Miles, Memories, and the Mystery of the Desert

The desert has always been a mysterious place for me. I first heard about that part of our country from my dad, who spent his formative years in Arizona and...

Humbled by Sandy Hook: A Perfect Event

Over the past 14 years, I’ve participated in triple-digit GORUCK events, both as a participant and/or organizer. I consider all of these events worthwhile, with several that I would call...

Finding Purpose as a Bodybuilder or Cyber Spiderman

When it comes to motivation, few embody the spirit of reinvention like Arnold Schwarzenegger. The man has continually redefined himself, transforming from a small-town boy in Austria into a world-class...

The Mercy Rule

The Mercy Rule (also known by the lesser names of the Slaughter, Knockout, or Skunk Rule) is a concept familiar to kids, parents, and coaches across the nation. My seven-year-old...

Reflecting on a Bittersweet Victory

It’s hard to believe it’s been seven months since I first wrote about the dozens of proposed public school closures in my hometown — a list that included my children’s...

I’m Told I Say Croissant Like An A$$hole

Fun facts: The Eiffel Tower was built a couple years prior to the 1889 Exposition Universelle to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution. It’s no secret that initial...

Right-sizing Hearts By Saving Community Schools

And yet for all the talk of budgets and numbers, I think what I’m trying to express goes beyond the numbers and our human attempts to live and work and learn together. What value do we place on a neighbor, whose own children have left the nest, painting a tire swing with words of encouragement and love for all who pass by? How does one nurture a student, a family, a school, a community? How do we continue to weave the social fabric of our locally-led lives? 

Lift Up Thine Eyes....From Thy Smartphone

It’s tough to accept when you are wrong. 

For the past decade, Jason and I have gone round and round about solo screen time for our kids. I argue there is a time and place for it; he wants to banish their iPads to the dumpster. What about when we are trapped in an airport or car with them on long trips? Or when they’ve been playing outside all day and it starts raining and we all want a break? He shrugs and says a version of “it’s a slippery slope and I don’t like it.”

What We Have Here Is Failure

By Emily McCarthy I once knew a guy in college who dove so deep into an intro level philosophy class that he told me he was going to read chapters...

MANAGING STRESS WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS (AND RUCKING)

Two years ago right now I was out of sorts. Stressed out, you might say. COVID had suited me just fine, actually — the more chaos around, the calmer I...

Fuel Your Ruck: Power-Packed Snacks for Long-Distance Performance

By: Mike Roussell, PhD  Rucking doesn't just rely on physical strength and mental grit—it also demands smart nutrition. To fuel your body for the miles ahead, you need strategic snacking...

Mastering Hydration for Rucking: A Guide to Essential Electrolytes

By Mike Roussell, PhD Hydration is more than just water; it's a delicate balance of electrolytes lost through sweat, especially during demanding activities like prolonged rucking.The amount of electrolytes lost can...

The Case for More 9 Year Old Biker Gangs ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏

      A couple of summers ago, when my oldest child was 9 years old, I decided to push her out of the proverbial nest. No, no, I did...

Virginity Rocks

“We are literally driving off into the sunset to rescue your GR1.” I said this looking over at Michael Easter, hunched over his phone, trying to get his Find My...

Discomfort Is Being Stuck in the Mud with Your Children

TL;DR: Tides will change faster than you think. Use a ramp if there is one. When you find yourself mired in the muck, crawl your way out (and other tips...

Change in 2023 - A Chat with ChatGPT

By Emily McCarthy These days, it seems like you can’t go too far without hearing about ChatGPT — the latest leap in Artificial Intelligence (AI) chatbot technology. Depending on who you talk...