I Didn’t Listen
They told me to play it safe.
Get the degree.
Wear the tie.
Smile at the right people.
I was already barefoot,
bruised,
chasing something older than fear.
High school parties?
I showed up sometimes.
But I sweated under fluorescent lights,
shadowboxing with ghosts.
They said chasing training and competition across the world was dumb.
Too expensive. Too risky.
They never felt the silence
before a bell rings in another country.
College was “the move.”
But I was learning how to break balance
and build mine.
“Don’t open a gym.”
“Don’t spar hard.”
“Don’t compete.”
“Don’t grow.”
“Don’t dream that big.”
I heard it all.
And I didn’t listen.
Now the walls rattle with the footsteps
of the next generation.
The belts hang like battle flags.
The space is bigger.
So are the dreams.
They say I didn’t listen.
But I did.
I just filtered the noise,
and followed the signal.
This isn’t luck.
It’s warpaint, wisdom, and war stories.
And I’m not done yet.
Stay tuned.
The next chapter’s already punching through the canvas.
#muaythai
#bjj
#martialartslife #trainhardstayweird #fightlife #combatculture #dojodiaries #neverlisten
