A big dog GOOD MORNING!!! to you all! Yup, watching the “grandchild” dog. Big ass St. Ber-doodle. Big ass dog is what it is! The things we parents do.
Free For All Friday Ed-vise today. Cause it’s FRIDAY! OPEN MAT; PIZZA NIGHT BABY!
Gonna wrap up this weeks with a positive. Something of a feel good for you all. That way you can go into the weekend, hopefully feeling a bit better about life.
When I was relatively new in Ju Jitsu we had an event down in So. Cal. It was my first event that I had been to outside of the big national convention that the AJJF puts on annually.
Prior to going you had to fill out this application and pay a fee. The application had all the usual questions and blanks. Name, address, phone, emergency contacts. Then, down at the bottom, just before the signature line, there was a spot with the following question: Do you have any special needs?
Great question. Usually for things like diet restrictions or meds or whatever.
I put in…A Hug.
After a few weeks, I went to the event. I arrived after the first night, arriving the following morning. I pulled my car up and parked. Got out and changed into my gi. It was early because people were still eating breakfast and getting around.
As I walked up, I saw my coach with a bit of a grin. Then, I was approached by one of the black belts who had big open arms and yelled “Ed!” Then he gave me a hug.
Thinking it was going to be the regular, short hug, I readily embraced him back.
But, he didn’t let go. He held it. Then, he held it longer. Then, he kept the hug EVEN LONGER! Just when I thought he would let it go, he held it for a bit more.
Holy Shit! That was a long hug!
In fact, all weekend I received hugs like that. Extra, EXtra, EXTra, EXTRa, EXTRA LONG!
The host of the conference, at the end when we were bowing out asked me “did I get enough hugs?” I certainly did! It was AWESOME, and a bit weird. But AWESOME in the end!
In this day and age, things seem a bit hostile. We, as people, seem a bit indifferent to each other. Sometimes bordering on hateful. Perhaps, we need to give a hug a bit more often. If not that, maybe just a kind word.
At Starbucks this morning, I held the door open for a person walking in behind me. She said to me “Thank you. I appreciate you!” Holy shit! I appreciate you! Try a nice word this weekend. Let’s see if we can bring down everyone’s “Fun Meter.” What do we have to lose.
I’m just saying
That’s it for today. Take care of yourselves. Check in on each other and remember the difference between a well dressed man on a tricycle and a well dressed man on a bicycle is…ATTIRE! HAHAHAHAHAHA…
Peace
Ed-vise 