Men Doing Man Stuff

A week ago Sunday, I said goodbye to Ana and our children, and started driving north to Alabama. Along with starting a security company, over the past year I have earned my instructor certification with ASP for baton, handcuff and tactical light, as well as my instructor certification for Sabre OC Spray. I was headed to another course, a really important one.

Five days later, on Friday, February 17th I successfully completed the NRA Law Enforcement Handgun Instructor Course held in Wetumpka, Alabama and as soon as my certificate comes in the mail, I will be an NRA certified Law Enforcement Handgun Instructor.

The goal in all this is to pass on my years of experience and hopefully a pearl or two of wisdom to a younger man or woman so they can be safer, more effective, and much better at their job. I still like to do the work and I think if Ana keeps feeding me the way she does and I keep training hard in the gym and elsewhere, I’ll have a lot of years left before I have to hang up my body armor and gun belt.

This course was a big one, very challenging and packed with information. I will admit that I stood a little taller when it was all done.

When men gather up years, they tend to sit down in a big cozy chair and convince themselves that their best days are behind them. For some, maybe they are. I used to think that way. But then I set a goal, for no other reason than having something to work towards, something to discipline myself to work at, and something that would be uncomfortable and challenging. I would have to change, improve, and grow if I was going to reach that goal.

At sixty-three, I am doing the things I did for a living when I was in my twenties and the only difference is I am much better at it now. I push myself in the gym, when I run, when I box and train Muay Thai and I push myself on the range. I read as much as I can and I endeavor to learn something new every day. I take every course I can fit into my schedule. And I work long hard hours some days, whenever the opportunity arises. I allow myself to be comfortable at bedtime, or when spending time with my wife, my kids and friends but when it comes to work, if I am comfortable, then I have wasted my time on something I already know or something I can already do. There is no gain in that.

When I was driving home from Alabama last week, I felt confident, strong, and proud. I had achieved something that few men get to achieve. I had been trained by two highly experienced, knowledgeable and talented men and my classmates were among the very best in their respective police and sheriff’s departments. They came from around the country and when it was over, every person there knew they had accomplished something very special and prestigeous they could be very proud of.

Despite what most think, men don’t need a soft chair or to drink more or eat more unhealthy food. And they don’t need to sit around getting fat letting their bodies and health deteriorate while they supposedly live “the good life”. Men need challenges, discomfort, and achievement. It’s how God made us regardless of age.

I got home smelling like gunpowder, the outdoors, and a week’s worth of very hard work. Ana hasn’t kissed me the way she did in a while. I held her and looked deeply into her beautiful brown eyes and I saw something special. My kids were screaming daddy’s home and tackled me with hugs and kisses and I had all the time in the world for them. Home was different, even more wonderful than when I had left, and it still is.

No amount of comfort can replace the feeling of unapologetically being what God put me here to be. A man, a husband, and a father that has the confidence to lead, the ability to protect, and the gentleness and passion to love as I do now.

Comfort is easy, but it’s a thief and a liar. It will suck the life out of you and tell you that you are too old. And it will kill you.

Careful what you choose.

 

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