Sergeant Tony's Blog

“LET GO! I’LL CATCH YOU!” pleaded my older brother Jack.

I was little, probably 5 or 6 years old, and stuck up in a tree in our backyard. I’d climbed up, but now I couldn’t seem to figure out how to climb down. I was scared. Jack tried to tell me how to climb down, but fear had me frozen in place. Now he was telling me to let go and trust him to catch me.

Last year I gave my youngest son, Nathan, a “book” that I’d written for him. The book was to be one of his high school graduation presents. I’d taken 18 months to make regular entries in a journal that might serve as a guidebook about life and living, as best as I understood it. I wrote about all kinds of things covering a wide range of topics from money to relationship building to time management to decision making to confidence and insecurity. I wrote about lots of things. I even wrote about women! (That was a very short entry, given my lack of understanding of the subject!) Several entries in the journal dealt with the subject of fear and how to deal with it.

There’s a book out there entitled “Embrace the Fear and do it Anyway!” I haven’t read the book, but I love the title.

Courage is often mistakenly thought of as a lack of fear, but in fact courage is always accompanied by fear. Only crazy people don’t feel fear in a dangerous or threatening situation. Bravery is simply overcoming the fear and taking action anyway!

What are you afraid of?

Most of us are afraid of the same things. I’m not talking about snakes, or spiders, or the like. I think we’re all afraid of the unknown, death, rejection, and failure, to name a few. Those things are common to us all. But why do some people sit in one place and watch, while others do?

I’d like to encourage you to be a DOER!

Overcome your fears by acknowledging them and then DO IT! ENGAGE! EXECUTE!

Or as Larry the Cable Guy would say … “Git r dunn!!”

Today, look at your life though adventurous glasses and consider what you would you do if you knew you could not fail.

Ships are made for the ocean, not the harbor. You weren’t put here to “play it safe” but to live an “abundant life!” So set your course, weigh the anchor, trim the sails, hoist the colors, and get underway!

When I let go of the tree … Jack caught me, put me on my feet … laughed … thumped me on my head and called me a sissy!

And that was the last time he ever called me that!

Don’t y’all be no sissy!!

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Law Enforcement Memorial Week

This week we acknowledge those in law enforcement. In particular we honor those law enforcement professionals who’ve given their lives in the line of duty.

Our own David Townsend is a Lieutenant on the Collierville Police Department.

And new-ish Boot Camper Michelle Dunn is the widow of Shelby County Sheriff’s Patrol Officer Tim Dunn, who was killed in the line of duty in October 2004.

To David and Michelle, and to all of our law enforcement professionals, we thank you!

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FIRE SURVIVORS UPDATE

I want to thank you all for your continued support and the donations given to help meet the needs of the family whose home was burned down. Your donations are still greatly appreciated.

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SATURDAY RUN

Boot Campers Mike Barta and Anne Emmerth will be leading an informal group of Boot Camp runners on Saturday morning at 8 AM at the U of M. They’ll meet in front of the parking garage (Mt. Fuji) on Zach Curlin. This group will be going for 1 hour, 5 minutes “on” and 1 minute “off.”

Come and get your one hour of cardio with some fellow Boot Campers!

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SUMMER HOURS

Traditionally the 0830 class, which meets only on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, goes on hiatus for June, July, and August. If you’re a regular member of the 0830 class and you WANT that class to continue through the summer, you need to email me and let me know. If a significant number of you 0830 boot campers want to continue through the summer, I’ll keep that class on active duty.

In June we’ll begin a 0645 class at Christ Methodist. That 0645 summer class will go for June, July, and August, meeting on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

There are NO changes to the 0530 class or the evening class!

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CHEAP BOTOX

Every once in a while I need to remind you to increase the weight of your dumbbells. If you’re able to perform the exercises without “making a face” then you NEED to get some heavier ones. The grimace will help keep your face youthful and bright! (If you can scratch your nose while holding your dumbbells — I saw that this morning — you need heavier ones!)

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“When you stop moving, it’s over.”
~ Don Wildman, 75 year old athlete and adventurer

To your good health and fitness,

Tony

Sergeant Major Tony Ludlow
USMC Fitness BOOT CAMP, Commanding
5358 Denwood
Memphis, TN 38120
901-644-0145

www.usmcfitnessbootcamp.com

www.shaklee.net/tonyludlow/main