Perspective

That one word changes everything. It changes how we view our past, how we live our present, and who we can become in the future. Because we either view it all as prologue and opportunity or pain and struggle. That choice is yours.

If you are reading this from your $1000 phone scrolling through pictures of friends and strangers selling you visions of their “best lives” you do so from a place of privilege. We all have some form of privilege, of varying degree. The degree by which we do is for sociologists, politicians, and twitter to discuss. But we must all accept that just having choice is a privilege. Having choice means we aren’t relegated to where we are.

Today I reflect on a night before Covid when I had the opportunity to clean the mats at WMMA, my Jiu Jitsu gym. It had been a while. I used to stay and clean most nights I trained. My schedule was different, workload was different, and a million other reasons. I had forgotten how meaningful quiet time alone in that room is. Time spent cleaning up the blood, sweat, and tears (mostly tears) that are the byproduct of our journey of self-exploration. Growth is a privilege and I choose training as the tool to help facilitate. Training the mind, the body, and the spirit. On the mats. In the weight room. In books. And in therapy. It’s all training.

Another night I stood in marvel at my privilege to do the dishes after dinner. At a point in my early 20s I was facing a potential 25 year prison sentence. If things had cut a different direction in that trial, if things had gone a different way, I might still be in prison today. So I take pride in being lucky enough to clean my own dishes in my own apartment. Free to come and go as I please. Even in a time of perceived “lockdown” I feel free.

Look at your life. Look at your privilege. Look at your perspective. And decide on your person. You can be anyone you want to be. Not anything. No, we can’t all be astronauts. But you can be who you want to be. That’s on you.