I have been impressed with the urgency of doing. Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Being willing is not enough; we must do.” ~Leonardo da Vinci
It’s been more than a year since I’ve competed. The process is the most important part of the match. Putting in the time on the mats, watching your diet, and working on your mental game so that you do not defeat yourself before the match begins. I’m 40-years old and I could easily hide behind familial or professional obligations, or even pre-existing injuries to not compete at all. However, I want more than a life full of getting by. I want to show my family the only thing standing in front of success is our will.
I attended a seminar which discussed the Psychology of Airborne Operations, Nov. 4, 2022. The session included tips and information to help paratroopers work through jumping out of a perfectly good airplane. The lesson focused on how to control your fear and process your emotions to exit the aircraft. One of the key takeaways I walked with from this seminar was the description of the Curious Competitor. The Curious Competitor is someone who seeks out opportunity to apply their skills as often as possible. Atrophy is the enemy of the Curious Competitor and the only way to get better at self-control under duress is to look for opportunities to practice the high-intensity activity.
Don’t just think. Don’t just talk. Don’t just dream. None of that matters. The only thing that matters is that you actually do; so do.” ~Jocko Willink
Warrior Mindset
Mindset is everything. You can be the strongest person in the gym, but if you are not mentally resilient, you will crumble at first sign of adversity. This phenomenon was seen during the Arnold Schwarzenegger vs. Lou Ferrigno in the cult classic, “Pumping Iron,” released in 1977. Ferrigno had Schwarzenegger beat in both mass and height, however, Schwarzenegger was still able to walk away with the title. The documentary highlights the mental games Schwarzenegger would use against Ferrigno to gain an advantage when it mattered most.
The most important lesson I need to pass on to my children is how to face adversity head on. There will always be situations that will make us uncomfortable, even scared. There will also be situations we walk into with more confidence than anyone else and still walk away empty handed. However, it’s the process matters most in every situation. How we prepare mentally, physically, and emotionally is how we can ensure the best versions of ourselves are in the fight. This is not only related to how we approach adversity, but also how we choose to live our lives as well.
Express yourself
Growing up, I was always told to have a conservative approach to body modification. Employers do not want to hire someone with tattoos or piercings all over their bodies. It’s not professional, they said. Fast-forward 18 years and I’m still here climbing in all aspects of my life. I was recently published in the Stars and Stripes: Armed Forces Tattoo Magazine, which is a yearly publication focusing on military personnel and their families who want to showcase their body art. I respect everyone’s opinion on how they choose to live their lives, as long as there is no harm to others in the process; and I’m grateful for all those individuals in my life that choose to respect my choices.
Tattoos have been a huge discussion amongst military members over the past several years. There was a time when the military was going to be more restrictive in policy in regards to tattoo size, location, and authorization for personnel grandfathered into the new regulations to show their body art while in uniform. The policies are more lenient now, but there are still critics out there who would rather maintain a more restrictive culture in the ranks. I believe the military is essentially a reflection of society and it would be beneficial to recruit talented tattooed individuals instead of losing a large population due to outdated policy.
A new generation is growing up in our midst, a generation actuated by new ideas and new principles. It is serious and enthusiastic for these new ideas and its enthusiasm, even when it is misdirected, is, I believe, in the main sincere.” ~James Joyce
In the end, I will continue to grind and live a life my family and I will be proud of. I’ll continue to make choices based on logic. Logic formed through lived experiences and advice given by those I love and trust. Life is too short to have regret. We all have a limited amount of days on this earth and it’s up to each one of us to choose how we spend the precious moments. So if you have a burning desire to do something, there is no better time than the present. If you do not have the resources, your will should be geared toward achieving your goal at a reasonable amount of time when the resources will be available; that’s called discipline. Until next time … One team, one family! ~Doc
