"When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive — to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love." — Marcus Aurelius

Hear why Tim chooses to be a weed. The long and short of it is: weeds don't just survive, they thrive in tough times. He reflects on events such as 9-11, COVID, and the recent wildfires burning in Quebec and Nova Scotia and affecting the air quality in the Northeastern United States. He questions whether these events have taught us anything and whether we have become better for them. He also shares his belief in having a warrior mindset, conditioning both body and mind for strength and resilience.

• Train in the extreme to be able to handle the extreme

• Better yourself to better everybody else around you

"And if there is a next, if there's a tomorrow for me, I want to be as prepared as I possibly can be spiritually, physically, and mentally." — Sensei Tim Hoover

#neverforget #whatevercomesnext

"Everything is the product of one universal creative effort. There is nothing dead in Nature. Everything is organic and living, and therefore the whole world appears to be a living organism." — Lucius Annaeus Seneca

Sammy Kelly, Tim, and Steve discuss the importance of being intentional about where you choose to spend your time and energy, and how letting others make decisions for you can pull you in directions that aren't best for you. They also talk about the value of finding your niche and excelling at one thing rather than trying to do everything.

Sammy practices what she preaches, as she excels in the martial arts and is a talented video editor.

"There are only two days in the year that nothing can be done. One is called Yesterday and the other is called Tomorrow. Today is the right day to Love, Believe, Do and mostly Live." — Dalai Lama

This episode's message is clear: Find the truth, speak the truth, and you will live a more authentic and fulfilled life. When you're in the "arena" of life, you must fight the fight and continue doing good work. That includes creating relationships and experiences where you seek out and share accurate and factual information. But you must find THE truth, not the truth you want to be.

Knowing the truth allows you to make better informed decisions. We often go through life with our minds chattering all the time, and sometimes the chatter masks the spirit within us. Spend your time and energy being truthful and being held accountable to the truth.

"Enjoy life now. This is not a rehearsal." — Bob Marley

Heading into the Memorial Day weekend, this episode reminds us of how great we all have it in the United States. Thanks to the brave souls who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving our nation with their selflessness and unwavering commitment, we are able to enjoy freedom.

Dr Bernie joins Tim and Steve to share his gratitude and reflect on a lifetime of political and social change in America, which he has seen in his 83 years. He believes in the power of positive individuals to persist and keep making progress. Having seen massive societal upheaval, Bernie exhorts the younger generations to challenge themselves to create a better future.

We are responsible for our own actions and behavior. No one else is. We decide how our day is going to go and what attitude we will have. It's all on us, not on anyone else.

"If you must look back, do so forgivingly. If you must look forward, do so prayerfully. However, the wisest thing you can do is be present in the present — gratefully." — Maya Angelou

This episode was prompted by a recent testing event at Tim's karate school, during which parents were asked what they hoped their children would gain from their training, with many responding that they wanted their kids to gain more confidence.

Steve and Tim emphasize the role of sports, martial arts training, and other activities that involve one's mind, body, and spirit together in building self-confidence. They share personal anecdotes about their own experiences with confidence, and how it's a major factor in determining whether one will fight, flee, or freeze in the face of adversity.