One of the more remarkable aspects of the human experience is our ability to adapt to change. Whether the ability to change nature to fit our needs or to change ourselves, we can get it done.
I have family that has a house on a mountain in southwest Virginia. The dirt road to the house is treacherous and the dirt roads behind the house are even more so. Well, like any good American family, they adapted to their situation by buying an old WWII jeep to get around.
That little jeep is tough.
Heck, not just count on, something to really enjoy. In the picture below, we are heading up the mountain to shoot.
We had exploding targets. Adapters that turned an SKS assault rifle into full auto and a bunch of rounds.
I'll never forget what my cousin said when he handed me the weapon.
"This bad boy is only good for one thing.....killing people"
I wanted to fire it all the more after that comment.
Constructive destruction, HOOAH.
About a year ago, while at my grandfathers funeral, several of these family members talked to me about the stress and physical pain they were feeling, which surprised me.
I got the impression that things were just wearing down and they were experiencing the consequences of a lifestyle that was full of being tough and badass, but lacking relaxation and peace.
I figure it's only logical to keep using something that keeps working. Think of the old cliche, if it ain't broke, don't fix it; however, there are certain characteristic that last and last and others that break down.
The jeep is a beautiful example of resilience and endurance.
Sitting for one of the last times in my grandparents' living room, I asked one of the guys how the jeep was doing. He replied that it took regular maintenance and that they couldn't ride it as hard, but it still ran pretty good.
I think all of us would be in a better position to help our bodies transition to a civilian lifestyle if we treated out bodies similar to the way we have been trained to treat our gear.
My family treats that old jeep with respect and patience now. No more hauling Junkers up to hill for .45 calibers of therapy, but regular maintenance and patience.
Pretty brilliant how they noticed the needs of that jeep and adapted so well to it as it changed.
HOOAH.
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