Sergeant Tony's Blog

WOW!

I don’t know what else to say.

The response to last week’s newsletter/email caught me off guard.

It has been pretty unbelievable! I don’t think I’ve ever written anything that has gotten such a response! I even got emails from people that YOU forwarded the newsletter to! I got phone calls and I’ve gotten cards in the mail. I’ve read your own stories and your own testimonials and they’ve been wonderful!

I am thankful that sharing my own life and being “transparent” (as a couple of you said) was such an encouragement to you. But mostly I’m so blessed to know that my story (and REM’s video) reminded you to be compassionate to everyone, even Boot Camp Drill Instructors! I can’t thank you enough.

The stories of your own struggles and the challenges that many of you, and the members of your family, are facing have struck a chord in me and taught me the constant need for compassion and understanding for others. Despite how someone may appear by their public mask or their public persona, their hearts may be — and most often are — burdened and broken by things deep and unseen.

If you saw the movie “Crash,” you know just what I’m talking about.

Part of the magic of books and movies is in the ability of the reader or audience members to know the mind, heart, intentions, and history of the person in the story. It’s that knowledge, that understanding, that enables us to be compassionate toward those characters, to give them the benefit of the doubt, to be empathetic.

I’m reminded of the ancient American Indian prayer, “Oh Great Spirit, grant that I shall not criticize my brother or sister until I have walked a mile in their moccasins.”

And while you’re being compassionate and understanding of others … extend those things to yourself too!

Some of you need to ease up on yourself. (Let ME be the one to give you a hard time!!!)

Give yourself a break! (Except for Boot Camp … you gotta do that … and you know that I won’t be giving you any breaks!!!)

Be kind to yourself, take care of yourself … and then … give yourself away in service to others.

One of my favorite songs has this line in it: ” … and it’s only the giving, that makes you what you are.”

So … GIVE IT!

Give it!

Let it go!

The most important things in life aren’t things!

Posted on the blog http://usmcfitnessbootcamp.com/blog/index.php you’ll find an incredible letter written by James Ray, caught in the California wild fires. I entitled the blog entry “Fires & Gold in California.” Click on that link now and read it. It won’t take but just a couple of minutes, but it’ll be more than worth the time you take to read it and think about it. It’s more about life than it is about fires.

And while you’re at it, click on this link to Oprah’s website and then click on Randy Pausch’s last lecture. http://www2.oprah.com/health/oz/oz_20071022_350_106.jhtml?promocode=HP13

Have Kleenex handy.

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NEW YORK CITY MARATHON & TEAM FOR KIDS UPDATE

I want to thank so many of you who have made such generous contributions to Team for Kids!

If you haven’t given yet it’s still not too late!

If you’d like to make a simple and easy contribution online, all you need to do is click on the link below. You’ll need my registration number: 95426 and my last name (Ludlow) to make a donation. Of course you can make a cash or check donation directly to me if you’d prefer.

http://www.nyrrc.org/cgi-bin/htmlos.cgi/mar-programs/nyrrf/team/2007/donations.htm

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BOY’S NIGHT OUT

After a recent night of fun out with the boys, I’ve decided to start a once a month, BOYS OF BOOT CAMP NIGHT OUT! Our first meeting is tomorrow night at 7:30 at Huey’s on Poplar in the Erin Way Shopping Center!

If you’d like to throw back a few tomorrow night, let me know so that I can inform the staff at Huey’s of the approximate number of boys coming.

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ASSISTANT DRILL INSTRUCTOR TRAINING

Several of you have asked about becoming a “Richard” (Referring to Staff Sergeant “Richard” Bourland, my 0530 class assistant and right hand man). Others of you have been thinking about it and not said anything. Others of you just ought to do it!

The first training session will be Saturday, November 10 at 12:30 at the McAlister’s on Mendenhall.

Minimum requirement is: One year of continuous Boot Camp (Rank of Lance Corporal)

Open to all Boot Campers, male or female.

There are benefits to this gig, besides the obvious fame!

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BOOT CAMP SECHEDULE FOR THE 07/08 SCHOOL YEAR

There are three classes to choose from, Monday through Friday: 0530, 0830, and 5:45 PM. (The Friday evening class always meets at 5:30)

The 0530 class has a weight day workout and a cardio workout EVERY morning! The choice is yours!
The 0830 and 5:45 PM classes have a weight day workout on M/W/F and a cardio workout on TuThu.

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ONE HOUR OF CARDIO HOMEWORK: SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT!

I’m concerned that many of you do NOT get your one hour of cardio on the weekends. So, here’s my FREE OFFER! That’s right, FREE OFFER!!!!

You can join us on Saturday mornings for the half marathon training. You can run with us for an hour and enjoy the fellowship and fun of running with a group. See below!

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HALF MARATHON TRAINING

We’ll be training this coming Saturday at 8 AM at Shelby Farms.

We’ll train up until one week from the St. Jude’s Half Marathon on December 1. We train at a “5 minute ‘on,’ 1 minute ‘off’” routine. Meaning that we jog for 5 minutes at an 11 minute 30 second per mile pace, and then walk for 1 minute. Then we repeat that for the total length of time for our run. This coming Saturday we’ll be going for 1 hour and 45 minutes total. Trust me, at that pace, it’s really doable.

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THIS FROM QUEEN ANNE EMMERTH

Mark your calendar for the 4th Annual House of Mews 5k Walk/Run & Silent Auction “Meowathon.” Saturday, November 17, 2007, Overton Park (enter off of East Parkway, between Poplar and Sam Cooper), 7:30 am registration; 9:00 am start time. Benefits the House of Mews, a no-kill cat rescue and shelter in Cooper Young. Go to www. racesonline.com to register.

If you can’t run, why not adopt a cat for a day for $15? Every dollar makes a difference in the life of a kitty! All donations are tax-deductible.

The House of Mews is a 12-year-old 501(c)(3) non-profit organization staffed by volunteers. A no-kill feline sanctuary, adoption agency and cat lovers’ gift shop, the organization has cared for and adopted over 7,600 homeless cats. It exists solely on support through donations and volunteer efforts. In addition, retail pet supplies are sold to help defray expenses. All profits go directly into the care of the cats in their possession, which currently is just over 100. Need more info? houseofmew@aol.com

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YOUR BUSINESS ON THE BLOG

If you check the blog page of the Boot Camp website (http://usmcfitnessbootcamp.com/blog/), you’ll find the links to many of your fellow boot camper’s business sites. Check it out! If you’d like yours listed too, contact me ASAP!

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FRIDAY EVENING CLASS

The Friday evening class always meets at 5:30! The evening class meets Monday through Thursday at 5:45.

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“In order to do what really matters to you, you have to, first of all, know what really matters to you.”
~ Dr. Edward Hallowell

God bless you all today.

Tony

Sergeant Major Tony Ludlow
USMC Fitness BOOT CAMP, Commanding
4888 Southern Cove
Memphis, TN 38117
901-644-0145

www.usmcfitnessbootcamp.com

www.shaklee.net/tonyludlow/main