Another year has come and gone. It seems the older I get the faster they tick
on by and more importance is placed on planning and making the next one even
better. There have been many years of
success as well as several really dark years.
It is a pattern many of us have gone through and doesn’t make me
unique. In fact, it makes me quite
human. There are times I wish I had
achieved more or wish I had seized an opportunity that in hindsight was clear
as day. In the end, I am extremely happy
for where I am and the path I am travelling.
I use New Years Day as an opportunity to reflect upon the
past year and start the planning process for the next. The formulating of new resolutions has never
been my thing as it has often proven to be unsustainable. Blayne and Jeni Smith on their recent AppleBell radio podcast talk about writing realistic goals that ultimately are
something you will stick with. I
personally believe self-reflection is the key to charting the next leg in your
journey.
Here are my thoughts on this past year. From a sports perspective I am displeased how
the year started but really happy on where it ended. I started the year with a severe case of
plantar fasciitis and a really sore lower back from compensating my gait. In the sport cycle that started in 2011 this
was probably my lowest point. The pain
was so severe that I couldn’t even walk and it put a dark cloud over my
person. Patience is what solved
it. I had to be patient enough to slow
down and rest. It was not my preferred way
of starting off the year, but it was a lesson I had to learn.
With 2016 came a different philosophy in managing
movement. I hired a multisport coach to
help me get fitter and healthier. These
two things are not necessarily the same.
People show up in your life at the right time to make a difference. I am extremely thankful for Mark and his
guidance as a sport and life coach. He
built a plan for me that took me from being barely able to walk to completing a
double-crossing of the Grand Canyon. I
know I am not where I need to be but I also know I am on the right path for
getting there.
This year I attended Team Red, White, and Blue’s National
Triathlon camp in Austin, Texas and met some of the most inspiring athletes and
leaders I have ever come across. They
are just humble members of our community looking to build better lives and
connect with each other. They have
inspired me to be better! I am extremely
thankful for what Team RWB has done for me and my family and the continuing enrichment
of our lives.
Using the data from my Strava account: I ran 750 miles, biked 981 miles, completed 3
triathlons and 2 duathlons, ran the 2016 Marine Corps Marathon, ran the Phunt
25K, and completed a double crossing of the Grand Canyon in under 24 hours.
All of the above was done while completing GV initial
qualification training, starting a new job in another squadron, standing up the
Team RWB Southern Maryland Chapter, finishing a Project Management
certification from Syracuse University, starting G550 training and completing
US Masters Swimming Coaching Level I & II certifications. Yes…it has been a busy year.
Last year I made a serious effort to reconnect with people
who have meant a lot to me over the years.
I have been terrible at keeping up and wanted to change that. This year I am going to continue with this.
We are a family in transition as my military career is
starting to come to a close. It is now
time to really put thought in moving forward and what the next chapter is going
to look like. This will require the
building and honing of new skills. It
will also require the reevaluation of what it truly important. I can say with certainty that family,
friendship, and service are the cornerstones of what I hold most dear. I have no sweeping resolutions for the New
Year, I just know that Project Life: 2017 has now started.
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