Like many of us I take pride in my training efforts. After swimming for several thousand yards or completing a long run or a bike ride that lasts for a number of hours I sit back in my recliner and relish the good feeling of testing and pushing my body.
And I feel that I have accomplished a workout that was hard, and required mental as well as physical discipline.
Today started out a bit different. My wife has long complained about the poor condition of our driveway and sidewalk leading into the house. Now it is not in terrible condition; it just has a number of cracks, has sunk a bit in several places and the concrete seems to be flaking and chipping, perhaps due to a less than excellent mix.
As a result we have been meeting with a number of contractors to find the right one to repair or replace both the driveway and sidewalk. After a number of bids, we choose one to rip up the old concrete and replace it with a new surface which will include some attractive mixtures, colors and striping.
This morning the contractor started work and three younger guys began the process of ripping out the old concrete.
As I watched them perform their hard, physical, dusty work I was reminded of the years I spent in the U.S. Air Force. During that time I was involved in aircraft maintenance. This means that we were out there, in all kinds of weather, and in locations throughout the world, fixing the jets. It was hard, tough work and many, many of the days went on for 12 – 14 hours straight before we could get a break.
At the end of each day I would arrive home; beat, smelly, often cut and bruised but feeling good about my job. I took a great deal of satisfaction in troubleshooting difficult maintenance problems and then spending the arduous hours rectifying that problem via either replacing or repairing aircraft components.
As I watched these guys swing their sledge hammers and toss the ragged heavy chunks of concrete into the waiting hopper, I once again marveled at the ability of the human body and mind. I once again appreciated those who perform hard, physical work every day. I again remembered the craftsmen and women who are able to create through their trained and honed physical abilities and mental agility.
And it put this effort we call training into perspective.
Thank you for reading.
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And I feel that I have accomplished a workout that was hard, and required mental as well as physical discipline.
Today started out a bit different. My wife has long complained about the poor condition of our driveway and sidewalk leading into the house. Now it is not in terrible condition; it just has a number of cracks, has sunk a bit in several places and the concrete seems to be flaking and chipping, perhaps due to a less than excellent mix.
As a result we have been meeting with a number of contractors to find the right one to repair or replace both the driveway and sidewalk. After a number of bids, we choose one to rip up the old concrete and replace it with a new surface which will include some attractive mixtures, colors and striping.
This morning the contractor started work and three younger guys began the process of ripping out the old concrete.
As I watched them perform their hard, physical, dusty work I was reminded of the years I spent in the U.S. Air Force. During that time I was involved in aircraft maintenance. This means that we were out there, in all kinds of weather, and in locations throughout the world, fixing the jets. It was hard, tough work and many, many of the days went on for 12 – 14 hours straight before we could get a break.
At the end of each day I would arrive home; beat, smelly, often cut and bruised but feeling good about my job. I took a great deal of satisfaction in troubleshooting difficult maintenance problems and then spending the arduous hours rectifying that problem via either replacing or repairing aircraft components.
As I watched these guys swing their sledge hammers and toss the ragged heavy chunks of concrete into the waiting hopper, I once again marveled at the ability of the human body and mind. I once again appreciated those who perform hard, physical work every day. I again remembered the craftsmen and women who are able to create through their trained and honed physical abilities and mental agility.
And it put this effort we call training into perspective.
Thank you for reading.