I've had so much idle time I decided to update the about me on my FB page, this is what I wrote. Big thanks to Eddie. I bought Jiu Jitsu unleashed when I first started doing bjj because I sucked at half guard. He seemed like a cool guy so I listened to him speak on TAGG radio (w/ Frank Trigg). When I heard he was friends with Joe Rogan I started listening to the JRE episodes with Eddie and Joe. I mostly only wanted to hear them talk about bjj and mma, but I couldn't fast forward in an effective way. Then, I started listening to all the other JRE episodes. I think i've learned more for the JRE than anything else. I'm really glad people like Eddie and Joe talk about what it is like to be a young man so openly. I feel like we get to start off from the point that took them years of hard work.
I see humans as the wild card in the universe. The card with the power of a second chance, where misfortune can be turned into the ultimate success in this cosmic game of chance we call existence.
I feel like I've always believed in the importance of human life because I think that one person has the power to positively impact the entire course of human history. We all have this power in us. I believe there is hope for every single individual on earth. I think every person is capable improving themselves to a point that was thought to be scientifically unattainable.
I am driven by an undying optimism. A full-fledged belief that good will prevail over evil, that right will triumph over wrong. That at our core, we are all good, beautiful and magnificent. Unfortunately we lose sight of this core. I have. But it is always there. I have learned that ridding yourself of the insecurities that prevent you from being kind and empathetic is the first step in the proper approach to every single problem I have faced.
I have never let the limits on the human body limit my belief in the power of the human spirit. I believe there is no limit to our courage and our determination. The human body gets its strength from the human mind. While we might not be that impressive physically, our control center makes us world beaters.
I think the most powerful fact about the universe is that we were given the ability to express the ideas in our consciousness with physical forms such as language, art, emotions, facial expressions and physical acts. I believe this ability evolved so that, for the first time, the universe can begin to understand itself. For the first time, the universe cannot be described by a set of physical laws. I believe we have the power to steer the nature and future of the cosmos.
I believe intelligent life is relatively common throughout the universe. With the advancement of technology, this mere speculation will one day prove to be common knowledge. I think that is the purpose of technology: to allow human beings to accurately understand the world and each other such that we will discover that we are all a part of the same universe, and that the universe is a part of us. When we see that we are all united, as I think we will, the evils that have plagued human existence will be a forgotten history. When we see the world, not as individuals, but as a species, injustice, hate and suffering will be among the first casualties.
I think humor is one of the most important human abilities. I think I'm hilarious. There is almost no point in any given day where I am not thinking about something funny. I haven't figured out the purpose of humor, but I don't know if humans could have survived on earth without it. I don’t think I could have.
I find genuine enjoyment in some of the most mundane things. One of my favorite things to do in the world is walking. Each step brings a different thought and connection to the world I live in and the body I have been born into. I have a close relationship with music and have formed some of my beliefs about the world based on the power of certain influential songs.
The single most important thing I have ever done is to seek an education. Initially, I might have been more concerned with degrees or prestige. But, at around 19 years old I set out on a journey to learn about the world and myself via the Bakersfield Community College Philosophy Department. I have been fortunate to discuss some of the great minds the world has ever known with professors that exemplify what an education should be. It hasn't been disappointing yet. My education has turned out to be something completely different than I ever expected. It has taken twists and turns that were often terrifying and unwelcomed. At almost every point in my education, I can point to people who believed in this journey so much more than me, they were willing to provide the resources and encouragement to a long haired Hispanic kid from a town so insignificant, it is left off any reputable map.
At this point, I think the most educational thing I can do is to take the time to know and understand the interesting people around me. Via the Joe Rogan Experience podcast, I have been fortunate to encounter some of the smartest and most fascinating people in the world. What is even more astounding is that without such technology, I would have never even known many of these people exist. This fact gives me nothing but eager anticipation to learn more about potential strangers that lie ahead in my path.
Thus far, I've made a lot of mistakes. Mistakes that at times seem irreconcilable with my faith in humanity. What's more, I realize that I am bound to make many more mistakes before my time on earth is up. To anyone who has ever suffered because of my choices or existence, I am truly sorry. Ultimately, my intention is that people who know me will be genuinely happy that I entered their lives. To anyone who has made me suffer, I forgive you. For me to not forgive the mistakes of others would be the definition of a hypocrite. Further, I know without such experiences, I never would have become the man that I am today. The only penance I recommend for mistakes is to be honest to yourself about the consequences of your actions and to analyze the moral worth of your character from an objective point of view. I believe this will yield more powerful results than any form of punishment.
I think we have only scratched the surface in terms of our knowledge about the universe. At this point in our short existence, our duty is not to find certainty, we cannot do that yet. Our duty is not to tell others how they should live their lives, we cannot do that yet either. But, we can encourage the pursuit of knowledge and foster the spirit of wonder in young minds. We can teach young people that they are valuable, not because they have a set of external qualities that will come and go during their lives, but because each of us is an equally important participant in the universe. All of our minds, works and contributions contribute to solidify our role in the universe. Through this collective effort, and after generations of advancement in technology, humans will be able to understand the universe on a level that was never thought to be attainable. Like I do as I write this, they will thank the generations that lived years and years ago when humans were limited to a flying rock in space called Earth so that the wonder and marvel of intelligent life could persist.
Beyond that, I have learned a fair amount about Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. One day, I hope to teach others about the benefits of the martial arts.
I see humans as the wild card in the universe. The card with the power of a second chance, where misfortune can be turned into the ultimate success in this cosmic game of chance we call existence.
I feel like I've always believed in the importance of human life because I think that one person has the power to positively impact the entire course of human history. We all have this power in us. I believe there is hope for every single individual on earth. I think every person is capable improving themselves to a point that was thought to be scientifically unattainable.
I am driven by an undying optimism. A full-fledged belief that good will prevail over evil, that right will triumph over wrong. That at our core, we are all good, beautiful and magnificent. Unfortunately we lose sight of this core. I have. But it is always there. I have learned that ridding yourself of the insecurities that prevent you from being kind and empathetic is the first step in the proper approach to every single problem I have faced.
I have never let the limits on the human body limit my belief in the power of the human spirit. I believe there is no limit to our courage and our determination. The human body gets its strength from the human mind. While we might not be that impressive physically, our control center makes us world beaters.
I think the most powerful fact about the universe is that we were given the ability to express the ideas in our consciousness with physical forms such as language, art, emotions, facial expressions and physical acts. I believe this ability evolved so that, for the first time, the universe can begin to understand itself. For the first time, the universe cannot be described by a set of physical laws. I believe we have the power to steer the nature and future of the cosmos.
I believe intelligent life is relatively common throughout the universe. With the advancement of technology, this mere speculation will one day prove to be common knowledge. I think that is the purpose of technology: to allow human beings to accurately understand the world and each other such that we will discover that we are all a part of the same universe, and that the universe is a part of us. When we see that we are all united, as I think we will, the evils that have plagued human existence will be a forgotten history. When we see the world, not as individuals, but as a species, injustice, hate and suffering will be among the first casualties.
I think humor is one of the most important human abilities. I think I'm hilarious. There is almost no point in any given day where I am not thinking about something funny. I haven't figured out the purpose of humor, but I don't know if humans could have survived on earth without it. I don’t think I could have.
I find genuine enjoyment in some of the most mundane things. One of my favorite things to do in the world is walking. Each step brings a different thought and connection to the world I live in and the body I have been born into. I have a close relationship with music and have formed some of my beliefs about the world based on the power of certain influential songs.
The single most important thing I have ever done is to seek an education. Initially, I might have been more concerned with degrees or prestige. But, at around 19 years old I set out on a journey to learn about the world and myself via the Bakersfield Community College Philosophy Department. I have been fortunate to discuss some of the great minds the world has ever known with professors that exemplify what an education should be. It hasn't been disappointing yet. My education has turned out to be something completely different than I ever expected. It has taken twists and turns that were often terrifying and unwelcomed. At almost every point in my education, I can point to people who believed in this journey so much more than me, they were willing to provide the resources and encouragement to a long haired Hispanic kid from a town so insignificant, it is left off any reputable map.
At this point, I think the most educational thing I can do is to take the time to know and understand the interesting people around me. Via the Joe Rogan Experience podcast, I have been fortunate to encounter some of the smartest and most fascinating people in the world. What is even more astounding is that without such technology, I would have never even known many of these people exist. This fact gives me nothing but eager anticipation to learn more about potential strangers that lie ahead in my path.
Thus far, I've made a lot of mistakes. Mistakes that at times seem irreconcilable with my faith in humanity. What's more, I realize that I am bound to make many more mistakes before my time on earth is up. To anyone who has ever suffered because of my choices or existence, I am truly sorry. Ultimately, my intention is that people who know me will be genuinely happy that I entered their lives. To anyone who has made me suffer, I forgive you. For me to not forgive the mistakes of others would be the definition of a hypocrite. Further, I know without such experiences, I never would have become the man that I am today. The only penance I recommend for mistakes is to be honest to yourself about the consequences of your actions and to analyze the moral worth of your character from an objective point of view. I believe this will yield more powerful results than any form of punishment.
I think we have only scratched the surface in terms of our knowledge about the universe. At this point in our short existence, our duty is not to find certainty, we cannot do that yet. Our duty is not to tell others how they should live their lives, we cannot do that yet either. But, we can encourage the pursuit of knowledge and foster the spirit of wonder in young minds. We can teach young people that they are valuable, not because they have a set of external qualities that will come and go during their lives, but because each of us is an equally important participant in the universe. All of our minds, works and contributions contribute to solidify our role in the universe. Through this collective effort, and after generations of advancement in technology, humans will be able to understand the universe on a level that was never thought to be attainable. Like I do as I write this, they will thank the generations that lived years and years ago when humans were limited to a flying rock in space called Earth so that the wonder and marvel of intelligent life could persist.
Beyond that, I have learned a fair amount about Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. One day, I hope to teach others about the benefits of the martial arts.
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