Image Credits: Nicholas Meregali Instagram
No matter how successful someone may be in life, they have to start somewhere. And often times, their starting point isn’t as glamorous as you may think it is…
Which was certainly the case for Nicholas Meregali.
Meregali was around 19 years old when he realized he wanted to turn Jiu-Jitsu into a full-time career. But to make that dream happen, he had to make some sacrifices – such as moving into a BJJ gym and living there…
For 5 years.
He shared more about the experience in a recent social media post (translated from Portuguese):
When I decided to make jiu jitsu my life at age 19, I started living in a JJ gym where I stayed for 5 years.
There, I shaped who I am today, and if I succeed in life, it’s certainly because these guys never let me give up on the process.We suffered a lot together and also experienced incredible experiences that unfortunately [can] never come back.
Despite the hardships, it’s nostalgia that is the strongest emotion at the moment:
To this day, when I look at old photos of our time as academies, tears of pride and gratitude roll down my eyes.
Everything I experienced in that place, even in the face of much need and pain due to ignorance, was the happiest moment of my life.
I can’t go back in time, but I can look at photos and it always brings out the good feeling of who we were together.
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