The Greatest Blog Post Ever Written

Last night I was visited by a demon.  Yeah, I know, right?  Crazy.  Don’t get distracted by that though, this is gonna move fast so pay attention.

Where was I?  Oh yeah, demon.  Here’s what went down…

Late last night I was sitting here at my computer struggling to come up with an amazing blog post for you guys.  I must have drifted off in my chair because suddenly I sensed something standing next to me.  Real close.  Real big.  Too close for comfort and too big to be human.  Startled, I jerk fully awake slamming myself away from the table, instantly trying to put distance between me and the thing standing in front of me.

Smouldering eyes burned into me and I froze.  My breath caught high in my chest and I couldn’t breathe.  My training kicked in, my body started working of it’s own accord – exhale.  Move.  Exhale more.  As my vision opened up and my heart started beating slightly slower than 100 bpm ABOVE max, I noticed that the demon hasn’t moved.   It just stood there, eyes still burning into me, watching.  Waiting…  Minutes ticked by excruciatingly slow.

Not sure how exactly to engage a demon in conversation, and not sure if I want to, I opened my mouth anyway and asked – “What do you want?”

It’s voice sounded like the rumbling of an ancient volcano, yet I understood it perfectly.  It said, “What you are doing is not good enough.  You write and teach with your heart, but hold back your soul.  Whoever wants to keep his soul shall lose it.  Whoever gives it freely, will gain it back.”

I gaped at him, not really trusting my voice to work.  My mouth opened to reply, but nothing came out.  Shocked, I tried again, “Er… you’re here about my blog?”

It continued, “You have 2 choices: Either put your entire being into what you teach, write, and speak each and every time, or give up entirely and I will consume your soul…

Every blog post you write must be the Greatest Blog Post Ever Written.  Every time you teach, it must be the Greatest Class Ever Taught.  Give it all or give nothing.  Your choice.”

Still fearful, I managed to ask, “How can every blog post I write be the Greatest Blog Post Ever Written?  Surely that can only be accomplished once, right?”

The demon smiled.  Or, at least I think it did.  I tried not to focus too closely on the dark, gaping space where it’s mouth should be.

“That’s easy,” it said.  “Never be satisfied with what you create.  Never think you have reached the best or highest level.  Always believe that the next thing you do will be better than the last.  All creative men throughout history, when asked what is their greatest work, they all replied with the same answer – the next one.”

I nodded my head slowly at the wisdom imparted by this fearful creature and agreed.

Seeing my acknowledgement, It began to fade from sight, but before it completely disappeared I heard it’s voice one last time as it said – “Push forward always.  Never rest on what you have already accomplished for your greatest work is always in front of you….”

And so my dear readers, as you can clearly see this is NOT the greatest blog post ever written.  Yet, I can promise you, it will always be my next one!

Also, make sure you take this lesson to heart as well lest you be visited one night by demons of your own. 🙂

PS – before you wonder whether I lost my mind or not, this is the song that provided the inspiration for this slightly off kilter post:

Jon

Jon Haas, "The Warrior Coach" has been training in Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu for more than 25 years and is currently ranked as a Kudan (9th degree black belt) under Jack Hoban Shihan. He has also trained in Okinawan Karate, Tae Kwon Do, Russian Systema, BJJ, Krav Maga, as well as Internal Martial Arts of Yiquan and Aiki.He is a certified Underground Strength Coach-Level 2, a certified Personal Trainer as well as founder of Warrior Fitness Training Systems. In 2008, Jon wrote the book, Warrior Fitness: Conditioning for Martial Arts, and since then has created numerous other online training and coaching programs helping people around the world become the strongest, most capable versions of themselves!

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