The Blessing of Losing Everthing
What We All Can Learn from Sean Strickland's Brutal Defeat at UFC 312
How Losing Everything Made Me Win (and Why Strickland Gets It)
Leading Up to the Fight…
Let’s be real—everyone pretty much knew Sean Strickland was going to lose.
Dricus Du Plessis is a beast. His post-weight cut weight was rumored to be close to 220 pounds. Strickland’s style—walking forward and poking with jabs—wasn’t going to stop a guy like that.
Didn’t matter how much trash Strickland talked—calling Du Plessis the Dirty Dutch Man, saying this one is to the death—it was hard to believe he could keep up.
Then, mid-fight, just before Du Plessis shattered Strickland’s nose, my friend texted me:
➡️ Dude, Strickland looks terrified.
Moments later, BAM—nose gone. He panicked, fought back a little, but by the end of that round, it was clear. Game over.
After the fight, Strickland just shrugged.
"That’s how I get better. That’s how I bounce back."
I felt that.
The Moment Everything Fell Apart
Years ago, I was living in Taiwan with a woman I thought I loved.
But things had turned toxic. We fought constantly, and it was wrecking my mental health.
One morning, I went to the beach just to clear my head. I walked into the ocean, went under, and for just a moment—
💭 I didn’t want to come back up.
That same morning, I got home, and she accused me of lying about where I’d been.
That was it.
I had no money. No transportation. No plan. But I packed my bag and left.
By pure luck, a friend happened to be nearby and gave me a ride back to my old city. I figured I’d stay in hotels, pick up some work, and get back on my feet.
Then reality hit me.
A few days later, I was standing at the train station, watching homeless people sleep on the benches, thinking:
🛑 If I don’t get a job soon, that’s going to be me.
Living With Strangers at 37
I ended up crashing with a married couple ten years younger than me—people I barely knew.
At 37, that wasn’t exactly a proud moment.
I’d been in a similar situation 15 years earlier in Spain, and I couldn’t help but think:
❓ Am I ever going to learn my lesson?
It wasn’t the worst situation—except for that one day they didn’t know I was home and…
🚿 Yeah, they were having fun in the shower.
And then there was the time I met a girl who wanted to come over, but I had to make sure my roommates were out first.
Not exactly ideal.
But I had a job. I had a plan.
And even though I spent a lot of mornings riding my bike from 3 AM to 6 AM, shouting into the night—
🤬 F** you, Kay!*
—deep down, I knew I’d be okay.
Why This Story Matters (and What It Has to Do With My Writing)
Now, as I finish my fourth book, I realize how much my life has been shaped by moments like this—
💡 Moments where I lost everything and had to claw my way back.
Every book has its own failures—bad sales, messy drafts, ideas that don’t land.
But each time, I come back stronger.
Just like Strickland.
Just like anyone who’s ever taken a loss and refused to let it define them.
Your Turn
Ever hit rock bottom, only to realize it was exactly what you needed?
📩 Reply and tell me your story. I’d love to hear it.
P.S. If you want to support my writing journey, check out Chaos and Comfort. No losses here—just an epic read. 😉