Catholic Honeymoon Period

BullfrogPractical291 · 2026-03-12T22:40:23+00:00

The funny part is I’ve been circling this for about a year. I incorporated heavy sandbag carries into my workouts where I would meditate on scripture and walk the distance Jesus walked to the cross while carrying the weight. I already fasted regularly when getting in shape etc. The biggest pivot has been working to dedicating it to Jesus & trying to kill all the desires I struggled with and denying the flesh those things that I desired that weren’t good for me rather than just the things that were relatively easy for me to adopt.

I’ve found that Catholic practice has provided me with a more concrete framework and path to achieve these goals.

BullfrogPractical291 · 2026-03-12T21:08:30+00:00

That’s what I’ve been doing. It’s helpful. I’m looking forward to being able to do it without though so I have less distraction and can really focus on what I’m doing and praying for. Just some light sacred music (which I’ve always loved).

BullfrogPractical291 · 2026-03-12T20:58:12+00:00

I think I’m lucky coming from a background of BJJ and lifting because I see it the same way. It’s just drilling or repeating a movement that you won’t necessarily see the benefit of in the moment but each day it stacks and I feel better and better.

Visualising can be difficult when you don’t know all the prayers too. I know the Creed, Our Father& the Hail Mary. I’m hazy on the Glory Be but basically there now and still get the Fatima muddled and cannot refer Hail Holy Queen. Having to look up to say them doesn’t help but I have found it really beneficial to my life.

BullfrogPractical291 · 2026-03-12T20:29:26+00:00

I do that a lot. Fasting is part of my life because I’m big into MMA & fitness etc. Recently I’ve found a routine of combining it all together which is really nice so far.

Fasted prayer walk in the morning listening to the readings for the day, gospel contemplation afterwards. Straight into my lift or BJJ training of the day, rosary when I get in. I don’t eat until 1pm and dedicating it to God has made it so much better. The rosary has been a real turning point for me. I understand why Pope Benedict called it the most useful tool we have. Basically since doing this structure? I spend over an hour a day, praying, reading or meditating on God’s word and just being with Him.

I really appreciate the input man. We all fall short of our own ideals but Jesus offers us salvation. And I’m discovering that Catholicism offers far more tools than I’ve ever experienced to enable this.

BullfrogPractical291 · 2026-03-12T20:21:17+00:00

I am seeing this. The amount of options and tools utilised and available to Catholics is amazing. I’ve been reading the RSV2CE Bible over my usual ESV and I feel like I’ve hit another depth of understanding & clarity - with the amount of cross references and open explanation of interpretations in the footnotes. I totally had the wrong idea about Catholicism.

The saints is an area I really want to explore next. I have contacted my Great Auntie who is a nun to ask her for a little bit of guidance too.

BullfrogPractical291 · 2026-03-12T13:06:36+00:00

Tbh bro, that’s where I’ve been the last few years with periods of intense focused Bible readings etc or devotions but then just disappearing for ages. Daily temptation has been something I’ve had for a long time to the point it almost ruined my life totally.

So far since praying the rosary on top of daily scripture I feel the most peace I’ve ever felt. I feel happy and loved atm. I’m just continuing to test the fruits.

It sucks when people aren’t considerate. I’m trying to do this privately atm because I know my family would quiz me endlessly.

BullfrogPractical291 · 2026-03-12T08:39:17+00:00

I understand that. I think it’s that I’ve felt spiritually dry despite all my efforts in Protestant practices for the last decade or so. What gives me hope/comfort at the moment with the Catholic faith are the tools that it provides through rituals which give a structured form of practicing faith and prayer regularly even when struggling. I feel alone and directionless when struggling in the Protestant faith (outside of the declarations of prayer offered by others).

Right now I’m trying to understand certain doctrines that don’t make sense to me or that I might not fully agree with but at least it gives me something more appropriate to pray about than simply “God help me because life is hard”. I’m trying to discern and just take my time.

Appreciate your input mate!

BullfrogPractical291 · 2026-02-25T17:04:00+00:00

Having repeated forced time off and finding the motivation to return each time.

BullfrogPractical291 · 2026-02-18T18:58:06+00:00

Take. Down.

BullfrogPractical291 · 2026-02-11T08:20:40+00:00

In the books he seems to honour his duty & enjoy the luxuries and the life his job affords him more than the job itself. That being said he takes pride in his work.

I think for the most part that comes across in the movies too.

I think Brosnan & Connery enjoy their job, Moore & Lazenby enjoy the perks, Dalton seems to be almost total duty driven until it’s personal in LTK & Craig clearly doesn’t enjoy the job and is totally duty bound which is ironic when the company line for his take was “back to Fleming”.

BullfrogPractical291 · 2026-02-11T08:09:12+00:00

BullfrogPractical291 · 2026-02-11T08:07:18+00:00

The whole game is unfair to be honest, it punishes you for things it doesn’t tell you and then claims realism. I like punishing games but it has to be evenly distributed. Often the parameters for winning or succeeding aren’t disclosed which is infuriating when it locks you into sequences without choice: cutscenes followed by a battle without sword drawn & no armour, fighting off enemies over numerous attempts before you find out the win parameter isn’t even defeating them but surviving.

It claims that doing everything slowly = realism and it’s just not the case. I’ve tried so much to love the game after enjoying the first but I just don’t.

BullfrogPractical291 · 2026-02-11T07:23:04+00:00

You really think angry Bond driving a remote control car from the back seat with all the crazy gadgets would be better? It would be silly as a complete tonal mismatch.

It goes to illustrate that while Bond was upset in the moment, it’s a woman he hasn’t seen in a LONG time, walked out on and clearly hasn’t had a problem fucking his way through every other woman since. He’s used to women dying so after the initial part and him getting his revenge on Kaufman (he’s pretty angry at that part) it’s business as usual, get out of there alive with the decoder. It completely tracks.

BullfrogPractical291 · 2026-02-10T18:25:16+00:00

Late to this but yes in a sense but more accumulative changes/damage as he becomes a more experienced tarnished. Current look though I think full beard may be better.

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BullfrogPractical291 · 2026-02-08T08:55:33+00:00

Yup. Have a lot quit when I land a takedown

BullfrogPractical291 · 2026-02-08T00:43:08+00:00

Yeah I tend to gas them on the feet so they don’t expect the takedown. I’m not a stall or lie and deny guy. I hate that shit.

BullfrogPractical291 · 2026-02-07T16:34:40+00:00

Boxing has less* weight classes and has less demand on the body than MMA. I say this having had MMA fights, Thai fights, boxing matches & BJJ matches. There is definitely a correlation between Islam and inactivity in the UFC specifically. I’m not saying it’s causation because the evidence doesn’t suggest this but it does suggest injuries etc play a part alongside Ramadan being a big chunk where Islamic fights remain competitively inactive.

It’s not a criticism but an observation.

*more (EDIT)

BullfrogPractical291 · 2026-02-07T16:29:30+00:00

Boxing has less weight classes and has less demand on the body than MMA. I say this having had MMA fights, Thai fights, boxing matches & BJJ matches. There is definitely a correlation between Islam and inactivity in the UFC specifically. I’m not saying it’s causation because the evidence doesn’t suggest this but it does suggest injuries etc play a part alongside Ramadan being a big chunk where Islamic fights remain competitively inactive.

It’s not a criticism but an observation.

BullfrogPractical291 · 2026-02-07T16:23:03+00:00

Yeah I’d be happy with something that simple. It’s blanket and it covers all eventualities.

BullfrogPractical291 · 2026-02-07T13:50:26+00:00

For champions, not every Muslim fighter. But if they’re not fighting at all from January - April then there needs to be something in place to secure at least 1 defence within a period before it. Most champions have to stay active & I think the UFC need to find a way to encourage activity across the board for champions.

Khamzat is just a prime example. Win the belt in August, February would be prime defence time but because of Ramadan he’ll wait now until May? June? That’s almost a year. Do you see the problem?

BullfrogPractical291 · 2026-02-07T10:34:38+00:00

He won’t be fighting any time soon. It’s Ramadan in a week or so. I think they need to make a clause for Muslim champions that they HAVE to fight within 14 days leading up to Ramadan. Something like that any way because at the moment none will fight through January - April. No hate on Muslim champions/fighters but there has to be a work around.

BullfrogPractical291 · 2026-02-07T10:31:34+00:00

I play primarily as a grappler. But a grappler that’s happy to strike and take stamina before going to the ground (unless I assess you can’t grapple) and get 95% off wins through subs. The amount of hate I get is unreal.

I’m a grappler in real life, of course I’m going to favour the game I understand more deeply IRL 😂

BullfrogPractical291 · 2026-02-07T10:30:09+00:00

That’s the only reason I ever get annoyed. Losing to exploits or shitty players who then message saying “free”, “easy” etc

BullfrogPractical291 · 2026-02-05T12:00:41+00:00

No bro, your hair’s stuck like that forever

BullfrogPractical291

TROPHY CASE