Never give up on your dreams or yourself.

[pdog]

Thank you Jocko,

Hello my story is a long one and I'm not sure where too begin. But I'll try to keep my story as brief as possible. I joined the Marine Corps at 17 got out at 22 as a Sergeant after two deployments too Iraq so I could eventually go to school to become an Engineer. While I was a gov't contractor after I got out I was trying to balance too many things at once, between my career, hobbies, school and a relationship that was never going to work I had no idea I was creating a recipe for disaster. Being young I didn't know the consequences of trying to manage to much stress on your own and the damage of not talking about issues with qualified good leaders could do in the long run. Till one day I almost had a stroke due to my blood pressure going dangerously high. I was dazed and confused and the doctors diagnosed me with major depression and it felt like everything I worked for was being taken away from me. I ended up having to move back to my home state and live with family till I could get on my two feet. I felt so much shame that I was for the first time since I was 17 years old needing help from family that I sunk even more into depression and gained a shit ton of weight, started to drink, started to smoke and started acting in ways I'm ashamed of now looking back. 

Luckily after I started getting help from the VA I started to slowly wake up. Eventually when I decided to start from scratch and go back to school I found Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. I had my ups and downs through out my journey through college after the Corps but Jiu Jitsu helped guide me to get a Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering. Jiu Jitsu also allowed me to meet amazing people such as Pete Roberts and other amazing people within the NEU BJJ association, but also pointed me to the Jocko Podcast. I am happy to say that my life has done a complete 180 from where I was. I do not drink, I do not smoke, I try to train Jiu Jitsu 5-6 days a week and hit the weights on those days as well. I'm getting more and more into the best shape of my life, and I have the degree I've always wanted along with the job I've always wanted as well. Jocko's podcasts may have been in that year of my journey to where I am at now, but this last year has been the year where I have been making the most progress so a thank you is definitely in order. 

At a cross roads now being 30 with my shit together reading more, working out, training Jiu Jitsu, and trying to be one of the best in my field of work. I'm hoping things like this will help me find the answers I'm looking for. 

[mynewunit]

Welcome to the boards. If you have Mech Eng questions, I can help with that. A good step is to take the FE and start working to getting registered (PE).
The reset in your 20's is nothing to be ashamed of. I know guys doing this in the 40's and 50's. Keep it up. Also, drop some knowledge in the BJJ forum.

[pdog]

I’ll definitely post something In the BJJ thread for sure (just got done hitting the weights and getting ready to head over to Jits as I write this). Really like the positivity here and it really helps combat the negativity you end up dealing with day in and day out once in the civilian world. Luckily Jiu Jitsu helped pull me out of the victim hood mentality the past and even current culture has and is promoting. Not buying into it that, and making it my mission to be the best role model not only for veterans but for everyone struggling through whatever they are going through.

Too many asshole radicals on all sides in these current times trying to radicalize vulnerable people especially veterans. In my opinion the best thing anyone can do is don’t give into what those people want and that is too get inside your head. Guard your mind and only let positive inspirational people in, follow your heart and as long as your trying to be the best version of yourself. Your actions will speak louder words than anyone speaking non sense trying to get you over to whatever radical side they are on.

Sorry for this little rant but it feels great to talk with people that refuse to buy into the victim culture. And it is very motivating to be able to get insight from equally driven and good hearted people. God Bless you all and hope to learn as much as I can from here.

[thomashofer]

"Your actions will speak louder words than anyone speaking non sense trying to get you over to whatever radical side they are on." This line is awesome. I get a lot of shit for my intensity when working out and for going every day and that shit comes from people that don't work out at all. But like pdog basically says" Actions triumph words". Get Some

[pdog]

”If passion is what guides you let reason be the reins.” - Benjamin Franklin

Nothing wrong with being intense and passionate about what you do especially working out. Just I can not recommend enough how good Jiu Jitsu is in keeping you humble and surrounding yourself with awesome people. I find it helps keep my ego in check because nothing beats getting a good roll in with someone stronger, faster, and more skilled then you to check you in place when your intensity is getting to hot..

[thomashofer]

Man I would give anything to train BJJ but the closest gym would be 2 hours and I work 12 hours a day 7 days a week. But if I had a close gym I'd find time to roll. It would certainly be good for my ego and for my fitness.

[mynewunit]

Well, My work is done here. Let me know if you want me to put together a conference call so we can have this discussion without keyboards.