Anyone who has been on social media for any amount of time knows how popular it is to talk about that ONE crazy friend we all have who is always up for anything.
Most of the time when we see this its about living life however you enjoy it with that one friend who not only sees your crazy but loves it, embraces it and makes everything you can think of just a little more fun. Perhaps its your college fraternity brother who knows all your secrets, could be your 3rd grade best friend who if you want to go shopping she’s ready no matter when and if you are really lucky they wont ask where even if its Athens, Milan or Paris.
My crazy friend happens to be my Jiu Jitsu coach Angel Lopez owner of Halo Jiu Jitsu and Cen Cal Air right here in FresYes. Angel is by far the most positive person I’ve ever met, period. If you want to talk Jiu Jitsu or the best way to get the most out of your air conditioner this summer Angel is going to first listen, then engage and lastly drop it like its hot and help you figure it all out while probably telling you that you have inside of you to be a champion if you believe in yourself. The Air Conditioning champion of your block maybe but he will tell you that you can do it and do it well. It’s up to you to make it happen.
I first met Angel when he came to my home to fix my AC a few summers back. By the time it was fixed I had been invited to try Jiu Jitsu! That day changed my life.
Since joining the gym and falling headlong into the BJJ life Angel has been there for me every step of the way.
When I struggled with the game, he was there.
When my marriage fell apart he was the first person I confided in.
When I told him I wanted to compete at a high level he encouraged me to enter the International Brazilian Jiu Jitsu World Championships.
When I fall in love again, he will be the one I trust to tell first.
When I get promoted, he will tie my belts.
So recently when I posted on Facebook that I was going on a 10 mile trail run this Sunday along the SJRT guess who jumped right in to run with me? Angel.
Two 40+ Jiu Jitsu fighters, in the outdoors, running along the best single track trail FresYes has to offer early on a Sunday morning. What could go wrong?
ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.
We ran, jogged, walked and laughed, talked and joked the whole time. I think the people we saw out hiking must have thought we were nuts. Then again we were running and goofing off and still took time to cheer everyone we saw on a little bit so perhaps we are a bit crazy but we didn’t care one smidge. We were having fun, encouraging each other and most importantly encouraging others. It’s a blessing to have a friend who you can just lock into and go out and break the walls down off of whatever fear is holding you back. We happened to be trail running and pretty quickly to boot but the point is the trail run was just a vehicle for two friends to get out into the wild and well…. be wild.
So my advice is this.
Pick a goal, make it public and just wait. Wait for that one crazy friend to think its awesome and then go for it. Get outside and grab the brass ring, reach for your goal no matter if it’s a 10 mile trail run or a walk around the block. At the end of the day the best part will not be what you accomplished but how you felt inside and the fun you had doing it.
- Invitation to the Ball - November 6, 2015
- Sportsman’s Warehouse, the New Kid In Town - July 20, 2015
- The Freewheel Project - July 13, 2015
Great story!