Monday, February 24, 2014

I Joined The National Guard!

Hi guys! 

It's been a very busy week on my end--one of the busiest I've had to deal with in awhile. So I apologize for my lack of posting, but I do think if I posted every single day, I would run out of things to talk about. ;)

This week I solidified by decision to join the National Guard. 


(Source)

Oh goodness, those words sent tingles up my spine! Truth be told, I have wanted to join the military for a very long time. My only direct problem was that I absolutely 100% knew my mom wasn't going to like that decision. No mother wants to see their child join the military, I get that. I'm just trying to teach my mom that I am NOT going to be given a machine gun right away and be dropped off in the middle of Afghanistan told to shoot. That is the naive view people have on being in the military.

I had set up my college plans and I felt completely and utterly unsatisfied. In my honest opinion, I simply don't want to be the quintessential college student (although I know this view doesn't apply to everyone) but for the most part, many freshmen college students get to college, begin binge drinking, and start to avoid their studies. I'm not saying this would happen to me, however, I very well know I would be surrounded by people looking to do this and I would probably end up being the girl watching Netflix all weekend in her dorm. That is NOT how I want to spend my college years.

I've always been a person to try to go above and beyond. That's why the military lifestyle intrigues me so very well. You can't mess around in the military. You get caught drinking or smoking and you're out. It's as simple as that. My dad was once in the army, so he had a lot to say about the regulations and standards we are held to. And I loooove that.

My training partner has been in the National Guard since August, and I also know two other people at my school in the National Guard as well, one of them also being a female. My training partner is such a genuine and humble guy, but he's also the most adamant on reaching his goals and hard to the core about doing what is right, so I am very honored that he was the one that recruited me.

Beyond that, I have met with my staff sergeant and all I have to say is that he is absolutely incredible. I know with absolute validity that I will be in great hands. Not to mention that I get a free T-shirt almost every time I meet him which is basically once a week. Free T-shirts? I'm so in.

And, to clear misconceptions up, I will STILL be going to college. The National Guard allows me to still be a full-time civilian student but train with them once per month. I will still get my degrees and still be one badass chick, AND I could possibly get my master's faster. Besides that, they also pay my entire tuition among many more benefits. But, unlike many other students (which there is nothing wrong with this--free tuition? I think yes) I am NOT joining the National Guard for these benefits and these benefits alone. I am joining as a personal venture and, as cheesy as it sounds, to serve my country. It's as simple as that.

Other than the literally 30+ pages I needed to fill out and sign to enlist, I've also had a lot of homework and almost no time for the gym. It's been hectic. However, I ALWAYS find a way to train, even if that means waking up at 4 in the morning or going to the gym at 9 at night. If there's a will, there's a way. ;)

On another note, I weighed myself for the first time in months. I have not known my weight for a very long time, and I did not have any desire to know. However, I agreed to try a "cutting" phase of sorts with my training partner (since I have never properly "cut" before and would like to add the experience to my repertoire) so I needed to know where I was starting off at. This morning I stepped on the scale, looked down, saw the number... and did not freak out. What a liberating experience! I was actually pretty pleased with this number, not because it was low, but because it reflected some hard work over the months, and I went about my normal routine of making breakfast and so on and so forth. During this "cut phase" I will NOT be weighing myself regularly or obsessively. That is not my intention. I just want to see where I will be able to push my limits and see how far I can go, not just simply for a "shredded physique." My mentality on health and training has transformed incredibly throughout the past two years, and having the most cut body in the world is no longer my goal. Being physically and mentally fit and healthy is and always will be my number one priority, and I am focusing on getting stronger rather than getting a vein on my bicep. 

It just goes to show you that when you take time off to focus on your personal health, it really makes a difference because you learn what's more important in life, and let me reiterate that it is NOT the material things and your exterior appearance. Again, I would rather boast about my ability to do 100 consecutive burpees (holy hell) than to say LOOK AT MY SIX PACK.

And one last thing, after I strolled out of the gym last night after an awesome back/bicep workout, it was super windy up here in the north and very wet from previous rain, but the sky was absolutely breathtaking and blew me away. Walking to my car, I took it all in, looked around me, stared at the incoming moon for quite awhile, let the wind throw me around, and stood there in complete silence. These moments make my life worthwhile--I am glad to be alive and experience this wind, strikingly beautiful moon, translucent rain and everything else in nature and beyond. 

Enjoy your life.

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