GRADUATION DAY - Class #191

“But my glory, it doesn’t happen in front of a crowd. It doesn’t happen in a stadium or on a stage. There are no medals handed out. It happens in the darkness of the early morning. In solitude. Where I try. And I try. And I try again. With everything I have, to be the best that I can possibly be.” 

– Jocko Willink

     
              

Starting left: Me, Allyson & James

During the early part of 2018, in the winter chill of the dark morning, I laid there on my back executing tired flutter kicks on the pavement in a thick cold fog. Standing just a few feet away, Instructor Walston (IW) calmly leaned into the ear of Instructor Soria (IS), "It's a wash." as he peered through the fog across the parking lot making note there were only two members present of the original nine from class #191.
In an indifferent tone IW asked us, "Pays to be a winner doesn't it gentlemen?".

Still on our backs fluttering away we bellowed, "HOOYAH instructor Walston!".

In a stern and commanding tone IW spoke further, "You showed up and you're putting out. You pass. But you must finish today's evolution. On your feet - jumping jacks."

"HOOOOOYAH!" we exclaimed.

Class #191 did not graduate after the expected two weeks but were extended an additional three days as a result of some egregious tardiness and performance on some occasions (everyone is required to be on site by 04:45).  Not everyone graduated and there were some injuries.  One Team member crawled so much on the cold and wet sand that she got the equivalent of 3-degree burns on her legs. Another Team member caught a bad flu during the last few days but he persisted and prevailed.  Both displayed unrelenting persistence and determination and graduated as a result.  I myself, while crawling in the cold water on my face, surely felt my balls tuck away into my pelvis in retreat. Thankfully they managed their way back out after a hot shower.  Overall, there were no injuries that couldn't be healed completely and the program did its job above expectation.

Graduating from class #191 was a great achievement in my book and marked only the beginning of a new journey which I intend to document using this blog.  It's through this process, "Blogging", that I wish to record my struggles, failures, and successes while - hopefully, finding small nuggets of wisdom and inspire others to pursue a similar journey.

IT PAYS TO BE A WINNER.

Anthony