Hello all! Thank you for joining us and tapping into our Co-Mo Collective Series! Here is what we are spending time, energy and thoughts on geared towards optimizing a life of moving and living courageously!
(if this email was forwarded to you, feel free to subscribe here - wait for the pop up subscriber box) Photo of the Week: Co-Movement trainer Steve Evans. Photo Credit Jaime Evans Future Harvest = Future Health
Weekly Workout:
5 sets of 500 meter row for time:
Each set must be under 1:45 male, 2:05 female
total time to complete all 5 sets is your score
**Tip: too little rest in the beginning will lead to disaster at the end **
Quote Im pondering
“We're not on our journey to save the world but to save ourselves. But in doing that, you save the world. The influence of a vital person vitalizes.”
― Joseph Campbell The Hero With a Thousand Faces
What I'm reading, listening, watching or eating:
Joe Rogan and Joel Salatin podcast. An AMAZING conversation about food, farming, meat processing, soil health and immunity. Ill be listening to this more than once! Joels book Folks This Aint Normal had a significant impact on me in 2013 when I first read it. Highly recommended!
Random: Guest Post by Mitch Dryer Crested Butte Colorado, former Oneida City Firefighter
“Earn This”
At the end of the movie, “Saving Private Ryan” Tom Hank’s character, Captain Miller sits with his back up against the bridge, mortally wounded and with his dying breath, pulls Private Ryan close to him and whispers in his ear “earn this, earn it.”
I have carried these words in my memory ever since the events of April 22, 2007, when I was rescued from a certain death by my brothers in the Oneida Fire Department. While conducting interior operations with Lt. Rob Cowles, the steel trusses under which we were working buckled, showering us with large chunks of burning debris and burying us under several feet of construction material. These events lead to a life and death struggle against the clock. It would be just a matter of time before we were burned to death or ran out of the air we carried on our backs which allowed us to operate in conditions that will kill without such gear. Fortunately for Rob when the ceiling collapsed he was thrown under a table which created a void which prevented him from being totally buried and close enough to the door to which he could escape. I on the other hand was not as fortunate and was completely buried several feet from the exit. Rob immediately called “Mayday! Mayday! Mayday!” With his back to the wall, Rob was able use his legs, with his hands on his knees to push off the debris which covered him, giving him just enough room to escape.
Soon after efforts began for my rescue. Despite terribly hot and fiery conditions, hand-lines were put in place to control the inferno while other members began the tedious work of digging through debris by hand. After several minutes of urgent digging and risk to his own safety, including running out of air Firefighter Dennis Fields started pulling on what he believed to be insulation. What he soon discovered was me lying there unconscious and not breathing. Due to the intense digging, Dennis didn’t have the strength to pull me out. Luckily for me Lt. Mike Meyers had arrived on scene and with a few hard tugs was able to pull me from the debris. Along with Reay Walker, Lt Darrin Ball and Rob they were able to carry me to safety.
After spending a couple weeks in an induced coma, I regained consciousness and began the long process of rehab. I soon discovered I had a life altering decision to make in regards to whether or not to go through with an amputation of my right arm. In the end we decided as a family that the best course of action was to lose the arm. As a result I was forced to retire because I was physically no longer able to perform the duties the job required.
This decision left a void in my life and I needed to find an outlet for my experience. This void was filled in several ways, a youth Burn Camp, speaking engagements and the Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors. My biggest challenge came with the birth of twins in 2009. A chance to be a father was something I wished for from an early age. I grew up with a single mother and only saw my father once a week. This left me with a strong desire to be a better father, one who was there for his children every step of the way. That doesn’t mean I’m a perfect father but I’m happy to say that I’m there every step of the way to help my children become prosperous adults.
The next event that has had a profound change in my life was accepting an invitation to participate in The DC Firefighter Burn Foundation Burn Survivor Week with the Adaptive Sports Center in Crested Butte, CO. It was my first exposure to the Rocky Mountains and the sports of skiing and climbing. I also learned that ASC provides recreation opportunities for people with disabilities and that our daughter Emeri, who is a paraplegic, will grow up participating in the same activities as her peers, and is one of the reasons we chose to make Crested Butte our home.
At the end of “Saving Private Ryan,” James is now an old man. While visiting the American Cemetery in France, he breaks down at the foot of Captain Millers’ grave and tells him he has tried to live a good life and everyday earn what they had done for him that day on the bridge. He asks his wife to tell him, ‘he’s a good man.” The scene reminds me to live everyday as James says, “the best I know how,” to “earn this.” Rob, Dennis, Mike, Reay, Darrin and many others risked their lives, in-spite of orders to evacuate the building, to save my life and for those efforts I am forever grateful. That night I lost a lot but I was able to gain so much more. Today I live my life as an example of what we can overcome with the support of family, friends and an openness to accept and overcome challenges and take advantage of the opportunities that make us uncomfortable, but have the most profound effects on our life.
-Mitch
Have an amazing weekend everyone! Josh P.S. I just started supplementing RELAX again to improve my sleep and recovery. Within 3 days of taking it I am noticeably more alert during the day, strength has increased, I am less sore, and I am sleeping like a rock. Use coupon code CO-MOVEMENT for 10% off your purchase. P.S.+ ATTENTION: New clients or returning clients please ensure you have confirmed your training package and time slots with us. Due to the temporary shut down we will be working hard to rebuild and reserve a training schedule and package that best suits your needs, the sooner you get this finalized the better. Email info@co-movement.com or call 315-404-1128. We look forward to crushing the remaining of 2020 with you! Forwarded this message? Sign up here. No spam or no junk, ever. Want to personally work with a Co-Movement coach? Inquire here Affiliate Note: Some of these companies happen to offer commissions for online referrals. Other ones don’t. This doesn’t affect my choice, but where available, I made point of using the right type of link so that this blog will get a credit if you end up purchasing a product. It’s a nice and fully optional way to help out this blog if you choose to do so while securing some new and useful products!