RE: What have you learned on your martial arts journey
Respect.
When you train in a gym, especially gyms that train multiple arts, you quickly learn to respect everyone.
For example if you came to my friends gym in Portland, you may have skill in BJJ, but there are also certified Thai Boxers, FMA weapons fighters, along with western boxers, JKD guys (me :) ) a karate instructor, so there is always someone who is better than you at there particular art.
I love this kind of atmosphere, because I think one of the biggest problems in the martial arts community, and I think you will agree, is the EGO, if you are training at a karate only facility, it is easy for the best guy there to get a big head, but when there is a bjj guy who could destroy him on the mat, a weapons instructor who could take him out with a knife in seconds, everyone has respect for each other, and this then transitions into life and you begin to respect everyone you meet, as well as demanding respect in return.
This is also why i think martial arts should be mandatory in schools, to teach kids respect at a young age.
Keep training bro!, look forward to seeing more posts from you in the future, and let me know when "Beyond the Mat" reaches fruition, sounds cool!