YHC tweeted out that today would have been my brother’s 39th birthday, which provided inspiration for today’s beatdown. 12 men followed YHC after hearing the disclaimer.
Thang
4/10 mile fast mosey around the campus to the end of the lot near Entrance 2.
COP
SSH x 10 IC
IW x 10 IC
Merkin x 39 Civilian Cadence. Pause at 34, the age my bro passed. Finish with 5 more to get to age he would be today
Short mosey to rock pile. Grab a lifting rock and carry it to lot directly above.
Rock Set
Thruster x 10 OYO/Straight Arm Raise x 10 OYO/5 Rockees
Run to CHAMPS sports pavilion.
Bench Set
15 Jump up/Step up/15 dip/15 derkin
Run to basketball goal closest to launch lot.
10 Double-Merkin Hand-Release Buprees OYO
Run to picnic tables near the entrance of the church near launch lot
20 Incline Merkins/20 Jump Squats
Run back to rocks. Plank series to regroup.
Repeat Circuit AYG
Mary
Flutter x 10 IC/Hold/Heels to Heaven x 10 IC/Hold/Dolly x 10 IC
Repeat Rock Set. Return Rock and continue through the Pavilion Stop Bench Set, Basketball goal Burpee stop, and Picnic area stop. As a group.
Mosey to closest parking lot.
Plank at light. 10 Merkin IC. Hold plank. AYG to next stoplight. Approx 80 yards. Repeat x 2. Plank series before #2 and #3 with plank start. Mosey to launch lot.
COT
Moleskin
My brother, Eric J. Carlson, took his own life 03/09/2012. He was 34 years old. Eric battled opioid addiction for 10 years. He went to a 30-day rehab and cleaned himself up approximately halfway through the 10-year stretch. In rehab, another addict told him about Clonipine, an anti-anxiety drug that could be abused to mimic the effects of opioids when used with alcohol. Clonipine is typically prescribed for short-term treatment of severe anxiety. Eric was on the drug for over 5 years. After rehab he abstained from alcohol for a short time. Then he started drinking more and more. He also began to use other illicit drugs. Things continued to get worse. Maintaining employment was difficult. He and his wife divorced. He continued the abuse. Two DWI’s happened. A few car accidents. My family and I maintained a relationship as best we could. Addicts try to hide from accountability. They do not want your advice on what they should be doing. If you are judgmental, they will likely push back, using whatever means necessary to accomplish the goal at hand. The goal is typically to maintain the lifestyle that is killing them. This certainly was the case with my brother. The last 2 years were extremely difficult. Watching someone you love and grew up with destroy their life is not easy. We held onto the hope that he would fully internalize having a problem that he needed help with. We encouraged him to get that help. He outwardly refused the problem existed and, subsequently, refused the help being offered and encouraged. Eric lost hope for himself and executed the suicide in his apartment. No note.
Hate to say it, but I had been waiting for a phone call with bad news for the previous 2 years. Death by car accident, slip and fall while intoxicated, overdose, arrested for vehicular manslaughter, etc. A very hard part of this process was not being able to help in a meaningful way that brought about positive change. Maddening, actually. I did not think he would take his own life.
During the workout, another PAX shared that the workout and message was close to his heart for he had lost a dear friend and also his father-in-law to suicide. Approximately 42,000 Americans complete a suicide each year. The majority are middle-age caucasian males. My brother was alone when he died. Friends did not know how to help. He marginalized family relations to suit his needs. He hung with people who were in trouble as well. There were many who wanted to help and tried hard. You simply cannot force a grown person to do anything they do not want to do unless you incarcerate them. We were getting close to that point.
I listened to a recovering addict speak after the Joe Davis Run for Recovery last year. He talked of the importance of admitting the problem exists and seeking the help needed. He had reached the edge and had clawed his way back. My brother did not, but I could imagine him standing there. If only he could have gone for treatment.
So, on his birthday today, I remember him. I remember the fond memories that I carry close to my heart. Fishing, camping, boating, snowmobiling and adventuring in the Adirondacks, where he lived as an innkeeper before things started to go downhill. These memories I push in front of the ones during the final 2 years.
The mission of F3 is plant, grow, and serve small workout groups for the invigoration of male community leadership.
How can we be leaders in our community around the issues of addiction and suicide?
Support those around you. Friends, family, neighbors, etc. Be there for those in your life that need you. Encourage people. Be that positive influence.
Register for the Joe Davis Run for Recovery 01/07/2017. This race has raised almost $100K for Keystone Substance Abuse Services in Rock Hill, SC. Encourage your friends to register as well. Many addicts don’t get help because they think they cannot afford to do so. Supporting this event can literally save a life. Register HERE
Great work out there today men. Thankful to have the opportunity to lead. Thankful for F3.
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