Living the Dream

Wednesdays and Fridays I take a lunchtime Jiu Jitsu class at Lange’s MMA, at North Manly. Wednesday is no gi, Friday gi.

Jiu Jitsu always resets my mood. If it’s a warm day, or sometimes even when it isn’t, the beach is a short drive away, and that makes the day even better.

Most times I go to North Curl Curl or Freshwater, and most often with Luca Altea. Other occasions Sean Quilter, Big Stu “Gut Rupture”Morton, Paul Stelfox, or Sonny Brown have joined us. If I’m on my own, I might go to North Curl Curl and do some sandhill sprints before I swim.

That’s what I’m talking about

Sonny, Luca and I swam at North Curl Curl on the 2017 winter solstice, the shortest day of the year. Probably not the coldest. Definitely not the warmest.

Entering the water is an electrifying but pleasant assault on the senses. Bright sunshine, waves crashing on the shore, the shock of the cool water in your skin, the salt spray in the air, and on your tongue and in your nostrils.

A natural ice bath, aiding recovery, washing away the sweat, maybe a few bodysurfing waves too.

Out of the ocean, now a cold shower with fresh water – usually colder than the ocean.

Fresh, we dry off, change, and chat for a while.

Luca says to me one day, “When we do this, Jiu Jitsu and a swim, I feel like I’m living the dream!”

It’s true. For those few hours I’m doing exactly what I want to do, nothing more, but nothing less.

I realize I am even more fortunate to be more or less financially independent with a comfortable home and a wonderful wife. Even if we’re getting older day by day. Life rocks.

Those countless Facebook ads trying to sell you the lifestyle with oodles of first class travel, huge boats, Lamborghinis, non-stop parties on tropical island beaches, and the rest, set the bar too high.

Pleasant days or even minutes doing exactly what you want are the fulfillment of dreams. Aim high, but don’t discount the temporary paradise that appears right before you, however fleetingly.