Iron Eddie K

I think that sometimes the line between insane and genius is blurred. Dismissing peoples comments, just is a lazy habit to have. So often genius can be found in interpretation of words. For instance, I have always had an infatuation with the raw power and tenacity of Mike Tyson. I appreciate greatness. And I also have the  ability to separate the art from the artist. I don’t think I would like any famous people (except Jennifer Connelly). I am not looking to my “heros” for acceptance. The relationship is a selfish one.. its purely one sided. I want them to perform their chosen task to the maxim entertainment level.

Michael Jordan, Wayne Gretzky, Nolan Ryan… Just be amazing, and then its on you to reconcile the rest of your life. Iron Mike was the most naturally powerful athlete I have ever witnessed. I don’t even care about boxing or MMA or any blood sport, but the Mike Tyson show just pulled me in. In and out of the ring, he was a spectacle. Everyone treated him like a crazy person… but was he? If you know anything about Mike, or where he came from, or the incredibly young age in which mad men got their claws into him, than it would be easy to dismiss him as a crazy person. But hes not. I really just believe Mike is a troubled and ferocious genius. There is genius in a lot of what he said…

“When you have something in life that you want to accomplish greatly, you have to be willing to give up your happiness…I’ve lost all my sensitivity as far as being embarrassed, being shy, you just have to lose that.”

This is such an underrated truth. In order to have an outcome that you want, sacrifice is involved. Prioritizing life, and deciding what holds value to you is essential.                       Part of my struggles with weight have come from my inability to make hard choices. I struggle with sacrifice. I shave the last rep off my set when no one is looking. I binge eat when no one is looking. I trim distance off of my cardio when no one is looking. I am guessing I am not alone here. The ironic thing is, sitting on the couch doesn’t make us happy. Watching TV doesn’t bring us joy. Peanut Butter cups do not enrich our lives. Wait… huh… let me think about that last one. But you get the point. Our generation has more material wealth than any generation in history. Yet we appear to be the most depressed generation in history. We have everything, and enjoy nothing. I believe true happiness comes from growth and achievement. Every step I make toward my goals brings me one step closer to acceptance of myself. That is happiness for me.

“I’m gonna make sure you talk about me, and your grandkids and kids after that gonna know about me…your great grandkids will say “wow, wasn’t that a bizarre individual?”

Never apologize for greatness. Do what you do, to the best of your ability. Be who you is. This is an incredibly endearing quote to me. This should permeate anything you care about. When I retire, I want my coworkers to tell tales of me. I want to be  talked about at parties I don’t attend.

“I just have this thing inside me that wants to eat and conquer. Maybe it’s egotistical, but I have it in me. I don’t want to be a tycoon. I just want to conquer people and their souls.”

This should be true for anything you do. I work in sales. Money motivates me, but competition motivates me more. Even when I play coed softball…. COED FUCKING SOFTBALL…. I want to win so bad it makes me uncomfortable. Never apologize for being a winner. Set your own definitions of what constitutes a “win”. My kids are amazing… I love my job… I am getting healthier by the day.. I feel I am conquering souls every day.

“I had to persevere because this was my life. This championship, this was the stuff I dreamt of all my life, and I wasn’t gonna be denied.”

                                    This one needs no qualifying. If you don’t have anything in your life you feel this way about, I pity you.

“It’s good to be successful and have financial status but if you’re only gonna live for the money, you’re only gonna reach a certain status and I’m in there for greatness and peace of mind.”

This is a great quote too. This needs to be everyone’s truth. I don’t believe money and financial success can drive people in and of themselves. I believe true success needs to come from lighting a fire inside. There is something inside all of us that needs feeding. Once we find that thing, that is what will drive us. Financial Success should be a byproduct of feeding your inner demons.

“My power is discombobulating devastating. I could feel his muscle tissues collapse under my force. It’s ludicrous these mortals even attempt to enter my realm.”

My life is pretty punch free. Both giving and receiving. But you bet your sweet ass, I walk around feeling this way more and more every day. This is my goal. Health, success, happiness… all of this is measured by a series of contests that pit me against me. When you see me walking the street, just know that this is how I feel about me. That I make the world crumble under my force. Well, not yet… but by god, I will.

“Whatever you want, especially when you’re striving to be the best in the world at something, there’ll always be disappointments, and you can’t be emotionally tied to them, cos’ they’ll break your spirit.”

This is a quote that I directly apply to my life in a conscious effort to stay focused on what matters. I tend to be outcome oriented… and I lose the joy and value of the journey. There will always be ups and downs. I will have days in which I struggle.. but I need to let them fade into the ether. Small setbacks need to stay small. Small interruptions in the path of success can easily derail the whole mission if we don’t make a concerted effort to eliminate them from our memory. Bad thoughts are like a cancer that can only be fed if we choose to feed them. Shake that shit off and make them be the exception.

“Everyone has a plan ’till they get punched in the mouth.”

This is by far my favorite quote of all time. This is pure genius, and was the impetus of why I am writing this post. My entire struggle with weight boils down to this. Any issue I have ever had in my life can be boiled down to this. We all make grandiose plans and figure out how we will get from point A to point B, and then life punches us in the mouth. Plans are great, but you cant predict everything that will happen when our plans become a real world application.

              I have a bad day at work

              I have a stressful issue with my kids

              My body gets sore

              Hunger hits

              Stress makes me panicky

These things all punch me in the mouth. They punch us all in the mouth. Its easy to draw hypothetical plans. Its easy to picture success. Its hard as fuck to realize the tangible success we dream up. Because turning dreams into reality is fucking hard. You will get punched in the mouth. The key is learning how to punch that cocksucker back in their mouth, and continue forward.          

“Y’all guys know what I do…I put people in body bags.”

                                           Huh… I think you’re starting to lose me a bit Mike. I think we need to 

                                           rein  it in a bit.                                                                                                    

“I was gonna rip his heart out. I’m the best ever. I’m the most brutal and vicious, the most ruthless champion there has ever been. No one can stop me. Lennox is a conqueror? No! He’s no Alexander! I’m Alexander! I’m the best ever. I’m Sonny Liston. I’m Jack Dempsey. There’s never been anyone like me. I’m from their cloth. There is no one who can match me. My style is impetuous, my defense is impregnable, and I’m the ferocious. I want his heart! I want to eat his children! Praise be to Allah!”                                                 

                                   Fuck… Alexander? I want his heart? I want to eat his children? This isn’t what                                     I meant by “rein it in”.. .we are losing focus here homie.

“She wanted it”

                                           Alright, I am out of here. You are on your own now, Mike.