Friday, February 6, 2015

(Re) Building Your Life


     Do you know where you stand in life? Who you are? What you're passionate about? What your purpose is in this life? These are common questions that we all ask ourselves at one point or another; and yet, for most of us, the answers are very profound and complex.
    
     I have been in this situation for at least the last couple of years; when I was seventeen, I enlisted in the U.S Army and made a career out of it, but due to Fibromyalgia, I was medically retired after thirteen years. I knew that I would have to hang up my boots sometime, but being a Soldier is all I ever wanted. My family still gloats on a story of when I was four years old and at a family gathering, I told everyone that I wanted to join the U.S Army. And, so I did.

    While going through my medical evaluation board, I thought I knew what I wanted to do and was absolutely sure that I wanted to go to college and earn my Bachelor's Degree. But, as it turns out - what I thought I wanted to do - I found out that I don't; and I am currently attending college. "So what's the point of this" you may be asking. The point is, for the last two years, I have been tossing and turning about what to do with my life in my second career and that all four questions I mentioned above tie into each other. That's the point; you make get it now, and then again, you may not. If not, hopefully you get it sooner than later.

     So as not to bombard you with too much information at one time (but do not think that I am insulting your intelligence, because I'm not), I will be expounding on this topic in future postings and videos at my channel Arte Suave Life located here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCICKtVUusqePrb6AoaIXZvw

 
Life the Life,
Jessica Hladky

Thursday, February 5, 2015

Just What Is Arte Suave?

 
     So, just what is Arte Suave and exactly what does it mean? Well, "Arte Suave" is Portuguese for "Gentle Art", which is in reference to Gracie Jiu-Jitsu (or Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu). The word "Jiu-Jitsu" is how the Brazilians pronounce the Japanese word "Ju-Jitsu" (notice the addition of the letter "i" in the Brazilian form), which also means "The Gentle Art" in Japanese. Typically, for those of us involved in the Gracie/Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu community, when there is a hashtag for GJJ, BJJ, etc., the hashtag for Arte Suave is there.

     So, what's the point of this? The point is, whether you're a practitioner of Gracie/Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu or not, it is, nonetheless, a way of life - a healthy way of life - in all aspects: physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. That is what I want this blog (and my YouTube Channel Arte Suave Life) to be about - a means to contribute to the health of the four aspect of the human body. And that is what this is about - the health of the four aspects of the body.

     Although I am an avid Gracie Jiu-Jitsu fan and practitioner, this blog and YouTube channel will not focus solely on Jiu-Jitsu, but again, on the four aspects of the human body. So please, join me on this fantastic journey as we...




Live the Life,
Jessica L. Hladky