself, even stronger? Did it give you the strength reach out your hand to help another, when you wouldn’t have done so previously?

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As I was training the other day one of my buddies said “Life is a series of failures.” Part of me agreed, but I cringed at the word failure. So, being the damn optimist that I am, I challenged him. But, I couldn’t really give a good answer on what my definition of success is. He proceeded with:

“What, are you comfortable with your desk job??”

It kind of offended me a tiny bit, at first. How dare he say that when he knows I’m always trying to better myself! There’s more to life than just work! Hahaha. Anyways, I’ll probably never be truly content, but some people may be perfectly fine/blessed with having a desk job. What if I were one of those people? I would be even more offended! Of course all this occurred to me in the shower…after the fact…as always :p So, what DO I define as success?

For me, the definition of success varies among different individuals.

I believe that success is being the strongest version of yourself as possible. And I believe that success is shaping your life for the betterment of society, always sacrificing yourself to help others. I want to have the ability to enter into someone’s life at any given moment, and touch them in a positive way. Whether only for a moment, or befriending them for their entire life.

I am only 24 years young, I haven’t even begun to grasp the struggles and responsibilities that many have to bear. The importance of caring for a child. The struggles of scrounging for every penny to pay for a mortgage. The horribly crippling feeling of losing someone you love. The quest of happiness and success is a long and never ending road. But I do know, at least for me, that happiness comes in the simplest of forms. Pure feelings, and human emotion. In other words, that warm, fuzzy feeling. 😉

I’m uncertain about how to go about the next phases of my life…all I know is I have to keep moving forward. Which is, many times, the hardest part.

What have you all been up to lately? My fellow Martial Arts enthusiasts, athletes, and optimists? Do you have any wise words of wisdom for me through these times?