The Connection with Jay Miralles
On 'The Connection' Jay Miralles connects his guests with the world! Listen as we connect the dots. Our goal is to get to the why!Jay Miralles was born first generation in San Francisco, California, after his parents arrived in America. He watched his immigrant parents work hard to support their family. Their actions and life lessons shaped who he is today. He learned first-hand how his parents’ work ethic allowed them to move from a basement in the Avenues to a middle-class suburb. As a teenager, he struggled in school with average grades and was easily bored with the norm or status quo. Jay questioned everything. He realized his independence was so important, he enlisted in the Air Force at the age of 17. His love for country grew rapidly, and he realized many things people take for granted. His deployment to places such as Alaska, Germany, and Saudi Arabia, and more, shaped his perspective on how the world is connected. After ten years in the Air Force, he decided to move to Omaha, Nebraska. Some of the early jobs that gave him valuable experience included ten years in radio, a background in information technology, and teaching at a local college. He also co-founded three professional networking organizations. Eventually, he found a niche in insurance/financial services and real estate. He quickly excelled in sales, which led to coaching and leadership positions. His background has prepared him well to speak on stage, conduct podcasts, author articles, and serve as a go-to for interviews. His passion is more than just inspiring people; it’s working closely with individuals and organizations to help identify the opportunities for them to make the best impact.Jay and his wife Becky are blessed with four children: Aubrey, Jade, Jordan, and Mason. They have a German Shepard named King and a Pekingese Shih Tzu Poodle mix, Chewy, who thinks he is the same size as King. They all call Nebraska, home.
The Connection with Jay Miralles
Discovering Strength and Motivation Through Gina Rhue's 50 MILE MARCH
Gina's path hasn't been easy, but it's been incredibly rewarding. We explore the significance of resilience and vulnerability as Gina recounts her experiences, from the unexpected opportunities that arise when one door closes to the organic feedback that can guide you toward your true calling. The conversation touches on the emotional and physical challenges she faced during a grueling 50-mile walk, underscoring the strength that comes from community support and the profound impact of sharing personal stories. These raw moments of perseverance highlight the importance of being comfortable with our emotions to foster genuine connections and healing.
Set against the serene backdrop of Tahazuka Park in Elkhorn, this episode delves into the camaraderie and resilience needed to overcome both physical and emotional pain. Gina and I discuss practical tips for long-distance marches, the power of a support system, and the transformational impact of sharing your struggles with trusted friends and family. Authenticity and vulnerability are at the heart of this conversation, reminding us that true strength comes from opening up and letting others into our lives—messy houses and all. Join us for this inspiring episode filled with real-life lessons and the beauty of human connection.
GINA RHUE
For more into about the 50 Mile March!
www.50milemarch.org
I'm so excited today to introduce my guest. And you know, the connection is all about creating connections. The more connections, the better. Connecting yourself to the world, connecting yourself to community. Today I have Gina Rue. I had the pleasure of meeting Gina a couple years back, or a year back A year ago, a year ago, and I didn't know you, you didn't know me.
Speaker 1:What I love about today is we we're not overprepared. I had not spoken with you directly since last year's mission and then maybe another media event we had a couple of weeks back. So what we have today is unscripted. But, gina, if you'll just introduce yourself, of who are you, what do you do? And you know just top superficial that everyone should know.
Speaker 2:Yeah, totally Well. Thanks for having me. Oh my God, I'm so excited and, as a side note, it's very hot out here, the worst day and since you started talking, the breeze is coming.
Speaker 1:It's cool, we'll listen to it.
Speaker 2:Thank you, Lord this is nice.
Speaker 1:We love the breeze, it's only 109.
Speaker 2:It feels great out here, guys. Anyways, yeah, thanks for having me and, like Jay said, this is very unscripted, so we just decided, hey, let's get together and chat, you're like we're podcasting today, I guess.
Speaker 2:then I was like oh, okay, we're doing a podcast. Cool, let's not waste it on conversation we're. My name is Gina. I was a first time walker last year and that's how you and I connected, but I love that you shared a little bit with me about, like, what the podcast is about, because I love to relate to people. The typical questions what do you do?
Speaker 1:And it's like, yeah, we all have a job, but that's not what defines us? Right, who are you?
Speaker 2:Yeah, Like who are you? So I am in sales full time. Um, I work for a packaging company, so I literally sell empty boxes. I get two reactions when I tell people that either one, they're like that's really interesting, or two, it's like crickets and they don't know what to say and they just walk away. So, um, it's quite, yeah, it's quite interesting, it's a fascinating world, and um, I wouldn't say that's my passion, like, empty boxes are not my passion.
Speaker 1:Understood, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2:But I actually love I'm doing my own podcast and I would love to own my own business and company one day and actually be a speaker and share my story, because it's definitely one that, yeah, it's been a long journey to get where I'm at here today, and I know that there's a lot of people who can relate to what I've been through. So, um yeah, it's just been really neat.
Speaker 1:So that was very high level, but no, but that is very yeah, and we will, and let's stay right there. So, um, Gina, last year did you have the ambitions of being a speaker? Did you have the ambitions of owning your business? Where were you at last year?
Speaker 2:this time. That's a good question. Last year, this time, I did not have the ambition, I didn't have the vision.
Speaker 1:yet Okay, you didn't have the vision. I didn't have the vision.
Speaker 2:I knew I wanted to do something, and I had always known, okay, I want to own a business or something to that nature, but I didn't know what it looked like, and so it was just really kind of a process of trial and error. I tried a few different things and even talked with different friends on hey, let's what if we teamed up and we did this and, little by little, it just kind of like doors were closed, like okay that's not really going to be it.
Speaker 2:And as those. Yeah, and as those doors closed, I feel like other ones started to open and I had a lot of people say to me very random people, uh, would come up and be like do you know, like you, you're very gifted in how you speak. You should be a speaker. I'm like what?
Speaker 1:Yeah, oh, that's weird Okay.
Speaker 2:I didn't think about that, and then I would have more and more people tell me that and then more and more people would say like, hey, I relate to your story in this way. So it kind of birthed out of something very organic, of just like starting to open up and be vulnerable with people, and it was resonating and so and I love sharing my story because there's hope in it.
Speaker 1:I think, because so a lot of us get put through a test. Then usually there's the grind and then there's testimony.
Speaker 2:Yeah Right, oh, that's, good.
Speaker 1:Yeah, but most of us fail at the grind and they just hold on to the hurt. They never get to their testimony because they still want to hold on to the hurt and they still. But even those who made it through the storm and are like I'm better now don't have the gift of transferring that energy or transferring the blessing of that testimony. There's a lot of people out there that have triumphed beyond you and I tenfold right, but they just don't have the gift or the heart, or maybe the desire, I don't know. Whatever the reason is, there's no testimony for them. I don't know. Whatever the reason is, there's no testimony for them. They completed Love the motorcycles here at Tahle Zuka Park. But you do, and this is speaking to your soul now. And so fast forward to today Manifest. What does it look like now? What? What? Oh, hey, jay, I'm doing a speaking gig next week. What does that look like If you were to tell me oh, I love that, yeah, you're manifesting, right, I love it. Let's play this out.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that vision casting. I would say it's going to look different for each. I don't despise the small beginnings at all, and so, whether that's like speaking to a women's group awesome. Or speaking on a big stage somewhere. But I would say my goal, my ultimate vision, would be able to speak to not just like church groups, because that's that's one segment of people right.
Speaker 2:I would love to even go into, like the corporate world, to go into the secular world and be like, hey, no, this is stuff happens and here's how you come, like, come out on the other side. And one thing I love about sharing our stories is that every time we share it, we share something like a little bit different version of it, and someone can pick out something different every time. So, even though they may not like, I've listened to speakers before. I don't relate to every detail of their story.
Speaker 1:No.
Speaker 2:Right, but I'm like oh yeah, that Like that resonated with me. So I think, as far as like, what does that look like? I think it'd be awesome to be on a big stage, but that's not really the heartbeat really behind it, as long as I get to connect with people and impact lives. That, to me, is what matters more.
Speaker 1:It's harder to speak to 12 than it is to 1200. I promise you, and you've probably felt it, and witnessed it or seen it.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:So let's go through this Hard time, right. Every story, or every good speaker, has a story. It's not just a lesson on here's how to be a better salesperson, like, okay, you need to tell the story. The story needs to have the struggle, it needs to have a hero, it needs to have the enemy, it needs to have the struggle and then the triumph, right? So I want to talk about the struggle. Right, I want to talk about the 50 mile march. I want to talk about oh my gosh, why is Gina falling apart? Wait, what's happening here? And why is she showing her tears? And everyone does it for a different reason, right? And is she hurt physically? Is she hurt mentally? Like? I remember seeing you cry. I was like, okay, I love watching the emotion. Not, I don't love watching people cry.
Speaker 2:Yeah, you don't like people in pain and hurting. Yeah.
Speaker 1:But I love when someone some pain emerges yeah, cause you got to deal with it, right. And if it's okay with you, I'd like to just jump into what was your journey or challenge at the time of the March. Yeah.
Speaker 2:Well, I will get into that in a second. I want to touch on something you just said, because you said I love watching the emotion right and that you don't shy away from that like you're not uncomfortable by like uncomfortable with it, and it's so interesting. And something I've learned through my own struggles is that those who touch their own pain yes can be with others in their pain and like it doesn't.
Speaker 2:It used to scare me to see people get really upset or angry or sad or frustrated. Like it would really scare me because I didn't know how to deal with it.
Speaker 1:And now that I've dealt with my own emotions and I don't classify emotions as good or bad, they're just big, like we can have big emotions sometimes A hundred percent, and with that I don't mean to jump onto your idea, but I'll tell you this when people say, oh my God, I saw him crying, I saw her crying, I wouldn't touch that with a 10 foot pole, it makes me uncomfortable. It does make people uncomfortable. Think of a widow, right man or woman who has lost someone. They're crying. You don't know what to say. Just be there, just be there, just be there, just be Right, right. And you don't have to solve anything. But I remember the moment I saw you crying.
Speaker 2:You were on a um anti-gravity chair and I didn't know you Like a stretcher.
Speaker 1:You were leaned back. Yeah, your feet were like destroyed. I thought it was your feet. Lindsey and a couple other people were speaking life into you. They were telling you like things. Maybe you didn't want to hear at the time, yeah, but you had to let it out. And I would remember just going like almost like if I had popcorn I'd be. But I'm saying like I remember watching that. Yeah, someone captured jerry teeter captured that photo yeah, I was there, I saw, saw it. Take us back to that moment.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that was a cool moment. I mean, looking back, it was a cool moment.
Speaker 1:It was a transformational moment.
Speaker 2:In the moment. I didn't want to be there, so we gosh, we'd been walking through the night. So it was. It was the high V stop, so it was 9am. I remember that. I remember that that's about 30, 38 miles in. Yes, I know my details. I was counting 38 miles in Jay Um and so I had. I remember previously, cause this was my first walk and I remember everyone saying like, okay, the hardest, hardest point is Lenoma. Like you get to Lenoma and you're going to be fine, yeah.
Speaker 2:And we got to Lenoma and I was like I feel good, I was like sweet. I'm like I'm good, got it and I think after we left Lenoma, not I think. I know that was the longest stretch. I think it was 12 miles.
Speaker 1:Yes, from Lenoma to Hy-Vee. Yes, it was a very hard stretch because of the hills.
Speaker 2:Yeah, because of all the other, and the sun just emerging and all that stuff, yeah. So, and I did not know the course, really I intentionally did not study it because I didn't want no, I'm telling you, I didn't want to know where I was on the course because then I would be thinking like, okay, I have nine miles left or three miles left. I just wanted to keep walking. You know like sometimes oblivion is bliss and I was like in this case.
Speaker 2:I was like I don't want to know my mile markers, I just want to know, like just keep walking and we're going to get to the next stop. So I had no clue. We had 12 miles.
Speaker 2:I had no clue and I was like, sweet, here's the outlets awesome yes yay oh my gosh, we still have so far to go, um, but it wasn't really until we passed the outlets. I think we were on just like a gradual incline and my feet just really started to hurt. But it wasn't. That wasn't really what triggered it. I think it was just the exhaustion coupled with like I don't man. I think it was just like the emotions of hitting me, like why we're doing this, like that really just started to get like in in my heart and in my mind of why we were doing this.
Speaker 2:And because that's the part where it was so uncomfortable.
Speaker 1:And.
Speaker 2:I was like this is no longer like a fun Instagram worthy thing I'm doing. I was like holy buckets.
Speaker 2:This is like this is the real deal. Um, and I think at that point I was just emotionally I wouldn't say worn down, but just my guard was down and like, yeah, I just emotionally I wouldn't say worn down, but just my guard was down and like, yeah, I, just I I wouldn't say where my emotions on my sleeve, but I don't shy away from them. So it was just kind of a like a really impactful moment and, uh, I was talking with my friend Megan. We're walking with one another and.
Speaker 2:I just started crying while you were walking while I was walking, like just silently, like before before before. Hy-vee and tears just started like falling down my face and I was like I don't know why, like I don't know why, but I was like I'm not gonna judge myself on why I'm crying. It just was like all the emotion was hitting me of like what was happening, and then I would say, probably three miles later was when my feet really started to hurt like really started to hurt.
Speaker 2:Um blisters had formed. They were reforming and popping and reforming and popping Like it was bad, and I do remember this, megan we had just met a few hours prior, which?
Speaker 1:is crazy to me. I thought you guys were friends because of the Marquesas already.
Speaker 2:No, we became besties between like midnight and 6 am. It was awesome.
Speaker 1:And I love that about the community part, but keep going oh yeah, and so she.
Speaker 2:We had shared enough with each other, Like she just knew in that moment like I needed to be spoken into and she's like I need you to walk a little bit faster, Because Lindy had a speaker on her backpack Right, and so Megan grabbed her phone and played a song and she's like the song is for you and it was literally about how God walks with us through the storms, and I was just like and just everything that I had been through the last few years of my life, like it was just all very like it was a very symbolic symbolic moment yeah um, but then we get to hy-vee and I honestly I don't remember a whole lot from that point to hy-vee because it was just like one foot in front of the other.
Speaker 2:But I remember getting there and they took my shoes off. I could hardly get to my chair and jamie came and took my shoes off and she was just straightforward with me. Like your feet, feet are in bad shape, but we're going to get you taken care of.
Speaker 1:And I was like okay, all right.
Speaker 2:Right, and they just they were just stinging like peeling the socks off. I mean, it was just. It was bad.
Speaker 1:It's a real thing.
Speaker 2:It's a real thing. Um, it was probably some of the most intense pain I've ever felt Like not to scare people away, but it was.
Speaker 1:I want? I want to scare people away. If you're having a doubt, don't do it, Right?
Speaker 2:If you're, if you're scared, don't do it, yeah.
Speaker 1:I mean, if you're scared, push yourself through it. But if you don't want to push yourself, that's okay too.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:But do you realize? You know, what did you ever hear me say even during the qualifier or any trainings me saying you'll find 90% of yourself? Have you ever heard me say that before?
Speaker 2:Oh yeah.
Speaker 1:I want people to realize what that means. Most of us, you know, most people who have a job, they clock in, they clock out. They make a paycheck to pay their bills, to go to sleep, to go to the job, to clock in, clock out to pay their bills. That's 50% of life. Yeah, okay, you're making a living Good. And and then there's the 70% who maybe they go to the gym. They're better, they're improving themselves, they're trying to be 1% better than yesterday.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Then there's people who are crazy, who are stunt people, enthusiasts, right, they're rock climbers, they are um Mount Everest people. Now, I'm never going to compare what we do as what we do in Mount Everest, but I can assure you this what we do as what we do in Mount Everest, but I can assure you this, what we do, Gina, is someone's Mount Everest.
Speaker 2:That's good.
Speaker 1:Right. For some people it's put your shoes on and go to work. That's Mount Everest for them, you know. Yeah, but for me, when I say, gina, you're going to find 90% of yourself on this March, yeah, you found yourself. Oh yeah, the truth, oh yeah, the, the self, the, the, the hurt, the pain and and and sometimes pain from the past comes out. Um, were you experiencing anything in your life that you just either had to make a decision to say I just need closure to this, I need to be stronger than this, or did you give into it and say this is hurting me even more?
Speaker 2:in that moment in that moment. Um, I think it was honestly. For me in that moment it was more just the emotion came up and because of everything I'd been through I had, I was comfortable letting my emotions out and. I did not care who saw I was like I really don't care.
Speaker 1:Um and I was weeping, like, I mean, I was wailing, I saw, it and I was weeping, like I mean, I was wailing, I saw it. Lindsay at one point was like go ahead and cry it out, but be done after this, right.
Speaker 2:I don't even know what anyone said to me. I was just in my own world. I have no clue.
Speaker 1:And then what's funny is and I someone told me like look at her. Now we are taking off and you were almost just fine, I wouldn't have been, I wouldn't have known. Yeah.
Speaker 2:It was. It was probably the most intense 30 minutes of just mental fortitude, of like, okay, I need to figure out what I'm doing. Because at that point and I remember telling people right after this, like I wasn't crying because I was thinking about quitting, I was crying because I knew I wasn't going to quit and how much it was going to freaking hurt the next 12 miles and. I was like, if I don't cry now, I'm just going to cry the next 12 miles. So I'm just going to get it out of the way.
Speaker 2:Um, literally that was my thought, and I'm like I just got to get it out of my system. Like you know, when you feel stuff welling up inside of you and you're like it's right there, it's right there, and we shove it back down. I was like I'm letting it out because it's going to be bad, and that causes disease too.
Speaker 1:It causes strain, it causes depression, it causes a whole mess of things and you know, sometimes society teaches people like you got to buck up, you got to grind and hustle, like it's okay. Listen, I'm going to tell you right now, when I feel like crying, I'll cry. Right, I don't cry just to cry, though. I'm not Tammy Faye Bakering it, right, you know like I'm not like, oh, join me in this quest. Like it comes at the most random times for me. Last time it was, uh, shoot, I'm trying to think, cause it's almost different every time. Oh, yes, it was coming into Cabela's, so leaving Hy-Vee coming right coming into Cabela's, so leaving Hy-Vee coming into Cabela's. I was like, oh, this is cool man, and I remember, I remember Jardine, yeah, jardine was he was hurting.
Speaker 2:Ryan was hurting.
Speaker 1:Yes, he was, I was like, but as long as I was pushing him.
Speaker 1:I was good when they took him and it was like the last hundred yards. I started Really yes, and I had my sunglasses on and you couldn't tell if I was sweating or crying until my nose started running. And Becky says what's wrong? I said, oh, it's just, you know, but I feel I feel pain letting go. So when people are at 90% of their of their life, um a hundred percent is death, by the way. I mean, when you feel life at a hundred percent, you die at 90%. You're just on that edge of like.
Speaker 2:Everest, or 38 miles in right, it is.
Speaker 1:And that's when you get squeezed and you find out what's actually inside. Yes, and the authenticity comes out. Are you a schmuck? Do you hate people? Are you who? Are you? Under 90%, people will find out who you are, and that's what I believe.
Speaker 2:And I remember Zach, so he was our platoon leader yes, Zach Grady. Yeah, we'll call him Slim Grady. Slim Grady, he raps all the time.
Speaker 1:I love it. I love it, slim Grady, yes.
Speaker 2:There's a video from Iceland if you ever want to see it.
Speaker 1:Oh my gosh.
Speaker 2:Anyways, he had a speech, so our next stop was TAC 88. And that was a long, freaking walk.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it was.
Speaker 2:From Hy-Vee to TAC 88. And I think that's where most people really started to feel it.
Speaker 1:Oh yeah, that was a long stretch. Yeah, it was.
Speaker 2:Even though it was only three miles.
Speaker 1:But it was still hot. That's when the sun started coming.
Speaker 2:He gave us some like a David Goggins speech at TAC 88.
Speaker 1:And it was all about yeah.
Speaker 2:And it was all about like when you reach this level, you've only reached 50% of actually your true potential.
Speaker 1:Yes.
Speaker 2:And he pointed to me and he's like Gina's already touched it and I was like I have Like I don't know, okay, I don't know. I was like touch what, what did I do? But honestly, um, but honestly, it was like after I left Hy-Vee I remember leaving that parking lot and it hurt like hell getting my shoes back on but I had people on either side of me and they literally walked me to the start line. And then I mean, you know how it is, it's not like you start racing off the start line.
Speaker 1:It was a very slow start. No, because your body feels like it has rigor mortis and you got to get it fired up again. I mean, have you seen me on the 40th mile? I'm holding on to the RV handles just to stand up. Sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt.
Speaker 2:No, it's true though. So like it's like, oh, the start line, Like it is not a fast start. It's just a very slow. We're going to start moving back into it and it hurt like it hurt and I could feel my blisters like filling up again and then popping.
Speaker 2:And that was the most painful is like it feels like acid in your feet, um, but after that, I don't know, there was just something that came over me and I was like I made it, I'm okay. And then what helped me kind of what you were saying was walking with other people who are hurting, and I remember catching up to a few others and I could see like, oh, they're, they're struggling. It was like hey, I get it, I get it. Oh, like, and I was just right there and it wasn't. There was not a lot of like verbal communication, but it's like I get it.
Speaker 1:Remember Dr Jamie Seaman said, Dr Fit and Fabulous said what you put out into the world comes into existence. If you're going to tell people I hurt, my back hurts, this hurts, Guess what Three people next to you will hurt. Everyone will hurt and say, yeah, I hurt too. Shut your mouth, Put one foot in front of the other. Now, when you say your feet feel like acid, that's funny because I describe it that same way People are like I'm a bodybuilder, I'm a crossfitter.
Speaker 2:That's great, I'm a crossfitter too. I've never felt pain like that before. Crossfitter that's great, I'm a crossfitter too I've never felt pain like that before because your body.
Speaker 1:Still want to do things? Yeah, but imagine like your feet. Like you know, when soldiers get captured, part of the torture is like back in the day is when their feet used to get freaking whacked oh, by, by whips and everything like that. Can you?
Speaker 2:imagine no, I can't it's.
Speaker 1:It's just a, it's just a raw form of punishment. So here you are your body wants to move and your feet are like no, we ain't going nowhere.
Speaker 2:Yeah and it's yeah. So that's interesting about the. You know, just being with people in their pain. And it literally was something where, you know, I kind of view it as I think there's a fine line of not admitting but like acknowledging, like yeah, I hurt and it not admitting but like acknowledging like yeah, I hurt and it's not, but it's, and and and I'm going to keep going.
Speaker 1:Yes.
Speaker 2:And I think for me that's been the most helpful of like okay, yeah, I'm not going to pretend that my blisters aren't there.
Speaker 1:They are, they hurt.
Speaker 2:And I remember just talking with people and being like, yeah, I I'm hurting too and we're going to finish this together, like we're going to finish this together, and that was just kind of this, like unspoken from there on out. It was just this, like this unspoken honor, dignity, like respect that we just had with fellow walkers of like. We've made it this far. We're freaking finishing this.
Speaker 1:Honor, dignity, respect, right of passage.
Speaker 2:We did it.
Speaker 1:You did it. Hey Gina, have you run into any 50 milers or people wearing the shirt at all after the March?
Speaker 2:Yeah, I've run into a couple. Well, I wasn't wearing mine but they were wearing theirs and it is it's like this, like nod of like hey, like you're in, you're in that 1%.
Speaker 1:Yes, it is Like you're you're my people.
Speaker 2:Um, it's self-selects for a lot of people. Um, and I'll be honest, I'm scared for this year, Like I'm I'm terrified Cause I'm like, huh, I don't want to go back to that place. Like I don't. I don't want to go back to it, so this will be your hundredth mile. Yeah.
Speaker 1:Right, so think about that. How many people even wanted to do this once?
Speaker 2:Yeah, I didn't want to Like, I got peer pressured into it.
Speaker 1:FOMOed.
Speaker 2:It was FOMOed. Freaking Marquesas are the best at that. They are responsible for a whole platoon of people that they FOMOed. I know, and we were all just cursing their names Like what did you guys get us into?
Speaker 1:Oh my gosh, It'll be 150 for them this year.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:And Matt politely told me the very first time Nah, dude, I'm out, thanks bro, hey, we'll support you, we'll help you raise funds, but me and Lindsay we're out. I just want to be real, bro. It's like, yeah, matt appreciate it, thank you. And you know, I even saw him at Iowa Fieldhouse one time. I'm like, hey, man, hey, I'm telling you, jay, we're just, we support you, we love you, but we're out. And then Zach Grady got back into it and he was a catalyst. But anyway, this is not about them, it's about you. I'm grateful to them. Yeah, absolutely. You heard of this march the very first time through Marchese. What was your conception? What was your preconceived notion? How did the conversation go?
Speaker 2:I'll tell you, I was watching Lindy's live feed from the year before.
Speaker 1:Okay, so you just saw her.
Speaker 2:I was watching her do this crazy 50-mile march and I was like you guys are insane. But that tracks like Marquesas do a lot of insane things.
Speaker 1:Yes, love you guys, and yes, you can do a lot of crazy, more crazy things.
Speaker 2:Yes, Love them. That's part of the reason why I love them. So I was like that tracks like they're just doing something crazy. That makes sense and Lindy said afterwards she's like that was the worst 22 hours of my life and I was like I believe it, girl, that looks awful.
Speaker 2:And she called me like three months later maybe text me, I don't know whatever. And she's like hey, we're doing this 50 mile March again next year. And my first response was wasn't that the worst 22 hours of your life? And she's like but it was so great. Oh my god, I'm like wait, you said it was awful and you're doing it again and she just said like it's the most inex, unexplainable, inexplainable yeah, unexplainable, unexplainable experience and it's true, I get that.
Speaker 2:Now I get that. I can't explain it to people, um, but anyways, a few months went by and it was kind of radio silent and I I hadn't personally committed and so I was like I'll slide under the radar. I'm not doing this. And then Tasha texted me like hey, you come to the qualifier.
Speaker 2:And I was like what? She's like, yeah, you're coming to the qualifier, Right. And I was like no, we didn't, we did not. We had this like vow, that like we would either not do it together or do it. And she's like I'm doing it. I was like, come on, no, this is dumb.
Speaker 1:You guys didn't communicate with me.
Speaker 2:I wasn't in the loop, I was not a part of this, and so the next thing I know I'm showing up for a 15 mile march in the middle of June last year at Flanagan, because it was the last.
Speaker 1:Yes, last did the second one, not the large group one. I didn't do the one in april or march, when it was raining, and all that stuff I did not do that one.
Speaker 2:I did the really hot one at flanagan um and I was like, and after I remember after the we did three five mile loops yes and after two I was like surely this is enough, surely they'll call it because this is dumb yeah, and we don't need to do anymore we don't need to do another five miles to prove that we're in.
Speaker 2:Like we did 10 and then we took off for another five and I was like, oh my God, this is worst ever. But I will say I'm very glad we did 15 because at mile 12 or 13 was when I first started to get hotspots and that's why I believe that's part of the reason you do the qualifier that way is because if people haven't walked that far like you, don't know your hotspots and you do not want to find them out.
Speaker 1:No, not on the March, and that's what I get scared. So just last weekend or yesterday they did a 10 miler at Nebraska Brewing Company and out of the 30 people there are probably three or four that were like not ready. Um, you can't walk your dog and be ready. No you've got to, you've got to rock.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:You have to rock. Um, you know, now fast forward. Um, you know, you talked about the pain. What are some of the things that people should be thinking about when it comes to preparing mentally first, mentally, I was gonna say I think mental preparation is probably the utmost importance.
Speaker 2:I think for me it was just the mental prep of like this is going to be uncomfortable, and I have to be comfortable being very uncomfortable for an extended period of time. Sleep really wasn't that big of a deal, I thought it was going to be.
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:But you're just on so much adrenaline and you're with people and, like there, I wouldn't have slept a minute even if. I had the opportunity. Right, absolutely I think you're just on adrenaline and your breaks go by so fast.
Speaker 2:So the breaks are like get your shoes off, get water, go to the bathroom, eat, try to get your feet elevated, and then it's like time to go. Go to the bathroom, eat, try to get your feet elevated, and then it's like time to go. So I don't know when people would sleep. I didn't sleep at all. Um, I think the mental preparation again I'm just like knowing this is going to be really uncomfortable. Oh my God.
Speaker 1:Like that's scaring me now it is going to be, but it is.
Speaker 2:It's just, it's going to be uncomfortable and you're going to make it. I think that was the other piece of it. And that was something that, marquesas, we're picking on them, but I'm going to give them a good shout out. They were like you're going to make it, Like you're, you're going to finish and. I was like no, I'm not like. Yes, you are. You're going to finish, and there was never a doubt of like. They didn't let me think I was not going to finish this.
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:And so that was in the back of my brain of like, yeah, you're right, I know I can do this, even though I don't want to, and it's going to suck and it's going to hurt. I know I'm going to be okay. Um might walk away with a few blisters.
Speaker 1:Or worse. I mean, some people got shin splints, Some people had to. I was in crutches for a week and a half after the last time and then the week before I didn't even know I was going to walk.
Speaker 2:I don't know if you can, yeah.
Speaker 1:My both yeah.
Speaker 2:We were praying over you.
Speaker 1:I know, I remember that you were the first person that came up to me and said hey, can I pray for you?
Speaker 2:I was like what? And I started crying. Oh, I love that.
Speaker 1:And.
Speaker 2:I was so happy to see you at the walk Cause we still didn't know like that day you were still TBD, Like I don't know A hundred percent.
Speaker 1:I was recovering like an NFL tight end. I was on the protocol. Anyway, jamie had me on some crazy regimen, right, but it worked. Because the Friday night before I almost was like okay, I have to give my speech of control. It's okay, jay, you've done this. I did everything I could to make me feel comfortable about not falling through on my commitment and I was going to be good with it. And I knew some people were going to judge. But I staged myself for that. I woke up that Saturday and I remember just having peace over me and saying good.
Speaker 1:I can do this. I love that. It's going to hurt. I probably am going, but once I get my hip moving, once I stand up straight, I just need somebody to help pick me up.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:And on the 20th mile I broke down.
Speaker 1:Really People were in the camper, yeah, and that was Baker's candy, right, yeah, baker's candies. Hey, you need anything? Jay, no, I'm good, I'm good. People using the RV bathroom stinking it up, right, I'm like, oh my God. And Chris was like, hey, you sure? I said I'm good. I said, hey, can you get everybody out? Just just for a second. Just ask everyone to leave. He goes. What I said just ask everyone to leave the camper just for a second. Call my wife in here. I need to talk to her. Is everything okay? I said, yeah, everything's okay. I just need to talk to Becky real quick, five minutes. Close the door. I freaking broke down.
Speaker 2:I did not know this. I was like I can't let people see me.
Speaker 1:I said, god, I need the strength right now. My hip, you know. I just I wasn't asking or negotiating or anything, I was just like please give me the strength to continue. She said, listen, you started this. You could have bowed out in the beginning, or something like that. You know you've got this. Give yourself the peptide shot, which she did. Right, I'm like, oh, I'm knowing that it didn't do anything for you that second, and she's like rubbing my, my uh, hip and I'm like, okay, but what people were doing to you, my wife did for me.
Speaker 2:Yeah, just believing in me, yeah.
Speaker 1:So you, you're gonna finish. You're not gonna. I'm gonna finish. You know what I mean? I mean, I don't mean to play it like that, I'm just saying it's real. So someone is preparing right now for the 50 mile march and they're listening. What advice would you give for them? Physically Like? People always ask how often should I train? What do I do? I know that everyone's different, but what's some general rules of thumb?
Speaker 2:man, you got to find your hotspots.
Speaker 1:Yes, like define hotspots for people. Yeah.
Speaker 2:Hotspots would be like the places on your feet that you're going to get the most friction in your shoes um I would say get good shoes, that's like you can go with everything else yes without everything else. You need socks and shoes like yes everything else will be provided. It's fine. Um, I overpacked last year, by the way, so yeah, way overpacked beach towel all, like all the things I've used, none of it. Um, um, I would say, yeah, find your hotspots, and the only way you do that is rucking.
Speaker 1:Yeah, you just have to write. If people I've made a post about this the other day if you practice consistency over intensity, you're not going to be surprised. Yeah, only rookies will be surprised. Now, what does that mean? Yeah, I'm not telling people to go 10 miles a day, five days a week. I'm saying be consistent. So for me, I'll share with you that. Maybe you can share with me what your tempo is. I'm five miles Monday, wednesday, Friday, at 3.4 to 3.6 miles per hour with 30 pounds in my back. Okay, that's what I'm doing, right? Yeah, consistent. And then, every now and then, I'll find a bonus day to do 10 miles and that's that's the time for me. That's the time for by myself. That's the time for me not to have any pressure. Where's the hotspots? Are these shoes? That are my laces? Feeling funny? Oh, maybe I should try these socks, cause last time you know all those things. What's your physical training? Or? You know? I mean, I know you stay fit, so tell me all the things you do to keep you fit.
Speaker 2:Well, in full disclosure, I have not been rucking. I need to we're 60 days away. I know I need to start it.
Speaker 1:Consistency. I need to start it. You're welcome to join us Monday, wednesday, friday.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I actually really need to, so that's a kick in the pants to me. I go to the gym four or five days a week, so I lift weights, but that's whether I'm not doing the walk, that's. I do that anyways. Um and I, I actually do walk a lot, I do walk my dog, but that is not training, um, it's just not the same amount of training Um last year, when I would walk her, I actually just put my vest on and we average about five miles a day.
Speaker 2:But that is broken up because especially now it's so hot. So she can't go. My dog just can't go five miles.
Speaker 1:But you still have a vest on with the weight. But when you ruck the 50 miles you don't have any weight. So you're preparing yourself with a load.
Speaker 2:With a load yeah.
Speaker 1:Some people are just not. And I'm not chest, I'm saying how critical is it for you to prepare and walk?
Speaker 2:Now that I've done it way more like last year, I did have that thought of, like I'm fit, I'm physically fit, I know I can walk, I'll be good. And then I realized that, like mile 35 to 38, like oh geez, like yeah you, you can't prepare. There is an element, though I will say you just can't prepare for the unknowns.
Speaker 2:Like you can do all the preparation and there will still be unknowns. And then that's when that mental preparation overtakes, like whatever that physical lacks, because at that point it's like here we are and we're going, and I'm going to do the best with what I have Right. So, but I did last year I did two pairs of shoes, so I alternated at every stop.
Speaker 1:Oh, so they're. They felt fresh.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so they had two pairs of Brooks.
Speaker 1:I'm a Brooks girl, so I actually got A6 this year. What yeah, you broke the mold.
Speaker 2:I did, I did, but I had two pairs of Brooks. I had the adrenaline and the um, I don't know GTS or something I don't know. But, they were just different enough to where one had a little wider toe box and one was narrow. So it just gave like. And my idea behind that was like, okay, I'm going to give my feet a break every time and mix it up so that they're not rubbing the exact same spot over and over again.
Speaker 1:See, in my mind I was like here she's crazy to be switching shoes, but I get it.
Speaker 2:I liked it and then. I realized, and now this year I actually sized up a size.
Speaker 1:Because they swell.
Speaker 2:Because your feet swell so much, and that's oh like they swell so much, and so I did size up half a size. And then everyone swears by toe socks, but they don't work for me.
Speaker 1:So you're not a toe sock gal, I'm a toe sock dude. Oh my God.
Speaker 2:And I need to find out something to do with my pinky toe, cause that's like anatomically, my pinky toe just goes underneath.
Speaker 1:Underneath. So does mine, right? So toe socks. I know it sounds crazy, but but you can't wear toe socks alone, are you only wearing toe socks alone? So you got to put the, you got to put the toe sock and then you got to put a sock that is either wool blend, non-cotton. Oh, I didn't know that. Okay, so here's why I didn't know that. So your feet are like this they're splayed, is what the socks do.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:And then you put that other sock around it. So remember, the friction happens when friction causes the heat, when your feet rub, but your feet can't rub if your toes are like this, and then you have another layer. You could literally try to drag your foot on the floor and try to create heat and it won't work, but not cotton. Just as the least cotton blend you can. So if you have cotton slash wool that will keep them super dry. I also put so like when we stop.
Speaker 2:I did the salty britches too.
Speaker 1:Oh yeah, that helps too, so for other people people were like, oh, that's so weird. No, it works. It's either powder or lube, right, one of the two. Lube that's not funny, it's gross, but it works. So I need to try that, then Try it. And now is the time to try it Right, like especially for the little toe, yeah, and and I put a lot of Dr dr souls on just because I don't want any moisture. Moisture is the enemy it is once your feet get soft from that excess moisture, you're done you're done.
Speaker 2:I mean no matter what, you can be the toughest dude. Yeah, oh, and there were oh man you see grown men just brought to their knees because it's you get a blister and oh yeah, no joke I mean jardine's foot, ryan's foot, it was half of it fell off like yeah.
Speaker 1:So the first year timothy sons was with us, the whole sole of his foot slid off. I know sorry about that. I know no pictures, don't worry, but I remember him taking off his and I was like, oh my god, what's that? I thought what's that? I thought it was jelly. Sorry, that's disgusting. I thought it was jelly but it was the bottom of his soul stuck to his sock, all of a sudden, I don't have an appetite, sorry, yeah, hey, wait, wait, wait Doing the 50 mile mark. Exactly. Are you sure it's good for?
Speaker 2:you, oh my gosh.
Speaker 1:I want to talk to you as a person now. You was, you was gina, yeah, gina um the why, right? So you weren't, you weren't in the military. You know, and we talked about this and you know, beyond the physical challenge, beyond the, you know, testing yourself, what does it mean to you to participate and why do you participate?
Speaker 2:yeah, that was something that again I said fomo was why I did it last year and so there was FOMO. That's full transparency. Um so I don't have, like Jay said, I don't have um military background. I have never served in the military. I grew up in a military town in Colorado Springs, so um just grew up with that reverence and that respect for our military and lots of friends and family in the military, so that was just kind of like my upbringing.
Speaker 2:So I have been always exposed to that world and just what they put themselves through. And my undergrad is, or was, I should say, pre-med and psychology, and so I remember learning. I took an abnormal psych class and I thought PTSD was actually one of the most interesting mental disorders because of how it can impact people and like the broad array of who it can impact, like anyone from a CEO to like a veteran, like an all in between. And just I mean mental health doesn't discriminate anyways.
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:But I just found this one particularly interesting. And then you think of like PTSD in the form of trauma, like it doesn't have to be on Any trauma.
Speaker 1:Any trauma, it doesn't have to be on the front lines. It could be battery, it could be a bad experience. I mean people who get robbed, yeah, people who are put under intense pressure without notice. That's how I kind of look at it it's an injury. It's an injury.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and I think I just think of how I don't know. I think of just like, how alone I felt for so long in my journey of like no one's actually seen what's happening all around me, and wishing I had someone just come along and be like this is not normal. Like this is not normal and I didn't have PTSD. I do now for some things.
Speaker 1:I'm working through that.
Speaker 2:I'm in therapy and all sorts of things. Um, but yeah, I think that was more like dang. These veterans really don't have. They don't have the help they need and they're also so highly trained and there is that like pride and that honor of like well, if I admit that I, you know, struggle with this, I now I'm seen as weak.
Speaker 1:Yes, or you know you could have lost our job. So if I would have told my commander or my first sergeant. You know I'm feeling a little depressed. I'm feeling blue boom. Top secret security clearance gone right. Access to everything gone, pretty much couldn't do anything and you were on suicide watch, yeah.
Speaker 2:And you just learned to shove it down. Yes, yeah.
Speaker 1:Cause you didn't want to lose your job. You didn't want to go. Hey see that guy right over there. He got all his stripes ripped off. He's on suicide watch. Yeah, like who wants to be labeled that?
Speaker 2:No, no one does. I wouldn't want that, and that's a that's almost an impossible situation to be put in. It you know, it.
Speaker 1:It, it's a conditioning to say you shut your mouth. Oh, you like working at the store, whatever right there's, there's that. Shut your mouth. You like working in the store, shut your mouth and sweep the floors. That's one thing. Yeah, you like working here, I don't care about your mental health. You say anything, you'll be worth nothing. Yeah, you say anything, you'll be worth nothing. Yeah, that's the condition, the response and the outcome. Yeah, and then we taught ourselves Ooh, we better not ask for anything. So when we get, out, Gina yeah.
Speaker 1:But you, on the other hand, now knowing how important it is for help, did you get help with with? Are you getting help, okay? So so let's talk about that. Talk to talk to a person now who's listening and they're a veteran.
Speaker 2:Tell them how important or how how okay it is to not be okay I would say this, I would say the best healing happens in community, like it really does, like healing happens in community. Trauma happens in community, sure does, and healing happens in community.
Speaker 1:Trauma happens in community, sure does and healing happens in community.
Speaker 2:Dang, that's a mic drop right there Okay we're done, just kidding, no, but in all seriousness, that is, I think you know, shame, depression, isolation. I'm sorry, all of that stuff is causing you to go into isolation. Yes, and that's what the enemy wants. Like the enemy wants you silent? And they, the enemy, wants you in the dark.
Speaker 1:Um and.
Speaker 2:I think the best way to fight that in my life and I've seen it in others is let people into your mess.
Speaker 1:Let people into your mess. I was hoping you'd say that Let people into your mess. Tell people what that means Let them into your mess, let them in.
Speaker 2:Like it's okay to let people like see people, let them see you cry, let them see you upset, let them see you just like in literally in your mess. Like house is a disaster, what? Like you're falling apart mentally, like that's okay. And now I will say this like as a caveat it's not just like you're going to let some rando at the grocery store line. No it's these trusted friends and family that you're letting in, right? You're not pushing them away Like I'm fine, everything's good, it's all good, like put on a good face.
Speaker 1:Yes, yes.
Speaker 2:No, there's times when it's okay to just be like yes, this is a really fricking hard day, yeah, and I don't, I don't know what I'm going to do tomorrow, and just letting them in Like me through today.
Speaker 2:Just help me through today and I'll tell you one of the most powerful stories that happened to me personally. Um so, obviously you know I went through a divorce and this was this was pretty soon after I found out about like all the affairs and all that kind of stuff but I had ripped up every photo, like every photo in the house, and I was just a mess Like I mean every emotion from rage to anger to sadness to betrayal, like just the entire spectrum.
Speaker 2:Um, and I was. If there was a camera, like I probably would be locked up in a psych ward right now, cause you're like what is happening to this chick.
Speaker 2:Anyways, I was just going crazy and just screaming and like pounding the floor and I was just so mad and like letting that get out of my system. And I didn't know, one of my friends was coming over and cause she just wanted to pop in and check on me. And she came in and saw just like pictures everywhere and I was on the floor just like rocking and I was literally a mess like a mess. And she just came in, took her shoes off. She didn't say anything and she just held me and we just balled together. She didn't say a word and that was the most powerful moment, or one of the most powerful moments, because she didn't know what to say, but there was nothing to say.
Speaker 2:She was just there for you, she was just there and then, little by little, she like got up and she just she put everything into trash bags and she took it out and put it in her own trash, so I didn't have to see it. Yeah, we exchanged maybe three words, but that, like to this day, I was like that was one of the most powerful examples of like letting. Not only it was twofold, I had to let her in, but she just was there. Yeah, she wasn't trying to fix it, she wasn't trying to say like it's okay, it's gonna get better, it won't always be this way. Like Like you know these little one-liners. She was just like this is so hard.
Speaker 1:I was like yeah, it was amazing. Not everyone has a friend like that.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:And not people. People have friends like that that they don't let in. Yeah, so when you say let people into your mess, I think it's more than just saying I need help. Let them into the mess, let them see the real you. When someone says, gina, are you okay? There are people who are like, oh my God, and they throw themselves in front of the bus right Like. I don't even want to quantify that, I don't want to demonize people who do that, but to be able to say, hey, I really need your help. I don't I just, I just need your help to get through today. I need your help, listen to me, I don't need you to solve anything.
Speaker 2:I just need you to listen. That's harder than hell to say, though. Oh, absolutely, and I will say this that when you are that person of asking for help number one, that's terrifying because you're fearing rejection, You're fearing they're going to be like no, I don't have time, or whatever. I would bet. I'm not a betting woman, but if I was, I would say I would venture to say 99% of the time, people are going to jump at the opportunity to help. Jump at the opportunity.
Speaker 1:We all want to serve each other, right Some people are going to help you the right way. Sometimes it's trial and error, but Gina, I wanted people to know who you are, because you're not some superhero that wants to be a motivational speaker that is involved with the 50 Mile March. Right, you are a real person. You are you unapologetically, you are authentic, you bring a different perspective. You have your views. I love your faith. I love that. You let it pour into other people without being that bullhorn everybody kneel down, yeah but.
Speaker 1:But you know, um, oh my gosh, the hardest part for me, remember when we're laying on the Capitol steps for 22 minutes.
Speaker 2:That's powerful.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and we're on cement and I think we were 20 minutes in. I was like though I walked through the chalet, the chalet of death.
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:I fear no evil Like that was our passage. So good, that was the passage Right, and yeah, the valley of death is 50 miles long for us today.
Speaker 2:It's a long valley, it's a very dark valley, oh my gosh.
Speaker 1:I mean, if you could picture the start, the valleys, and then the climb out. Literally the climb out, the climb out is the frigging worst part.
Speaker 2:The valley is great. We're going downhill, it's fine.
Speaker 1:It's the climb out.
Speaker 2:It's great we're going downhill.
Speaker 1:It's fine.
Speaker 2:It's the climb out. No, I get it. I'm not trying to make light of it, but, yes, it's very symbolic and that metaphor is, yes, very real.
Speaker 1:It is because the last hilt in Nebraska brewing company is literally, I think that's a nine degree or 10 degree incline, whatever that is, it feels like you're going straight up.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:But you're just like listening to the end. But and you know, I mean, those are details that people can experience with us. Gina, um, to wrap this up to, to make you know, next few minutes, what do you want to share? Perhaps I may I may not have asked, or what are some of the things that you want people to know about, gina? Oh, you good question.
Speaker 2:Yes, I would say a little bit to tag on to you. There's not a specific set of circumstances that makes me better than anyone else, or different or more qualified to do this. I wouldn't say normal. I think we all are very unique, but yeah, I'm. I'm a person living my life and this just was part of it, and I've learned so many lessons through the 50 mile march. You have so many lessons through it. And yeah, I would just say like my story isn't over.
Speaker 1:No, this is beginning so cool, yeah, and you're in control of the chapters, yeah Right.
Speaker 2:Absolutely, I mean.
Speaker 1:I understand what you've been through before right, I've been there before too and you as a person, what I want people to know is um, I love that you're so on, non prepped not I'm talking, not talking prepared, I'm talking like raw, authentic you, um, you bring an energy about you that just makes people go. Oh, it's Gina the, the effect that you had on Jerry Teeter, the effect that you had on those camera guys, um, at at our last media shoot, you know, with you, um, I saw some of the footage. I was like there's something to you and I'm not trying to place you on a pedestal that brings something to our community and it's you're, you're welcome, but it's not.
Speaker 1:It's not like capability, it's not like capability, it's not ability, it's, it's reality. You're a real person. You just, you know people think 50 mile a March, they gotta be special operators, veterans and we gotta wear 90 pound packs Like. And I want people to never and I and I know that you don't people should never apologize or say hey, I never served or I'm sorry. Do you now feel more connected to the military community than ever? Oh, heck, yeah.
Speaker 2:And I get the camaraderie like on a whole new level.
Speaker 1:Like I get it.
Speaker 2:And that's the other thing about community is like yeah, stuff happens in community, trauma happens and pain happens in community and so much healing happens in that. And I think I mean, I look at the people I walked with last year, I would do anything for them, anything for them.
Speaker 1:And.
Speaker 2:I know vice versa. I could pick up the phone at any moment and be like, hey, I need help with this and this, or I'm struggling with this, and like boom, they'd be there.
Speaker 1:And you don't know everything about me, right? Like, we're not best of friends, but I believe we're comrades. I believe that we've been through the rite of passage. I believe we have similar core values. Um, every time I talk to you, it's easy to speak, right? Um, it's not like and how was your day, do you know? Like, that's so. I'm still that way with some people, but I think you want to let people in you know. And um, when, when people like you join our organization, it, it creates even more credibility for what we're doing. I love that. I mean, yeah, you're welcome and um, I'm just so grateful.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:And uh, I'm grateful for you, Thank you.
Speaker 2:I'm grateful for what you guys have started too.
Speaker 1:This is a whole movement and it's so yes, it's the movement, it's so cool it is well and I want to say one more thing yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, land it, land it, and I'll try to land it. Yes, um.
Speaker 2:I will say this like thank you for the compliments on just like being authentic, and I, I will say I haven't always been that way. I lived much of my life as, like a perfectionist and just wanting to make sure, like, as long as everything looks good on the outside, ain't nobody got to see what's happening on the inside.
Speaker 2:And there was always this disconnect of not living a congruent life and the more I've leaned into just being vulnerable and being like this is me and being okay, Knowing that not everyone's, I'm not going to be everyone's cup of tea and they're not going to be my cup of tea, and that's okay. And it's like it gives me so much freedom and that's what I think most everybody is after is freedom. And it's like when you just show up and be yourself, like just know, not everyone's going to like you.
Speaker 1:It takes less calories to live that way it does.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it takes less calories to live that way it does. Yeah, it's wonderful and there's just so much freedom in it and I think that's a big reason why I want to share is like I want people to experience that freedom, but it starts with being vulnerable.
Speaker 1:Absolutely, it does.
Speaker 2:And that's the scariest part, and I think to our veterans and to those who want and need help the first and most scary part is being vulnerable.
Speaker 1:After that, you're going to have people around you locking arms and literally pulling you through, and that's what life, symbolically, is supposed to be about. This thing parallels so many things in life. It teaches me lessons every day. It keeps me going. This keeps me honest in all other parts of my life. I can't be a 50 Mile March founder and live foul day. It keeps me going. This keeps me honest in all other parts of my life. Right, I mean, I can't be a 50 mile March founder and live foul. Right.
Speaker 1:And also you taught me something today you don't have to be on. Yeah, you don't have to be on. And um, I I hear that all the time, but I see people say it. I hear them like, well, the house is messy, don't let people over. I get that part. You know you don't want to see them midweek into your house but at the same time, let people into your mess be who you are. And, gina, I just want to thank you for being here today and I want this to continue for another two hours, but that time you do not have.
Speaker 2:Yes, and it's a little hot, oh my gosh.
Speaker 1:No worst day. So I mean perfect backdrop. We're here at Tahazuka Park in Elkhorn and this is the tank behind it and this is the story. This is the story we share. Thank you so much. Thanks for having me.
Speaker 2:Thank you, appreciate it All right, thank you, thank you.
Speaker 1:Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you.