So earlier today I went onto TikTok and made a video detailing my self imposed challenge of doing 22 push ups a day for 30 days starting on Saturday February 22nd!
I made mention that I haven’t done a single push up in nearly 5 years due to my shoulder injuries and subsequent surgeries on my shoulder. (It’s the whole reason why I’m no longer in the Army; I was medically retired because of it!) I said it was going to be a challenge, and it was going to be difficult for me, and that I know there will be days when my shoulder is hurting badly and I won’t want to do this, but that I am gonna see it through.
I also asked for the loved one’s, family, friends, and other service members who have lost a veteran to suicide to please nominate at least one person (if they’d like to) for me to dedicate my push ups to each day.
This idea and this mission hits very close to home as 2 of my brothers have taken their lives and it has been my mission in life since their passing to advocate for getting help, talking, finding healthy ways of dealing with PTSD, anxiety, and guilt in order to hopefully end Veteran Suicide!!!
I want the families, friends, and loved ones of those who are left behind to know that their loved one will never be forgotten. I want them to know that they are not alone in their sadness and grief. I want them to know that we can heal, cope, and try to move forward together!
I want every single serviceman/woman and veteran out there to know that what they are dealing with they don’t have to deal with it alone, and that there are those of us who will gladly help in anyway we can.
I want them to know that in their darkest hour, when their demons are winning that they can call in me and we can fight them together!
That’s what this challenge means to me, and that’s why I will see it through to the very end! It’s small, it’s not a cure, it’s not going to magically make veterans stop committing suicide, but if it helps even 1…. IT WILL HAVE ALL BEEN WORTH IT!!!!!
I am my brothers and sisters keeper, and I will always be here to help in whatever way I can.
KEEP MOVING FORWARD!!!!!