Sometimes in life it is necessary to lock shields with your battle buddies to do something as a team that you couldn’t do as individuals. Sometimes that’s as simple as holding yourself accountable for weighing yourself each day. Sometimes it’s for something with more substance. 12 studs joined us today for a little taste of locking shields with a battle buddy.

Warmup: Instead of the normal Side Straddle Hops, we took a “Follow Me” stroll around the church to get things started after choosing a shield lock pair/trio and stroll back around the building. Then we deconstructed the 8-count Man Maker as a warm-up: Squats; Plank Jacks; Merkins; and then we put it together to do some 8-count Man Makers. We were ready and went back to the flag.

The Thang: Bo Jackson was one of the best bi-athletes of YHCs youth. Bi, as in Baseball and Football. So we ran like Bo Knows, because young lads like Noonan, Don’t Know Crap about Bo, according to Aquaman. We performed 10 reps of the following exercises down the field, every 10 yards:

  • Merkins
  • Squats
  • 4-ct Flutter Kicks
  • Each trip back to the start you are able to talk more to your buddy. To lead a man first requires that he trust you because you know him.
  • Then we made a series of sprints, starting with the 5th cone, then the 6th, then the 8th and then the 10th. The idea was to stick together and push through when things get tougher. We only missed the mark at the 8th cone when men were left behind. After 10 penalty burpees, we continued on.

Then we circled up and performed a series of exercises that YHC hates. Only with your battle buddy are you willing to do what you need to do, but hate doing:

  • 8-Count Man Makers
  • Burpees
  • Good Mornings -Heck, those are stupid so we didn’t do them.  So we did Flutter Kicks
  • J-Los
  • The Qs group got to do 20 Man Makers, 15 Burpees, and everyone did 50 Flutter Kicks, and 10 J-Los.

BOM/COT: We had many prayers offered today, for those having babies, Salom’s friends, and those who are going to have a long road of recovery after their babies have required procedures, like Grout’s friend Robbie. For those taking care of their parents, Aquaman, for those going through tough times, like James. Prayers for those looking for jobs, like Rudy, and others who are going through possible job transitions, like Chimi & BJ. Prayers for those in Cape Fear, who are supporting the Ruck for Toby and fundraising efforts to Ruck with him and others struggling with depression and marriage issues that seem to put us in the deep gloom. Praises for Jackpot who noticed getting stronger and putting in “Belding” like effort of 120%.

Moleskin: It seems to suck the life out of you when the burdens you bear as a man seem to weigh you down – more than you can take. This June, YHC felt that way, like the quicksand I was fighting was simply sucking me in further. I used anger as a way to cope with the stress. I was snapping at my family. I looked angry, because I was fighting. I knew something was not right and I was fighting through it. Things needed to change. And then things did changed.

It was at the PCS High School graduation duty. I had time to think, to breath, to submit. I never quit, so it was a realization that submitting to the Sky Q is different than quitting. It’s realizing that I don’t have to do this by myself. I talked to String Bean, I talked to Tonka, I talked to many others who just listened. I trained with Ma Bell, Cousteau, Jock Itch, See Thru, and Closed Hand. I never quit and by submitting, I was able to stop thrashing and sinking into that quicksand. Metaphorically, I was able to float to the top and wait for my brothers to lay out a bamboo pole so I could grab it and have them pull  me out.

The first trick I learned is that I had to quit denying it. I had to say, “No, things are not OK and I’m not sure why.” Just saying that to brothers I loved was like a release. I personally believe that part of submitting myself to the Sky Q means that I still have to take responsibility for my actions. I had to say, “I’m sorry. I’m not sure what is wrong, but I know I’m not right.” I had to spend time with my bride, working in the yard, with my shorties to just hang out, time with my brothers, just sitting on a porch, smoking a cigar.

Things are still not perfect, even though they seem to be. I have a beautiful, awesome bride who understands and supports me. I have to awesome shorties who are doing well in school and in life. I have a great church family with a new pastor who inspires me. I have F3 Brothers who I can count on, who tell me things to hold themselves accountable and will listen to me. I still felt the post gloom quicksand sneaking up again after the HTL. I relied on Ma Bell and Cousteau and it was comforting to know they didn’t feel right either. We were connected, although it was different for each of us.

I think it was posting at 116 that snapped me out of it. The opportunity to post with those studs before their Tough event was like a shot in the buttocks. It was posting in Minnesota with the Winter Wolves and laughing and getting to know them, both working out and at QSource. It was being able to watch Dredd, Stinger, and TML push as a ShieldLock and then make time for each other. I often get trapped in the mindset that as a man, I have to always be strong, always be tough, always be a leader. What I have found is that with Battle Buddies who watch my 6, I am stronger because I can be vulnerable and protected. One man is easily overcome, two can defend each other, but three men can form a cord that can not be broken. My challenge to you is to seek out your battle buddies, then make them a ShieldLock by following the 3 Ps: Periodic, Proximate, and Purposeful. Meet regularly with guys who are close and focus on the purpose of keeping your Concentrica right. Hold each other accountable. That will make all the difference.

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