I don't own a single portrait from my high school or university graduation, I didn't even attend my university convocation. I have always had a sense that although these occasions may have seemed important to me and family members of mine at the time, the adventures that awaited my freedom from the chains of the educational system would be much more significant factors in how I would live, and look back on my life.

The other day I looked at the year book from my graduating class in high school, the only year book I purchased throughout my 5 year stay at Bayridge Secondary School. Friendship to me has always been more than the number of signatures on a piece of paper. I still remember the awkwardness associated with asking my friends to sign them for me, strange.

The PIB (Philosophy in Brief) section of my grad write up was the inspiration behind this blog. The quote was taken from the final verse of The Road not Taken by Robert Frost. "Two roads diverged in a wood, and I - I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference."

Two years ago I was presented with a choice, two avenues with two absolutely different journeys lay in front of me. I could continue living the way I was, dedicated to keeping good grades, making good impressions with potential bosses, becoming more unhealthy, more stressed, and further isolating myself from those who truly cared for me until i was too old to do any different. I chose option B. I became a nomad, carving out my own unique existence pursuing a dream and searching for adventure and happiness. There is no doubt in my mind that this was the only path for me.

Although some may have gotten the impression that I had abandoned them, or simply not cared enough to say goodbye, that is not the case. Again, friendship to me may be a little different than most. I don't have to speak, see, or be with someone every day to consider them my friend. I prefer meeting up with friends after being away for a while and finding that we have grown and experienced so much since our last encounter. Having said that, I did manage to keep in contact with a few of my good friends along my travels.

Many of my friends are currently students, or are university graduates who have landed positions in successful enterprises. Most of these people are overworked, under payed, stressed, and somewhat unhappy. As sad as that is, it is also a constant reminder that the road less traveled by was the right choice for me. As my friend Evan said, "I know my path, and I am walking it. I have always walked it."

I have met some really genuine and cool people in Toronto, but for the most part this city is filled with story toppers, name droppers, and people more interested in how they present themselves than who they truly are. Even though I have always been somewhat of a hermit, I have made a conscious decision to save my friendship for those in the city who attempt to make the most of the finite time we have allotted to us on this earth before being concerned with their image and status.

Training wise things are great. I am in the best shape I have ever been in and cannot wait to get in the ring again in 3 weeks. I have some of the best grapplers and strikers in the sport to work with. There is literally a "who's who" of the sport present at every training session, it's unbelievable.

My weight 3 weeks out.

Another pic.

Now the bad news. I got a staph infection Monday night after shark tanking it (drilling five minute rounds with a new guy in every two minutes for 4-5 rounds) and spent the night in the emergency room. I got the right antibiotics and have been working my strength and conditioning like a mad man. I got a phone call from my friend Kevin who had suffered a very serious staph infection (among many other set backs) earlier this year and he really inspired me to work my ass off even more for the next 3 weeks, I am going to be a completely different man when I step back into the ring.

Picture of Kevin's Staph infection from www.mmanews.com

The path of resistance knows no shame.