I know you all remember our very first contest winner, Mrs. Groundhog. I love this woman. We have become friends and have developed what I consider to be a special relationship. I like that I have been able to encourage her and that she has been such a support to me. She understands the lingering effects of a bad guy encounter. She has been instrumental in helping me to accept that this experience is going to be with me for life. No matter how strong, healthy, and happy I am, most likely, for the rest of my life something will spark that memory, probably when I least expect it. She never says those words, but as she shares her life with me, her own memories and her strength, I learn and I grow.
Every time I do a Give-A-Way, I have a bit of a let down after the winner is picked. I get so excited about the possibilities and I get so inspired by the many women who step up, reach out and take a chance. I get tickled at the anticipation of another woman saying, “Nope, not me” “Not gonna be a victim again or ever.” Then the winner is picked and I feel a sense of loss for those who didn’t get picked by the random number selector. Everyone, every single lady has a story, a reason why she took the step forward and each one deserves to win and even though I know going in they all can’t win, I am still bummed. Life is like that. The good with the bad. I had no idea anything more would develop out of the contest, but something did. A wonderful connection with a wonderful woman.
Life is also full of paradoxes. I set out only to do something for someone else. To give back to a community that gave so much to me and wouldn’t you know it, I am reaping reward after reward. I have been extremely fortunate that I have had a chance to get to know Mrs. Groundhog. She rocks!
If you have not taken the time to get to know her please go visit her husband’s blog and see for yourself. Mrs. Groundhog completed the first of three shooting courses and her hubby wrote about it. It’s a great post. I would encourage you all to leave her words of encouragement as she continues on this journey.
Tango Juliet and I, among other things, share a love and passion for training. We both travel all over and are relentless in our pursuit of self defense. He has also been a great source of inspiration to me. He is farther along on his quest than me and has been more places plus he is a man, so he doesn’t share the same mental blocks, but his enthusiasm and strength encourages me.
Strength not arrogance encourages me. Arrogance intimidates me and demotivates me to the point of self destruction almost, but strength, that inspires me and moves me to the point that I believe in myself and then I actually do. It is a trait that all the people I admire, most, have.
TJ recently wrote a fascinating post about a training he just attended. I think CTone will especially find it interesting, but so will the rest of you.
After I read the post and watched the video over at Legion’s Fate, I thought, well geez, if Arete beat the crap out me like that I would probably would be able to hit him. Joking, joking. Not serious Arete, not serious.
Go enjoy.
Dear Girl, I have noted that we need to increase the level of physical contact and striking. Please increase health coverage and invest in icy hot and ice cubes to ease the scrapes, bruises and other various pains. (Just Kidding) maybe….
Arete.
I do believe I will be out of the country for the foreseeable future. One of your skills isn’t to be able to find people in hiding is it?.
That is one of his skills, right?
I think he could find you if he wanted.
Lol, joking. I was joking:)
I am not leaving the country, probably not. Almost 100% sure I won’t actually leave. Well, I might leave, but there is a high probability I will come back, eventually, at some point, you know after he forgets he knows who I am.
Well I am pretty good at hide and seek but also well versed at sneaking up on you when you are not really expecting it. So I will take under advisement that you may or may not be pulling a Houdini.
Arete.
Yeah, you’re pretty good:).
You already know this, but for goofy Anon, I will say, i have no desire to hide. You know I would never hide from you, not because you couldn’t find me but because you might not come looking…lololololololol
However, I am pretty easy to find cuz I am either with my family or John and trust me when I say if I am not with either of them, I want to be training with you.
Good ones all, and the one CT did, maybe 30 years ago… sigh…
You already gots the skilzzzz, sir.
Training that leaves bruises, and AIWB to boot! Awesome!
I must be a glutton for punishment to want to be able to train like you do.
Actually, I think the bruising is kinda important. Desensitizing yourself to the pain allows you to stay in the fight. The first thing my sensei taught us was how to take a fall. The second thing he taught us was how to get right back up. As he put it, somebody bigger than who or who gets the jump on you is gonna be shocked when you bounce right back up or when you take pain without thought.
I think so too. It is important, but CTone is right, people think it is crazy to do.
Wow! Did you see that folks?!? A Marine wife called me a man! 🙂 Pretty high praise indeed for an old swabbie. 🙂
I never thought I’d serve as an inspiration to anyone. I’m terribly flattered.
You inspire me too kiddo!
🙂
I’m so thrilled Mrs. G got to do her training. That made me smile. TJ is a regular read as well. Also, I wasn’t kidding you need to hit Arete before he asks. 🙂
Me too. How cool is she and TJ?!!!
I am going to hit him. I am. I. Am. Going. To. Hit. Him. I am:)
I never thought my conversations would go like this…lol. Thanks for your encouragement.
With all this training you do and look at I thougt I would add one that I loved.
It’s called “The SEAL Adventure Challenge.”
It takes place at Dam Neck military base in Virginia Beach.
It’s 24 hrs of BUD/S training w/ a simulated night mission at the end. No sleep, just keep moving.
If you want to see how much you can really do and push yourself farther than you ever thought, I highly recommend it.
If you go say “Hi” to Instructor Turbo for me. You can’t miss him; he has one leg, both arms tattoed to the wrists, and he is an active duty DEVGRU SEAL!
Thanks for the scars!
That looks crazy cool. Think I would need to train for that specifically though. I saw the gear list included swimming trunks, so if I went I would be topless…could give me a tacticle advantage:).