692d Podcast

Cooking is not something I particularly excel at. I've made a few dishes in my life that were worthy of praise, but for the most part, I stay out of the kitchen, especially when my wife is cooking (she doesn't need an extra child in there). Also, I am useless without a recipe and directions. If you try this out, let me know what dishes you made.

We all have a mandate to stay physically fit but that is not only so we look good in our service dress. Physical exertion has so many health benefits for the mind and the spirit. We all want to have the peace of mind of being able to pass a PT test at any time, so a consistent exercise program will not only provide the reassurance needed for passing tests, but it will also provide endorphins and allow the stress of the days and weeks to be shaken off. Here's a challenge for anyone willing to drop their times: do the following exercises and let me know what your time is. 50 air squats, 25 burpees, 40 sit-ups, 25 burpees, 30 push-ups, 25 burpees.

You have 168 hours in a week, make sure you use at least some of that time to talk with friends, family, or colleagues about the importance of mental health and self-care. Recognize that sometimes, our best may not reach the same heights as other days, and that's perfectly okay. You are not a machine and no one expects you to be one. All I ask is that you take the time necessary to ensure that your mental health and self-care are prioritized as high as your work tasks. Service before self does NOT mean service instead of self.

I personally use belly breathing when I go into the ART and any medical procedures for two reasons. First, I have "White Coat Syndrome" and my blood pressure spikes when I go into any medical facility and I don't want the Doc to think I'm about to have a stroke due to my blood pressure skyrocketing. I know Maj Olmstead, MSgt Navarrette, or TSgt Johannesson can't tell you that this happens with me specifically, but I give them permission to confirm what I said. It gets rough sometimes and I try not to take more of their time. The second reason why I practice belly breathing is before I need to talk about something difficult. I've done a lot of belly breathing this month prior to recording and during the writing of the episodes as these are not easy topics for me either. There have been hours of audio deleted because I stop breathing from holding back the feelings and pain that some of these episodes have brought up. A few deep belly breaths and I'm ready to go a few more minutes, depending on the topic. Give it a few tries when you are feeling stressed or overwhelmed and focus on your pulse, you'll be able to feel it better and you should see a drastic drop in beats per minute.

This is Episode Eighteen of Season Two of the 692d Podcast. Join us as we welcome Col Stacy Kihara and her Ohana back to the Group. She assumed command on 3 June and started her third tour in the 692 ISRG. When asked about her assumption of command, she stated, "It felt right. It felt like it fit." I have no doubts that she will lead us to more impressive accomplishments and ensure that our direction and partnerships will find the right "fit".