Right now there’s a guy doing life in prison who’s more free and happy than every single person you ran into today, including you, me, and the dude who’s got it all.
Right now there are people who have it so much worse than you and I will ever know, yet are enjoying themselves more than you and I ever will.
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68 comments
flippin’ awesome bro…..hitting that link that took me to Charles Bukowski’s site brought me to tears! Love this stuff man. I have no excuse but I have realized through this letter that I have helped many a people avoid some of the things I’ve had to endure in life!!! It guess it just came natural……I feel better about myself today. Thanks Boss!!!!
Reply man Bukowski is the shit!
check out “Ham on Rye”
beautiful—dark, but beautiful
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I probably look pretty silly right now to my office mates but I just gave my monitor a round of applause and a standing ovation! This is one post I will share with everyone!
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Going through a job (and possible) career change right now, trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up. I needed to read this today (and all of your posts, for that matter). I love your attitude and your writing style. Thank you!
Reply hey thanks KG
not sure if you’ve read this one, but it’s all about that career change stuff
https://chrismccombs.net/how-to-do-what-you-love-for-a-living/
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I fucking love this post… EVERYTHING in this life is relative and it’s great to just remember that once in a while. Thanks Chris.
Reply yep, all relative brother
and double yep, gotta remember
thanks Luke
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Chris, my brother, it seems the greater good finds a way to connect us each time.
Reading this post I began to cry (which is no easy task and has only happened once in the last 12 years, now twice).
Everything you just said made me realize how lucky I am.
More so it gave me real clarity as to why some things have made me better, and how the challenges I face right now (physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual) will all come to face a better good, if I utilize them properly.
Thank you, Chris.
Your reader,
Adil Amarsi
Ah hey, shit, thanks Adil
honored to make your eyes bleed a little gratitude brother
( I love the cartoon of you on your site by the way )
not sure if you ever read these two, but they’re along the same lines
https://chrismccombs.net/17-reasons-why-its-good-to-take-a-beating/
https://chrismccombs.net/35-reasons-your-life-kicks-ass/
Reply Thanks brother.
Though I need to update it as I lost most of my hair this week :(.
Anyway on the up and up, I wrote out my list and going to post it this weekend :).
I have and shared them with friends who are n similar situations (Kind of summerized the 35 reasons and put them into a poster for my office).
Speak soon bro and be well,
Adil
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Thank you for this post today!
I’ve been in a funk all day because of being swamped at work and stressing out over getting a pretty serious speeding ticket last night, so this was perfect timing to put me back into my usual state of positivity. 🙂
Reply right on Sushi
I was in a funk last night, it’s why I wrote this
felt sooo much better afterwards
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Great reminder to stfu about how “shitty” your life is going. Good post!
Reply yes!
and looks like you’re writing about some great stuff yourself
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I am ***NOT*** crying!! My eyes are moist because the wind is blowing hard…here in my living room.
Brother, you are Blessed. I’ll share this with you. I wrote it to remind myself of what I have here, now:
In this moment take this breath boldly and let go of the results. Accept what this moment brings, whatsoever it may be, and let go of the results. In this moment give thanks to god and let go of the results. In this moment accept my miracle and let go of the results. In this moment feel what I feel and let go of the results. In this moment enjoy the moment, be free this moment and let go of the results. In this moment experience the unfolding of un-imagined power and the decrease of force and let go of the results. In this moment breathe deeply, deeply. In this moment experience happiness, experience joy and let go of the results.
Reply ha ha, wind blowing in the living room
love it
and thanks for sharing your writing about letting go
so beautiful AJ
thank you
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Wow Chris
I only found your blog a week or so ago. Your writing is amazing. I’ve read the self help books and been to the seminars and you know what nobody gives me a kick in the ass like you do. I don’t have an excuse. I used to. And I’ll probably come up with a few piss poor excuses in the future when I’m trying to cop out of something I know I should be doing. And I know this post will give me the kick up the ass I need then to just get over it and get on with it.
Keep writing mate. You are making the world a better place
Steve
Reply Hey thanks Steve, glad it resonates with you man
yeah we all do the excuse thing from time to time, I still do it myself on the reg, just gotta call yourself on it and move forward brother, like it sounds like you’re doing
Reply Holy fuck
WOW
Man, I am honored you took the 4 hours to write this
FUCKING HONORED
thank you soooooooo much for sharing this here
It will definitely do my readers ( and myself ) a whole lotta good
Love your life
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Thank YOU, sir, for giving me a place to vent. Here and now, well….a few hours ago….is the first time I have posted all of that in public. Your story, Chris, gave me the inspiration to do so, brother. It doesn’t matter if you’re an Army guy like me or a businessman like yourself, it takes a whole lot of US to make a difference.
I do love my life. Every morning I wake up and can feel the sun on my biscuit, I thank the good Lord above for still having a head to feel the warmth.
Every afternoon, I see the beautiful green eyes of my wife of 23 years when she comes home for lunch. When I’m passed out on the couch due to pain or exhaustion, she awakens me with those wonderful eyes of hers. And her lilting voice of reassurance. The voices of my wife, my daughter and my son are the only ones that will calm me. If anyone else wakes me, I come out of my sleep with great intent to do tremendous harm to them. It scares me Chris. It scares me to death what I am capable of doing to the human body. At the same time, it reassures me that I know so damned much about how to fuck someone up just in case the worst comes about. But even so, it scares me what we are able to do to each other as I am sure you know well.
I need to go for now. My exhaustion has become all encompassing. My frustration with my pain and limited mobility too great. Should you ever need me to “prove” my words, just let me know. I have extensive documentation. I just want you to know, my brother in life, that I will NEVER embellish nor exaggerate. What I say is true, so help me God.
-Tom
Reply Brother, you are hardcore
thank you so much for sharing from the heart
that stuff about your wife, son and daughter got to me
in a good way
Reply I don’t about hardcore. But intelligently stupid, stubborn and a little bit crazy? Definitely! 😉
If my outlook on life can help anyone, then it is my duty as a human being to talk. It has taken me quite a few years to be able to do so. As with you and your extensive experience with the “Suck Ninja” kicking your ass, I’ve had my share of beat downs in life. Somehow, from somewhere within, I cannot, will not, refuse to give up.
I surely do have my days though. It ain’t all sunshine flying out my ass and laughter from my pie hole. However, I believe it’s how you recover and move on from those days that make the person. That shows your intestinal fortitude in the face of the Suck Ninja.
Anyone can learn how to change a habit in seven days, right? That’s the popular belief amongst the professionals that study that shit. Well, to me, being a negative, woe-ways me kinda of person is a habitual thought process by which you focus on the negatives and those negatives kick your ass. Being ruled by the Suck Ninja is, in other words, a habit. A choice.
People don’t like to hear that, but the truth usually isn’t what most people want to hear as it pertains to themselves and self discovery. That’s the Suck Ninja man. Sucking the life out of you. Helping you to make your life suck.
I’ve got to go buy a new microwave oven today. The kind that mounts over the stove. Of course, the wife has said she will determine which one we buy for aesthetics while I determine which one we buy based on things like will it fit, power and options. Shopping with my wife often brings the Suck Ninja flying to my immediate location at a high rate of giddy-up! Duck and cover, don’t let him find me and out the door I’m going right here shortly!
Love your life brothers and sisters. Cause it’s up to you to live it.
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Awesome! as always. Thanks again. I hope you love what you’re doing because you can never quit.
Reply An old saying where I come from:
NSDQ!!!!!
And that, my good man, is as sure as the moon will bring about the tides.
Reply Hey thanks Eric, and yes I absolutely love it
love love love it
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I didnt really want all this eyemakeup on anyway… Thank you Chris. Thank you so much.
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Chris,
Thank you so much for this post. I’ve read all of your material, but this one has been the most significant for me personally. Happiness is a choice and there are no excuses for me to be bitter or ungrateful for anything at all. Wow, I’m so thankful for you bro.
Retired soldier,
I’m deeply sorry for your struggle but if this means anything at all I hope and pray that you overcome all of your obstacles. I know you can do it because you’ve been through so much. Thank you for serving our country and for sacrificing so much so that I’m free to do the things Americans are able to do. I appreciate you brother!
David
Reply David, thank you so much for your VERY kind words! Please, though, don’t feel sorry for me. I surely do not. I’m still able to get my sorry ass out of bed and go fishing, metal detecting and so on when I’m having a good day. When I have a bad day due to my injuries, I just chill out. I tell myself I’ve earned the right to lay my fat ass on the couch and watch the idiot box. Or clean my weapons or whatever I need to do to take my mind off how I feel. It’s not too difficult once you get in the habit of it. 😉
Reply thanks David
I spent a lot of time not being grateful for anything
Today, I’m grateful for the little stuff
makes everything way better
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Chris and “retired soldier”
This post was awesome. I read the first couple lines and I couldn’t wait to comment.
And then it got exponentially better when read the comments from “retired soldier.”
His perspective is straight up impressive. It’s hard to find words strong enough to convey the emotions that I felt as I read it.
His words coming from a first person perspective adds a level of realism and evidence to the examples you wrote in the post.
It touches my heart to see the sincere and authentic exchange of words between you two all because you both have the insight to see the good things in life dispite the crap that can come up.
The examples given in this post as well as the life story from “retired soldier” is a great reminder that we all, at any moment can stop and appreciate the gifts that we have in life.
Thank you both for sharing.
Brian
Reply Brain, thank you so very much for your insight into how the experiences of one person can help another. When you find more and more people to “hang out with” that share and learn from each other, as I am learning from Chris, then we, as a team, help even more folks. What a blessing isn’t it?
Reply Yes, I agree. It’s great to be around like minded people.
Brian.
There is a lady in a wheelchair who I see coming from the grocery store all the time when I run on the weekends. No matter the weather, there she is with her shopping bags and a big smile on her face. I have seen her in pouring rain, blazing heat, snowstorms…nothing seems to stop her. I remember one really rainy run – I was near the end of an 18 or 20-miler and really feeling it. I was about a mile from home and starting to feel sorry for myself, which is absolutely ridiculous because I was out there by choice. I saw her with her umbrella and her smile and felt like an absolute tool – what right did I have to wallow in stupid self-pity?!? I have 2 strong, amazing legs that can propel me whatever distance I choose. I have an outrageously functional cardio-pulmonary system that allows me to push my body to its absolute limits. I have a brain that is not cognitively impaired by disease or accident…I am the richest, most blessed woman who ever lived!!!
Thank you for this awesome reminder of just how very lucky we are!
Retired Soldier, I am sending you a heartfelt cyber hug – I wish I could articulate how proud I am of you, a fellow human being who I have never met, for overcoming such trials. You make the world a better place because you are proof that “good” and “decent” are real. People like you are the true warriors in this world, holding back the dark.
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SFC,
What amazing words, as a current Soldier dealing with some shit your words help. God bless you and your family. The Army needs more of your caliber.
Rob
Reply Chris,
I have read this post several times. Some of the most amazing and inspirational words I have come across. There is nothing I can say that would do justice so a simple, thank you for what you do.
Rob
Reply you’re welcome Rob
appreciate the comment man
glad you liked the post
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I loved this post. I’m a pretty happy person, but know that I take the easiness of my life for granted. I just wrote a similar post about people not appreciating how good they have it. I wrapped it all up in my dislike of FML. 🙂 Thanks for the consistently great posts that make me think.
Reply Hey Amy, thanks
I didn’t know what FML stood for
had to look it up
Kinda like the FTW one ya know
glad the you like the posts and they’re making you think
always a good thing
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Great post Chris. After years of reading all the hype in the fitness marketing world and probably giving your friend one of the biggest response filled blog post about 4yrs ago about “I Need Your Opinion” where everyone got on the bandwagon and supported him and came after me for being so critical. I learned then, it’s best to keep it moving and never respond again.
It’s nice to see a guy like yourself that has lived a roller coaster life of ups and downs to come full circle and realize there is always someone else out there that has it shittier than you, not to mention, there will always be someone that has the bigger, better deal on the internet and being happy isn’t always about being part of some 7-figure masermind group and always chancing the almighty dollar.
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs lowest part of the Pyramind is BASIC NEEDS….of food, water, clothing, and shelter…..after that we all need some form of LOVE in our life, but other than that, all the rest of the shit is just that, shit.
We can’t take the cars, planes, money, jewels, etc…. to our grave, so life has to have more meaning than that.
I am not preaching, but if we just love a little more, treat others the right way, and try to do the right thing at all times…..life for everyone can be a happier and better place, no matter how much money one has.
Once again, great post and thanks for showing anyone can learn to see life is not all about money, as many of your current and old fitness marketing friends continue to preach….take care.
Regards,
Tom
Reply Hey thanks Tom
I remember the comment/blog post you’re talking about
Yeah ma, I chased money to make me happy and when I got it I was miserable
I chased it for the wrong reasons
to fill a hole
to feel like I’m enough
to prove that I’m a man
to be excepted
I chased it out of scarcity and ego
Now I have nothing against making money and still teach marketing in my fitness marketing niche stuff
but many of us chase it for the wrong reasons
and you’re right man, after the basic needs, money doesn’t really make one happier
the difference in happiness between $60K a year and $6,000,000 ain’t much, and it definitely ain’t all it’s made out to be
I think it making a lot of money allows one to help more people, then making that money can definitely help ones happiness
But in life, man…. there is so much fucking more than money
thanks for chiming in man, hope ypu’re well Tom
Reply I appreciate it man. I think just like you and after serving 20yrs in the military and being in my mid-40’s, I just try to pass on things I have learned to my kids, friends, clients, etc… and just do the right thing. It’s funny Chris, when I look back to that crazy blog post in 2009 and everyone was jumping on the bandwagon in support for your friend, but I always knew in my heart, eventually folks would see what I meant by my comments. I really did appreciate the mostly bad comments, because I learned from it, I really did. But, as years have past and I have heard from a few folks, they too are seeing things differently. If you are still close to him, I hope he saw I was just saying with all these so called marketing or fitness experts, I would like to see a guy like that come out with a book nationally or still be in the trenches with fitness or maybe share all of his knowledge maybe at a college or university. It was poorly delivered on my part, I agree, but my heart was in the right place and to get back on topic of your blog post here, I hope too he and others see what you, me, and many have found out, that money doesn’t buy happiness, it makes things easier, but at the end of the day, life comes down to what I call the Four F’s – Faith, Family, Friends, and Fitness. Notice work or money, although we bust our butt on one to get the other, but those two topics are not in the 4 F’s for a reason. If are happiness comes from work or money, we are lost. If our happiness and priorities of the 4 F’s are in order, then the work because more enjoyable and running after the almighty dollar is not a priority.
Something for you to look into and maybe ponder with your friends, clients, etc…. is a passage from the bible that puts things in my
life into perspective:
James 2: 14-16 Faith without works is dead and works without faith your dead (Paraphrase)
This is just a passage that resonates with me with regards to being happy in ones life and struggling with work, or making enough money, or building relationships or maintaining them, etc….
If I always put FAITH first and try my best to do the right thing, (which turns out to be part of the first two commandments, 1) Love your God with all your Heart, Might, and Soul and 2) Treat others the way you want to be treated) then things in our life whether if its trying or finding happiness or living a better life, it has a tendency to work out in a positive light.
Thanks again for your comments and a great post once again. I am happy for your bro and glad to see you are moving and doing things in a different direction. Peace and love to you and your loved ones.
Later,
Tom
Reply hey thanks Tom, haven’t talked to him in a few years actually
Faith without works is dead
so true man, so true
and I love the four F’s
Faith, Family, Friends, and Fitness.
yes, yes, yes and yes
appreciate your words Tom
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Soo true!! we have to appreciate what we have and don’t have! Be grateful with the simple things in life!!
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I got out of military. I sensed that my health was deteriorating so I got out. After I left, I traveled for 10 months and then came home with less money than I thought I would have. that’s when I began to panic and my health got worse. I had anxiety attacks after taking some sleeping pills. Now I am not taking them pills and my health seems to get better slowly. But I have been out of job for more than 3 years though. My days are filled with emptiness so I listen to music trying to uplift my feelings. Do I have a good life now? I am still alone at 38, my finance is not very solid, I am thinking of moving to a different country hoping that things will change for the better. Nowadays I stay home watching TV.
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