Focus on what you have, not what you're missing
Tuesday, December 6, 2011 at 9:30 AM By Sam “ALL JAM” Perez
As uplifting as I try to live my life by imparting positive wisdom to others, I could never take credit for the simple, yet powerful title of this latest Jam Session. That distinction goes to Junkie listener Hal ‘from Chicago’ Fuentes who says, he tries everyday to live his life by focusing on what he has, not what he’s missing. If you’re like me, upon seeing his photo, many of you probably thought I had interviewed UFC lightweight Gleison Tibau; but as successful as Tibau has been in his career, he’s accomplished nothing next to our brother Hal.
A native of Nicaragua, born in the capital city of Managua, which was also the birthplace of legendary boxing champion Alexis Arguello, it must have been destiny that Hal would grow up loving combat sports. However, civil war in his native country in 1979 would force his parents to move his family, including a young Hal at the age of two and half, to the windy city of Chicago.
That move would provide Hal with his initial passion in sports, baseball. Hal told me, “I was a baseball addict till I was about 16.” Hal had dreams of someday becoming a professional baseball player. However, those plans were quickly derailed when he saw the 1993 film ‘A Bronx Tale’.
“That movie ruined dreams of baseball for me,” he said. “When Sonny said to Calogero, “You think Mickey Mantle cares whether your father can pay the rent. Nobody cares.” “I thought about it and I realized he was right. Now I use that phrase all the time, no matter the situation.” At first I thought he was kidding, but when I went on to ask him how he felt about his hometown Cubs and the whole ‘Bartman’ situation, he quickly responded by saying, “Nobody cares.”
Granted, that’s not true; as far as Cubs fans are concerned. However, Hal’s perspective is different. “I don’t feel any ill will towards that guy; I don’t get why people got so upset.” Part of that may have to do with his chosen profession Psychology. “Growing up Catholic, although I am now a Universalist when it comes to religion, I always admired priests. It had to do with the way they were able to help people with advice. Around 15 years of age I knew my calling was to help people in their lives,” he said.
However, realizing he could never live the celibate lifestyle of a Catholic Priest, he decided he’d do it another way. “Psychology was the best compromise; that’s what led me on my path.” So, upon graduating high school in 1994 he enrolled at the University of Illinois as a psych major. While there Hal told me, “I was not your typical college student. I tended to hang out with more of a hippie crowd. We were counter cultural, not your typical frat boys. Instead of football games, we would go catch a band or go to a dance. I was more into philosophizing.”
Yet, while he no longer followed team sports, he still had a love for combat sports. “I always loved boxing. Like most Latinos my influence for the sport came from my father and my uncles who always used to watch fights when I was growing up,” he said. Then during his freshman year in college, while at a video store he saw a VHS tape of an event he had read about on-line, UFC 1. Hal said, “Once I saw it, I was hooked; it was like the Kumite in ‘Bloodsport’, only this was live and in person. Before that the only time we would see something like this was in ‘Enter the Dragon’.”
However, being a psychology major, he looks at MMA and boxing a little different. He says, “Combat sports are an honest expression of play. It is a game played by adults of life’s struggles that encompasses the mind, body and spirit; it’s like chess.” From that point forward, Hal says, “I became obsessed; Vale Tudo, Jungle Fights, Pride. I started purchasing tapes from a guy on-line.” Sound familiar Junkies?
Hal would go on not only to get his bachelor’s degree in Psychology, but also his Master’s and Doctorate’s degree as well. So, technically I guess I should be referring to him as Dr. Hal. His inspiration and influence came from his parents who from humble beginnings in Nicaragua, both went on to become college graduates, with his father going on to obtain an M.B.A. here in the states with English as a second language.
As for discovering Junkie radio, all the credit goes to his phone. “I got my first smart phone earlier this year and I found out you can download podcasts,” he said. “Immediately I searched for MMA radio and Junkie was one of the first hits. I downloaded it and as soon as I listened to the first show I was hooked right from the start. Just like Junkie listener ‘Raider Kela’ it serves as the perfect backdrop for my morning commute to work, which is about 45 minutes to an hour.”
Besides MMA, Hal’s other passion in life, similar to mine, is music. He loves everything from grunge rock, which was the backdrop to his high school days, to Latin Jazz and World music, which came about from his Hispanic roots growing up listening to Salsa. In 1992 after seeing Tito Puente on the timbales in the movie ‘The Mambo Kings’, he went out and bought some drums. Since then he’s become somewhat of an amateur musician playing percussion at any open jam session from blues to Latin music he can find.
However, his number one passion in life is his family, which is comprised of his wife and two kids. Hal reminds us that, “As long as we have our health, family, friends and three meals a day, we are rich.” Besides working full-time at a hospital, he also has a private practice and when I talked to him, he was on his way to teaching a class in graduate psychology, which he does part-time as well.
Where does he find the time for all this? Hal says, “The key to life is adapting; it’s an honor to help people. It never ceases to amaze me how you can put two people in a situation and they can both come out of it in different ways.” Hal’s favorite quote comes from renowned psychologist Dr. Alan Slater who said, “Perception is at the core of all experience.” Think about it.
Reader Comments (6)
Great job Sam as always. Hal you are one of my favorite junkies to interact with and have tons of respect for you and your accomplishments in life.
Pretty cool, I give it an 8. Best one was Dr. Sam.
Thats a lot of things you do for having a family, I can barley get them to the movies.
How does he listen to the show and treat patients? I hope he uses the Royce Gracie voice to treat patients.
Just makes me more and more an MMA JUNKIE4LIFE!!!! Even without the back drop of stories, there is one thing that is clear. We all share a special bond, thanks to MMA JUNKIE. Great write Sam! Much Respect Hal. Can't wait to shake the paws in May 2012 with my Brothers and Sisters. Much Love & Aloha Kela Ela Ela Ela :)
Your website have very interesting article. I got knowledge from here. Besides that, your blog is so popular among the searchers from search engines christian louboutin replica boots make you feel good .christian louboutin replica boots is good watch!