26 pax saddled up at the Golden Corral for a cornucopia of workout options (old school boot campers, rucking mules, and running gazelles) in another unseasonably warm January morning. The groups split off fairly evenly, as YHC took the boot campers (about 7 total) for a warm-up mosey around the shopping center parking lot before landing in the CVS lot for warm-up.

Warm-up O Rama

• SSH (IC) x30
• Cherry Pickers (IC) x15
• Plank Jacks (IC) x20
• Mountain Climbers (IC) x20
• Moroccan Squats (IC) x20

Mosey to the Grace Presby Church

The Thang
Two stations were set up at extreme ends of the parking lot. Pax all gathered at station 1 and partnered up (size not mattering). Partner 1 performed first exercise (listed on a paper at station 1) while partner 2 ran to station 2, did the first exercise (listed on paper at station 2, with the number of reps). Partner 2 then ran back to station 1 and flapjacked. Once partner 1 returned, repeato with next exercises on the lists. Here were the lists at each station.

Station 1:

1. Burpees
2. Jump Squats
3. Merkins
4. Carolina Dry Docks
5. Bomb Jacks
6. Calf Raises
7. Monkey Humpers

Station 2:

1. 20 LBCs
2. 10 Morning Wood
3. 20 Superman
4. 15 Mahktar Ndiayes
5. 20 Sumo Squats
6. 20 Heels to Heaven
7. 15 American Hammers

These exercises took us right up to 6am and we headed back to COT. But about mid-way through the list, pax took a recovery and discussed the tendency to get bitter as we get older. Why does this seem to happen? Perhaps it’s a reaction to youth not respecting the wisdom that comes with age. Perhaps it is because older folks just have more time to watch FoxNews. No matter the reason, as I age I find it easier to be bitter about things. My dad had bitter tendencies before a brain tumor took his life a few years ago. The doctors said the tumor was affecting his judgement and likely the cause for his attitude. But that got me thinking: for most people, bitterness is a choice. So, when my 10 year old proudly shows me a creative drawing she did, instead of getting ready for bed like I asked, I have a choice on how I react. When a long-time customer tells me he is leaving for my competition, I have a choice on how I react. When the Q says we need to do 5 minutes of burpees to finish up the workout, I have a choice on how I react. We are presented with choices on how we react hundreds of times a day. For each of those, we should pause for a moment and determine if our knee-jerk reaction is one that will speak life into the other person, or beat others down. As I pause to contemplate my response, I try to keep in mind that assuming the best in others will usually keep my heart out of trouble.

Thanks Decibel and fellow pax for the opportunity to serve by lending the workout. Fine group of pax that worked hard and provided great encouragement. Special welcome to FNGs Scrapple and Yoga Pants (both ruckers).