Caveat: This article is mine and mine alone. I the author of this article assure you, the reader, that any of the opinions expressed here are my own and are a result of the way in which my meandering mind interprets a particular situation and/or concept. The views expressed here are solely those of the author in his private capacity and do not in any way represent the views of other martial arts and/or conflict/violence professionals or authors of source materials. It should be quite obvious that the sources I used herein have not approved, endorsed, embraced, friended, liked, tweeted or authorized this article. (Everything I think and write is true, within the limits of my knowledge and understanding. Oh, and just because I wrote it and just because it sounds reasonable and just because it makes sense, does not mean it is true.)
Please make note that this article/post is my personal analysis of the subject and the information used was chosen or picked by me. It is not an analysis piece because it lacks complete and comprehensive research, it was not adequately and completely investigated and it is not balanced, i.e., it is my personal view without the views of others including subject experts, etc. Look at this as “Infotainment rather then expert research.” This is an opinion/editorial article/post meant to persuade the reader to think, decide and accept or reject my premise. It is an attempt to cause change or reinforce attitudes, beliefs and values as they apply to martial arts and/or self-defense. It is merely a commentary on the subject in the particular article presented.
I have done a lot in my life, not as much as some but a lot more than most!
I am a Marine. I am not on active duty because my active duty spanned from 02.72 to 12/81. When I reached the age of consent I didn’t hesitate even one moment, I joined up. There was no draft anymore and the Viet Nam conflict was winding down and would end in 74. While on active duty any and all goals and objectives were taken on quickly and accomplished at a level commensurate to a gung-ho Marine. I did well and as a result achieved grade increases up to E-6, in about six and a half years of service. When I decided, without regret or hesitation, to begin a new career I was actually getting my pictures taken for consideration to the grade of E-7 (Gunnery Sergeant of Marines).
As I pursued my career as a civilian and a civil servant working special jobs for the Navy I didn’t hesitate to volunteer and get the job done, I didn’t hesitate to accept all challenges when presented and a lot of times jumped up to the plate to swing away when others hesitated. I was a gung-ho civil servant who achieved grade increases to both the WG-10 and the GS-11 levels when I retired in 1979.
Then I saw an opportunity to gain employment with a major University and I ran up to the plate once again and swung away. I did the job, did it well and received recognition commensurate to the level I achieved as a supervisor for a new group of release engineering for application migrations for Enterprise oriented programs and applications.
During my early years one of the disciplines I ran up to and embraced was in the arena of martial arts. I did that as early as 76 and still practice and train and study today almost forth years later and there is no end in sight.
Here is the rub, I don’t hesitate and I get the job done but here in the last few years I have hesitated. I wanted to get into a few things but this time I stopped, considered, evaluated and then decided against taking on those disciplines. I continue to study in that type of system but regarding some specifics I hesitated and rejected taking them on even tho I am absolutely sure I would have, could have and in all probability held up my inclination to take on and get the job done attitude and philosophy.
I have to wonder why I decided, either I did it consciously and don’t remember or I did it subconsciously, to take extra time to consider what it was I was headed into and the price I would need to pay whereby I would, thankfully for in a lot of cases I felt I could not refuse, etc., then either reject or accept that self-assigned assignment.
Example: I love my practice of martial karate and I love the study and practice of self-defense if for no other reason than the academic ability to convey such information on to others who might have a need for it but not truly understand the depth and breadth of something like self-defense martial arts. I wanted to enhance my current abilities in MA by taking up another system but after a little consideration toward various factors of my current situation I decided to reject that idea. Needless to say, due to my life as a Marine (active and inactive) I sometimes go back to reconsider that decision if for no other reason than because I would not have rejected that before these last few years.
So, I contemplated, without regrets, my new life philosophy and find myself content to consider things in my life, at this stage. I consider part of my change comes from some of the repercussions of decisions I made in my younger years where my body, mind and spirit prefer to take a different track or road that results in less, “Stress so to speak.” I guess I am looking at it from a “Retirement” perception and perspective.
I am happy with that, OhRahhhh! I am happy that what I have done and accomplished is, “Not as much as some but a whole lot more than most.” That seems pretty good to me and I accept that. (Hey, I am sixty-one years young and deserve a break :-) )
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