Any Serious Minded People Out There?

[Robert Davis]

I just wondered what you guys considered serious minded. I own a martial arts school called Davis Warriordo Academy. It is based on the premise that a true warrior is one who is experienced in the "battles" of life. The dimensions of the warrior are dedication to excellence in the following areas:
Martial Arts
Physical Fitness
Intellectual Breadth
Spirituality
Social Skills
Emotional Quotient
Vocational/Financial skill/development
I guess the reason that I am serious minded is because everything I say, think, or do, I try to base according to excellence in these areas. I have many faults! But I try to set goals that work on my weaknesses. This is what I try to instill to my family and my students. Just interested in you guys ideas.
Robert Davis

EVERY MORNING IN AFRICA, A GAZELLE WAKES UP.
IT KNOWS IT MUST RUN FASTER THAN THE FASTEST LION
OR IT WILL BE KILLED.
EVERY MORNING, A LION WAKES UP. IT KNOWS IT MUST OUT RUN
THE SLOWEST GAZELLE OR IT WILL STARVE TO DEATH.

IT DOES NOT MATTER WHETHER YOU ARE A LION OR A GAZELLE.
WHEN THE SUN COMES UP, YOU'D BETTER BE RUNNING!

[rickg]

Nothing against the lifstyle you are pursuing. I think it's admirable. But I try to be a bit "lighter" in my life. I guess it's my version of "survival". There's enough to be serious about in life, and I try not to let it lead my life. I heard a saying years ago:
"Don't take yourself so seriously, that when people see you coming, they take one look and say "three cheers for sin!!""
I grew up in a very conservative, religous family, so I've had instilled in my life from a very young age many items on your list. But the older I get, the more I'm trying to "chill out" and be more low key in how I come across to others.
The "warrior" type mentality to me is a bit exteme. But then I think football and boxing are about the stupidist activities on the face of the earth! (that out to raise a few eyebrows here ). I've made it 46 years without that in my life, and see no need for it. Yet. But I do believe a person needs to persue the course that best suits him/her, and take THAT seriously.

[Benzoman]

Right now I'm studying under one of the great teachers of all time.

[jsmith]

benzoman,

don't try to hijack this thread. i mean, i like ted koppel as much as the next guy but please :p

[Zeus]

I am very serious about...

Beer, German cars and long-legged blondes.

The rest will take care of itself....work, mutual funds, children, etc. One day I'll be 65+ and all of that will have settled and hopefully the only things left on my mind will be beer, german cars and blonde nurses with long legs to bring me my daily enteric-coated aspirin...

[Robert Davis]

I agree on the long legged blonde nurses and German cars. The beer I am afraid will have to be non-alcoholic. I will probably bring my Iliad and Shakespeare to bide my time between nurses visits.
Robert Davis

Originally posted by Zeus
I am very serious about...

Beer, German cars and long-legged blondes.

...and blonde nurses with long legs to bring me my daily enteric-coated aspirin...

Don't forget the daily sponge bath!

Robert:

I think I'm a bit like you in a lot of ways. Many times while working (freelance television director/technical director) people tell me to not be so serious. But while working I've always had the phylosophy of getting the job DONE before having fun with work buddies.

I've also realized that there are many things in life that require one to be serious about, one thing I am serious about is NOT being serious when the time is right. You'll go crazy otherwize and other things in your life will suffer: family, work, mental health.....

"Balance, grasshopper....."

PS In light of the other thread regarding working out at the gym creatine and all), I completely believe that a healthy body is very beneficial for a healthy mind.

[rickg]

I have to agree with Sflori. A time and a place for everything.

[LuckyF8]

Serious is as serious does!

Robert you will learn with time to not let it effect you, if you are lucky.

I spent time in southeast asia protecting the USA in the early 1970's.

Your Ideas are correct in theory, yet what one does at the time is quite different, age changes this.

I am here today still,after surviving the challenges you present.

The funny part is the anaminal stuff is real, I had a Tiger in the jungle take my food ( ritz crackers) it was all I had left to eat, I was tired and hungry after a mission where I was dumped out of a jet at over 60,000 ft with one other guy, using small o2 unit to breathe with, cold as hell outside the plane, with no protective gear, to land in a hot humid zone, no guns, just hands to murder some bad guys.

Then crawl home about 60 miles with no help, hell I had the pleasure to this 4 times!

The Tiger (bad breath and all) took my food and walked away, that was one I wasn't trained for, it was pitch black with no moon that night, I was hiding from Charley, my partner lost his life on this mission, but I am still here, I braved the Tiger and the War!

I was young, well trained in Marital Arts, Spec 9 Army Special Forces.

Lucky to be here today, this is the most I have told anyone of my life as it goes.

I learned how to fly....because I had to!

Happy to be just me, I just don't treat life that way!

Stay safe, my friend and God bless all the people serving in the Armed Forces today!

I wish I could go Today, not as the scared kid I was in the early 1970"s.

Robert, think the best, and keep smiling

Tim

[LuckyF8]

well?

Thanks SPOCK!

The best part is when I came home, the people spit on me in the airport, how nice, I just wanted to know what I was missing from society while I was gone.

Turns out I missed nothing at all, just learned about human nature, sorry to say I took human life, but at the time it was the only thing I could do to proctet my self, and others. I have no pride in this issue.

Life is good, remember that!

Love is all

[Robert Davis]

You guys are awesome!
The post I presented is more of a code of living more than anything else. I want you guys to know that I do have fun, but probably doing different things than most people. I love reading and working out of course but I also enjoy nature. We have a vacation home on the lake that we retire to as often as possible. When there I read and workout, but I also take long nature walks and some serious afternoon naps. I also enjoy building model aircraft, ships, and tanks. I get a lot of enjoyment playing with our 5 children. (18,15,6,4,7mo) We had 3 girls before our first boy came along. I get such joy playing with him.
As I get older I realize and fully believe that I will one day stand before God. I think he will want to know about the things I have done for others, as well as the knowledge inside my head more than jobs or money. I guess this is why I am so serious. In my youth I wasted a lot of time.
Robert Davis

[dieseldude]

My father is a 5th-degree black-belt in a Hawaiin/Okinawan form of Kenpo, and my brother and I were raised in the dojo. The "Warrior Spirit" taught in karate lessons (of any variety) was a fantastic way to teach discipline while expending the excess hyper-energy of kids It taught me how to calm my mind w/meditation, and enjoy physical extertion at a young age.

This 'warrior spirit' for us simply encouraged being a well-rounded person which I believe is the lifestyle Robert was trying to portray. 'A warrior and a scholar' like the saying goes; keep your mind as well as your body sharp. Not neccesarily for war or combat where the idea grew from, but enjoy the competetion and strategy of sport, humbling yourself to learn and grow from your experiences physical, psycological, and spiritual.

I also beleive that this 'warrior spirit' or 'serious thinking' (or whatever you want to call it), also carries with it the responsibilty to be full of good humour and the ability to take it easy, which I do more than my fair share of as well (now, pass that Beer! )