6 Minutes Wrestling With Life Quotes

“There is a club in this world that you do not join knowingly.

One day you are just a member.

It is “The life changing events club.”

The fee to join the club is hurt beyond belief, payable in full, up front for a lifetime membership.

The benefit of the club is a new found perspective on life, and a deep understanding that you may not be happy about your current situation, but you can be happy in your current situation.

The only rule to the club is that you cannot tell anyone that you are a member.

The club does not provide a directory of its members, but when you look into a member’s eye, you can tell that they too are part of the club. Members are allowed to exchange that brief eye contact that says: “I didn’t know.”

Being a member of this club is the last thing that anyone initially wants in their life.

Being a member of this club is the best thing that ever happens to a person in their life, and there is not a person in the club that would ever give up their membership.

If you really look and know what you are looking for you can spot the clubs members; they are the ones that provide a random act of kindness and do something for someone who can never repay them for what they have done. They are the people spreading joy and optimism and lifting people’s spirits even when their own heart has been broken.

I have paid my dues; my lifetime membership arrived today, not by mail, but by a deep inner feeling that I cannot describe.

It is the best club that I never wanted to be part of.

But I am glad that I am a member.”
― John Passaro, 6 Minutes Wrestling With Life

“It is at this moment that I realize the best thing I ever did in my life was to marry this woman.

She is willing to give up her life for her child. I know most parents would do the same. But how many mothers would give up everything that they love, everything that they will ever be able to do in the future for the “possibility and not the guarantee” of getting their child better.

Now reduce the odds of success to less than 1%.

How many mothers are still standing?

She is.”
― John Passaro, 6 Minutes Wrestling With Life

“Just do the next right thing.

Then repeat indefinitely.”
― John Passaro, 6 Minutes Wrestling With Life

“I love my mother.

My mother loves my dad.

Those two facts are undeniable.

I want my father to live.
I want him to fight to live as long as he can.

My mother wants to let him pass.
She does not want him suffering anymore.

She says that I am not there in the middle of the night at home, when he begs her to let him die.

I say that he should not be taking the medicine that the doctor is prescribing, that it made Mike Tyson want to eat his opponents young.”
― John Passaro, 6 Minutes Wrestling With Life

“You see twenty-six years ago, when I was in high school, my goal and mission in life was to win a New York State Wrestling Championship.

I committed myself to a lifestyle, made the sacrifices, put in the time, starved myself, shaved my head, had the hunger, desire and determination, but I came up short.

For many years, after I graduated it seemed like I got nothing out of my six years of total dedication to the sport. That the trade off of what I gave and what I got in return to this sport was way out of whack.

I hated wrestling for it.

To put every ounce of your soul into achieving something and to get nothing out of it in return was beyond my comprehension and could not be justified in my head.

Until I had adversity in my life.

And slowly but surely I started realizing how much the sport of wrestling actually has given back to me. Much more than I ever knew.

When life throws you to your back, you need to know how not to get pinned, get off of your back and do enough to make up the difference in order to win.”
― John Passaro, 6 Minutes Wrestling With Life

“I need to dream.

I need to believe.

I need to know that I have some control in my life.

That if I work hard, that I will be rewarded.

That life is not arbitrary.

I need to believe that bad things happen to good people, for a greater reason.

That dedication, sacrifice, hard work, discipline are all worthy attributes that will eventually produce extraordinary results.

That if I live a certain lifestyle, that my family will be better for that.

That there is a direct link between my actions and my results.

That If I prepare properly that I can face the insurmountable foe and look him in the eye and say “Bring it on, I can take whatever you can dish out.”

I need to keep living in order to save my daughter from dying.”
― John Passaro, 6 Minutes Wrestling With Life

“There was no way possible that I was going to have a life and not live it.”
― John Passaro, 6 Minutes Wrestling With Life

“I am noticing a big difference in the way the hospital workers are looking at me as I approach Jess’s room.

The look of sincere sympathy that used to be on their faces when they made eye contact with me is gone.

It has been replaced by shear helplessness as they quickly walk past me with their heads tilted down and to the right.

I feel like Bud Fox walking into his office with the Securities and Exchange Commission awaiting him.”
― John Passaro, 6 Minutes Wrestling With Life

“My original fear that my daughter was going to die before BettyJane and myself has now been replaced with the fear that she is going to outlive us.”
― John Passaro, 6 Minutes Wrestling With Life

“Mr. Passaro, let me teach you about how medicine works.” He starts out.

“One of two things is going to happen. Either the Doctors are going to say I told you so, or they are going to say that Jess was the exception. What you believe will determine who gets to say I told you so to whom.”

“Never stop believing.” He begs me.

“Doctor, you are on the team”. I say.

He smiles.”
― John Passaro, 6 Minutes Wrestling With Life

“I have felt things that no one should ever have to feel.

I have seen things that no one should ever have to see.

I have heard things that no one should ever have to hear.

I have been beaten down so many times that It is reflexive to get back up immediately without any hesitation expecting another whack to come instantaneously.

I have got up off the mat more times than what should be necessary.

I know I will need to continue doing so many, many more times.

I am prepared to do so and more without complaint or regret.

It is outright exhausting.

I keep experiencing this pain because 1 life is worth it.

Life is awesome and is worth fighting for. Even 1 life is worth it.

For 1 life to experience life is my mission.

To quote JFK:
"We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win."

So I will continue to feel, see and hear things that no parent should ever have to in order for 1 life to be able to experience this awesome life again.”
― John Passaro, 6 Minutes Wrestling With Life

“I know the answer to improving Jess's condition doesn't lay in tears the answer is in sweat.”
― John Passaro, 6 Minutes Wrestling With Life

“It seems like it has been forever.
But i getbthe feeling that forever hasn't even started yet.”
― John Passaro, 6 Minutes Wrestling With Life

“Treat a man as he is, and he will remain as he is.  Treat a man as he could be and he will become what he should be.”
― John A. Passaro, 6 Minutes Wrestling With Life

“I believe there are no coincidences in life, only subtle signs that when you inspect them, will lead you to where you need to go.”
― John A. Passaro, 6 Minutes Wrestling With Life

“The distance between insanity and genius Is measured only by success.”
― John A. Passaro, 6 Minutes Wrestling With Life

“You are closer to victory than you know, when you feel you just can’t go on any longer.  It is what makes champions who they are, the ability to muster up a little bit more when everyone else would give in.  It is at that moment a tipping point usually occurs.”
― John A. Passaro, 6 Minutes Wrestling With Life

“Courage isn’t having the strength to go on, It is going on When you don’t have the strength.”
― John A. Passaro, 6 Minutes Wrestling With Life

“Bob”
― John A. Passaro, 6 Minutes Wrestling With Life

“September 14th, 2009”
― John A. Passaro, 6 Minutes Wrestling With Life

“Find that spot.”
― John A. Passaro, 6 Minutes Wrestling With Life

“We choose to go to the moon in this decade And do the other things, Not because they are easy, But because they are hard, Because that goal Will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, Because that challenge Is one that we are willing to accept, One we are unwilling to postpone, And one, Which we intend to win.   John F. Kennedy”
― John A. Passaro, 6 Minutes Wrestling With Life

“When life throws you to your back, you need to know how not to get pinned, get off of your back and do enough to make up the difference in order to win.”
― John A. Passaro, 6 Minutes Wrestling With Life

“One person with belief is worth a thousand people with only an interest.”
― John A. Passaro, 6 Minutes Wrestling With Life

“Whose team are you on?” I ask him.  

“I don’t follow you – what do you mean whose team am I on?” he asks.  

“I mean, you want your son back and there are forces in this world that want to take him from you.

There is a battle going on.

Sides have been taken, John’s team is his family and the other team is everything that you don’t want for your son.

Walking away is the exact thing that the other side wants.

Instead of walking away, you need to fight.”  

I add: “Treat a man as he is, and he will remain as he is. Treat a man as he could be and he will become what he should be.”
― John A. Passaro, 6 Minutes Wrestling With Life

“Always believe.”
― John A. Passaro, 6 Minutes Wrestling With Life

“It is 2:06 am, one of 1488 nights that I lie awake trying to make sense of it all, trying to find an ounce of inspiration so I can convert it to a pound of energy - Energy so needed to just win the next day.”
― John A. Passaro, 6 Minutes Wrestling With Life