Say YES to Something that Scares You Just a Little…

Recently, I signed up for something that both excited me and instantly intimidated me: a 15K Campus Ruck at Virginia Tech, benefiting Stop Soldier Suicide. I work for the organization, and I wanted to support the mission in a tangible way — shoulder-to-shoulder with the volunteers and supporters who show up for us across the country.

I registered, less than a week prior to the event, and then I realized what I had actually signed up for. A 9-mile walk with a weighted backpack alongside future military leaders of our country. Most of these other participants also happen to be nearly 20 years my junior and in excellent shape. Gulp.

The punchline of this story is that I pushed through my doubts, raised money in support of Stop Soldier Suicide, completed my first ruck (yes all 15k!), and truly lived my best life. It was electric, impactful, visceral – it was a core memory of 2025. Not only was the experience itself special but so was all that I learned along the way. 

Stop the Second Guessing

Did I feel intimidated after hitting “submit” on my participation form? You bet I did! It’s funny how that happens, isn’t it? Sneaky imposter syndrome and second guessing ourselves seem to be a part of the human experience. While we may feel insecure as we stretch and grow, I fully believe we can fight this tendency, push through, and cling to what we know to be true. 

When I was getting nervous about my ability to stay in-step with the cadets I forced myself to remember what is true – as opposed to letting worry take root in my mind.

What is true is that I am careful to take good care of myself through regular movement and good nutrition. Most days I run 4-miles and I’m good about living an active lifestyle. While I didn’t have enough time to intentionally train for this event I reminded myself that my daily lifestyle includes decisions, rhythms, and practices that allow me to be ready to say yes to unexpected adventures. I was able to talk myself out of worry or anxiety into more of a nervous-excited feeling as the ruck approached.

When the nerves strike we have to ground ourselves in the truth.

The Gift of Not Doing It Alone

While I was working to talk myself out of being overly nervous I called my Dad to tell him about what I had signed up for. He is easily one of my favorite humans on the planet. Over my lifetime we’ve had several adventures together (local, domestic, international!) and he seemed like the perfect person to process with. After he heard about the event and immediately said: “So you want me to come with your, right?” 

And he did.

We rucked beside each other for all 15 kilometers. And we didn’t do it alone — we also walked with Joshua Hamm, an Army Ranger Instructor from Fort Benning, Georgia, who came up for this special experience. Together, with over 120 cadets, veterans, and community members we tackled the hills, the miles, the laughs, the stories, and yes… the sweat. 

And as we moved along the trail, I kept thinking: This is why none of us are meant to do life alone.

Whether it’s a literal march or the quiet uphill battles we face day to day, community matters. Support matters. Mental health depends on it.

We are not built for isolation.
We are built for shared journeys.

Just as I was not meant to Ruck alone – neither are you.

Ask yourself: Who are the people you can do life with? When you look to your left and your right, especially as you are carrying the weight of life’s challenges, who can you count on? This is your reminder to thank them, connect with them, and invest in those relationships.

Purpose Brings People Together

There’s something powerful about walking with people who share a mission — something larger than the moment, larger than any one of us.

I felt that deeply in the early days of my career when I was a police officer. The sense of brotherhood and sisterhood. The shared purpose. The unspoken understanding.

I don’t know that I’ll ever feel that exact version of brotherhood again — but on this ruck, I felt glimmers of it.

Those Virginia Tech cadets chose to come out at 7:30 on a Saturday morning to support something significant. The student leaders, Daniel and Ian, spent months preparing for the big event. Each participant spent the weeks prior raising funds in support of veteran mental health and suicide-specific care for their military community. I got goosebumps as I looked out over the crowd and felt the significance of our shared mission. It was more than inspiring – it was motivating.

Campus Ruck didn’t just leave me feeling warm and fuzzy, it prompted a desire to dig deeper into this work, this mission, and this fight for our veterans. That is what happens when we align around shared purpose – we find that we can advance the face of the tough stuff, we can make a significant collective impact, and each of us is better as individuals because of the connected community.

Healthy Rhythms Matter

One very specific takeaway surprised me. As I mentioned, I was genuinely nervous that I wouldn’t physically be able to do the ruck. But I did it. And the next day, aside from mildly sore feet… I felt great.

It reminded me why I prioritize healthy rhythms — not for vanity, pressure, or perfection, but because I want to live fully. I also realize that my dad has modeled this very thing in the way he lives. With only a few days’ notice my dad was able to pick up a rucksack and go the distance. Let’s go, dad!!!

When I think about who I want to continue to be as I journey through life I know this: I want immersive, visceral experiences that stay with me long after the moment is over. I want to be out in the world, not watching from the sidelines.

Caring for my body is one of the ways I make that possible. As the year wraps up and I consider my goals for 2026 I know that continuing to care for my full picture of my health – mind, body, spirit – has to be a top priority. I want to continue to taste and see the world for all the goodness that it holds. I have to take care of myself for that to happen.

A Heart Full of Gratitude

By the time we crossed the finish line, my overwhelming emotion wasn’t exhaustion or relief.

I finished the ruck wrapped in gratitude — and reminded myself that sometimes, saying yes to things that scare us a little is the very thing that grows us the most.