01/01/2022
The world keeps going round and round, and if we’re not careful that’s all we’ll end up doing, too. Day after day, the choices that matter the most can escape us. We overthink the truth, we rationalize the distractions, and we doubt whether we’re even asking the right questions. Occasionally, though, something big enough takes hold of everyone’s attention, and even our imagination, and we are forced to reckon with our own lives in the simplest of ways.
After 9/11, millions lined up to serve our country, but there was no national call to service. We were told to buy a car, and to go shopping at the mall to do our part. The economy is important, but this was a missed opportunity. Inspire first, and the economic gains will follow. JFK’s “ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country” comes to mind.
When the pandemic took hold in 2020, for a brief moment we all had more questions than answers, and we were in it together. There was a moment of collective grace that we allowed to others, and ourselves. Then the powers that be stoked the fear fire and it became us vs. us, which is the only greatest threat to our way of life.
Still, there is always hope. It is never too late to begin anew, and Happy New Year! I can’t help but wonder — what if we took this opportunity to sideline our anger, and our finger pointing, and to ignore the negative influences on our lives? What if we spent more time on ourselves, and our family, and our community, and less time on anti-social media? And what if we focused on the irrefutable truth that it is better to be healthy than sick, strong than weak, it is better to be empowered than a puppet to the groupthink of the hour, or the crisis at hand? Each of us has the freedom to control not only our attitudes and energy, but also our own actions. What if there was a national, and a global cry for greater health: Physical, Mental, and Social. What if instead of buying fear, we spent time outside? What if we traded calloused thumbs for fresh air and skinned-up knees? The greatest, long lost revolution of our era just might be to think for ourselves, and to lead the life we are supposed to lead no matter how counter-culture it might seem to those around us today.
Our Tribe thrives on leading from the front, on taking the harder path and on serving others and causes greater than ourselves. Everyone has a different appetite for risk, with different safety nets and consequences. Let that not divide us. No matter our situation, risk aversion stalks us all, from all sides. It tells us to take the easy path. To play it safe. It sells us the latest fad instead of telling us to chase our dreams. It soothes us into the greatest failure of all: the failure to try.
If it is time for you to begin anew, then begin anew. Just one step in the right direction is a great place to start. Planning life to absolute safety is to sacrifice all of your days listening to those who mistake the movement of the Earth for their own.
Let’s mitigate the risks as we need to, let’s continue our journeys and have faith in our cause. No matter what, life has risk and the things that matter most to us are worth it.
Jason McCarthy
Founder, GORUCK
