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Big Bear
12-27-2008, 04:58 AM
When I was a child I loved watching Mickey Mantle,Wilt Chamberlain,and Dick Butkiss.

These men were my hero's.As I stepped up to the plate as a young child I imagined the World Series being on the line as I clutched the bat tightly in my small hands and spit sun flower seeds on the desert floor of Arizona.

Though I swam in winter,I imagined as I played street basketball,jumping high over the other players to dunk the ball with emphasis.

I played Middle linebacker all because of my hero Dick Butkiss.I could not stand still before the play,watching with intensity any changes in formation,watching feet of linemen and eyes of the quarterback that might give away the play.It always felt good sacking the quarterback,and at times picking out mud or turf imagining I was on Soldier Field.

We all need mentors and heroes.This striving to be just a little better is as old as time.In ancient days our ancestors sat around the fire telling stories of old to inspire,to dream about,to put the forge of imagination to use and to feel the rivelets of sweat in pursuit of legendary status.

Many have come here,somewhat broken down a bit.Tired,having watched some dreams come and go but still having the forge open for business.Others like our younger brother Nathan have come for mentorship and are soon to become giants having stepped on the shoulders of giants in the physical culture world.

Before the Old year ends and the New year beggins I can't help but reflect a little.What exactly has my experience been like this year continuing to learn the ways of my Mentor John Peterson?What gains have I made?What progress do I note?What stories to tell around the proverbial fire?

I have found in Transformetrics a system that has helped me to synthesize all the teachings I have had from past teachers.In essence for me the very simpling of notions has allowed me to see more distantly into the potential of human experience.Pains seem to be less evident,endurance much higher,strength-like a young man in many ways.Much deeper still is the reflection into this very experience.When I hit the matt now it is very sacred,it is like a mini vision quest,it is the story unfolding that dances near the brightness of fire juxtaposed by the shadows of night.The yin and the yang-the yang in the yin,animus and anima.

I suppose in these modern days we might have forgotten what mentorship is like or about.We are taught in the present time to find fault,to not trust a mentor/a hero.In essense we have put out the fire,dimmed the forge,and noone remembers how to tell a good story anymore.

Here we find that space! I have written before how much I enjoy the stories John weaves into his books.I can feel,smell,touch,and taste the tapestry he weaves.When talking of his grandfather and uncles I can almost smell something cooking in the oven that his granmother has carefully prepared.I can see the exercises demonstrated to a young boy watching every nuance.

John,you certainly have passed on the sacred fire,ignited the forge and remember a good story! How has it manifested to your friends here? I see it daily! The little stories we share of our success.Each is like a page lived fully in the present to make new books,new mentors,new heroes.Simply put we stand on your huge shoulders my friend,adjusting our feet like young children trying to find balance before jumping off into the swimming pool.In the end it is the water,isn't it?It is the pure simple water we submerse in,to shed the old and become the new....

peace,
jason

Hank_Z
12-27-2008, 09:56 AM
Beautifully said, Jason.

And from an ever broader perspective, I stand on even more broad, strong shoulders. Those of Swoboda and Atlas. And of those who share their experiences with the rest of us on this forum

Peace,
Hank

bennyb
12-27-2008, 11:10 AM
I had heroes when I was little and each sport I played I always imagined them.......

When I played basketball with my buds I was usually the big man but always imagined myself as Michael Jordan breaking ankles and knocked them on their feet as I drove to the hoop to make a switched hand lay up lol.

When we played football I loved being the running back wanting to knock the D on their ass. My fav. running back at the time was Marshell Faulk, man could that guy run, it was either him or Barry Sanders.

When we played baseball man I loved imagining knocking the ball out of the park like Mark McGwire or Barry Bonds. I eventually was able to hit homeruns when we played pick up games without trying so much.

Now my true heroes are the men of transformetrics and the strongman of old. I imagine myself as Zass when I bend those long peices of rebar or transform myself into Slim The Hammer Man when I lever a hammer. When it comes down to it really I train I imagine myself as King Kong destroying everything in my path and developing a super-human grip that no one can touch.

I was also into Pro Wrestling and watching guys like Shawn Michaels, The Undertaker, Mankind, Bret Hart, Stone Cold Steve Austin. Watched almost every PPV from 1996-2004

Nathan
12-27-2008, 06:09 PM
Hey Jason,

All I can say is wow my brother. Everything in your post is true down to the last letter! Once again an awesome and inspirational post. All the best my brother.

---Nathan

Andy62
12-27-2008, 06:35 PM
This city, with all its houses, palaces, steam engines, cathedrals and huge, immeasurable traffic and tumult, what is it but a Thought, but millions of Thoughts made into one—a huge immeasurable Spirit of a Thought, embodied in brick, in iron, smoke, dust, Palaces, Parliaments, coaches, docks and the rest of it! Not a brick was made but some man had to think of the making of that brick.
—Carlyle.