When I was younger, I bought a lot of books. I'd read a few chapters, scribbling notes in the margins, only to lose interest and move on to newer books that seemed to offer better solutions. Recently, I picked up some of those older books with the intent of finishing them. The notes I left behind often reflected goals, like having 10 steady clients or owning a home by 25. Not unreasonable goals, but I think if I’d finished the books, my goals might have changed. It’s clear to me now at 20, I was focused on what I would have rather than what I would do.
What would 25-year-old me have done with a home other than sleep in it and make a mess? It would’ve been a burden. Reading these notes now, I see how some of my priorities were mixed up, like I was racing to accomplish things for appearances—as if they would make me successful in my unconventional career path. What I did get right back then was focusing on building skills, but if I had finished the books, I would’ve realized that doing is more important than having.
The pictures below are from some random days at jiu jitsu. I’ve been bringing my camera to classes occasionally, just to capture the memories. One thing I love about jiu jitsu is that most of us go just to go. Most don’t compete. Like many sports, it’s for the sake of doing—for the love of movement, overcoming struggle, and, most importantly, constant learning. Unlike books that inspire us to make plans, jiu jitsu is about action. It’s a constant practice of learning, doing, and improving. In that way, jiu jitsu, like life, is less about what you have and more about what you do.
