Tag: Ex-Pat

Posted on

Treasure hunt

AO: the-knoll
Q: morning stār
PAX: Grape, Tebow, Tea Party, El Capitan, Pearl (Jonathan Halter), Lady Liberty, Timber, Sooie, The Banker, Sparrow, Ex-Pat, Malibu, Evee (2.0), Bumble bee (2.0), Iowa (2.0), Samwise (2.0), Blackhawk (2.0), Noble Virus (Franklin)
FNGs: None
COUNT: 19
19 PAX got together to celebrate YHC’s 41st birthday. 19 and 41 are both prime numbers.

CONDITIONS: dusky and damp with a slice of invigoration

WOR: 41 SSH

THANG:
1 body builder burpee every minute (or so) for 41 total. Lots of movement in between.

As we went we reviewed the F3 mission and the-knoll’s unique expression of that:
“The Bellevue AOs are neighborhood workouts that accelerate F3 Nashville’s mission by equipping men to lead their lives and families with strength and integrity.”
We do this by creating opportunities for men to:
– get physically fit,
– choose fellowship over isolation
– engage with and live from their hearts
– and grow as virtuous leaders

YHC invited several PAX to share why they keep posting. Feeling glad and tender to hear the feedback.

MOLESKIN:
– Appreciate everyone coming to celebrate and work together. Was great to see the Franklin PAX visit.
– What I shared today would not have been possible without the COT we’ve built over the last year. Appreciate all the men (and kids) that have shared intentionally from their hearts to build this safe container.
– What I shared today I was able to articulate with greater clarity than ever thanks to the narrative focused trauma care (storywork) I’ve done with Mark H. from thesoulreserve.com/ and the work I did with Dr. Jake Smith Jr. via the goplumline.com/ heart group. It’s built on the work I’ve done through many thecrucibleproject.org/ and www.edgeventure.org/ groups before that and many conversations with my God, my wife and trusted friends and allies.
– I think there is a war being waged for the hearts of men (and women) and the assault of darkness starts in our childhood. As adults we can excavate our stories for the hidden treasure of truth and help our families do the same.

Announcements
– Gullivers travels continues
– F3 Fairview launches Sept 5th see #1stF for more details
– F3 Franklin has a family get together at Arrington Vineyards this Saturday
– Check slack for more

COT:
“”What we hunger for perhaps more than anything else is to be known in our full humanness, and yet that is often just what we also fear more than anything else. It is important to tell at least from time to time the secret of who we truly and fully are, because otherwise we run the risk of losing track of who we truly and fully are and little by little come to accept instead the highly edited version which we put forth in hope that the world will find it more acceptable than the real thing. It is important to tell our secrets too because it makes it easier, for other people to tell us a secret or two of their own.” – Frederick Buechner”
“”It is the glory of God to conceal a thing, but the honor of kings is to search out a matter.” -Prov 25:2″
When I was 13, after my parents divorce had settled, my dad pulled me aside in the parking lot of my mom’s apartment and said to me: “Since I’m not around anymore, you are now the man of the house. It’s your responsibility to take care of your mom and sister.”

This message filled me with a sense of pride, terror and confusion. And as the years went by I was asked–and many times forced–into roles that I had no business being in as a teenager. My parents used me to communicate to each other and I became the mediator of our family. I was the “middle man” but I was still a boy … I was a “middle boy”.

What I see now is that this all led me to internalize several dark lies about myself. By living from those lies I was able to build some skills that actually made me “successful” in school, career and other ventures. I was driven from the shadows of my subconscious to prove myself to the world around me. This way of life had a deep cost though, as I’ve come to find out.

My lie is that I’m flawed and incapable. That I’m unworthy of care. When something goes wrong I think it’s my fault and I should have prevented it. And I’m alone to figure it out.

When I feel this I …
– abdicate my roles and responsibilities
– take ownership of others’ problems
– seek validation through helping others
– sedate myself with food

Then I roll over and surrender to my inner critic who points to all this as proof that I’m unworthy of living my own life, not to mention incapable. Then, I double down in my drivenness to prove that wrong and the whole process starts over again.

I’ve been doing this for 31 years and it’s costing me the joyful, adventurous experience of a life well lived. I constantly battle the effects of stress on my body and mind. I’m detached from my loved ones. and I’m missing out on moments with my wife and my boys that I will never get back.

HOWEVER, these lies are not true.

What’s true is…
– I am precious
– I’m wanted
– I’m a delight
– I am a worthy prince

I’m a devoted and faithful husband, father and friend. My companions experience kindness, wisdom and partnership that leads them to freedom and breakthrough.

I am a worthy prince, so I can…
– receive Gods love and care for me
– govern what’s been entrusted to me
– delight in and support those in my care
– love my allies and enemies alike
– mobilize and encourage groups and families to accelerate in maturity

I can embrace teamwork and find joy in fellowship. I can smile as I gaze into the mystery ahead and move into it with power and confidence. I can ask for what I want and need and allow others to do what they are going to do. I can take care of myself. I can stop assigning others the role of validating me and my existence – I am worthy and valued and I can receive God’s love and care for me. I can practice forgiveness and receive forgiveness and I can live my life to the very last drop.

YHC encouraged the PAX to take the next step in their own personal journey to living out of the “secret of who [they] fully and truly are.”

Stay curious my friends,
-m*

Posted on

War!

AO: the-knoll
Q: Sooie
PAX: AAA, Ex-Pat, FLO, morning stār, Pebbles, Sooie, Sparrow, Bumblebee (2.0), Barfly, WordPress
FNGs: 2 Barfly, WordPress
COUNT: 10
CONDITIONS: Cool, Humid, mist on the knoll. Perfect way to kick off the longest day of the year!

WARMUP:
top to bottom
Yes/No/Maybe’s in cadence
BAC
BBAC
Overhead claps
Don Quixote’s
Low slow squats
Slow merkins
Scorpion stretches

20 yard sprints between cones at 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, 100% speed.
Team competition to pick up the most cones on the 120 yard sprint back.

THE THANG:
War! Broke out the ol’ Deck O’ Cards, maintained the 2 teams from the cone competition. Proceeded to play war. Winning team did 1 of 3 exercises based on the color of the face up suits. Losing team did combination of exercises based on the suit.
J = 11
Q = 12
K = 13
A = 14
Winning team exercises:
:large_red_square: = air presses x total
:black_large_square: = Spicolli’s (calf raises) x total
:large_red_square: :black_square: = Imperial walkers x total
Losing team exercises:
:heart: = burpees
:diamonds:= WW2’s
:clubs: = dips
:spades: = squats

MOLESKINE: Had fun playing the game yet it reminded us of tensions, struggle, uncertainty, and injustice around the world. Shared Psalm 46 as a reminder of something more secure and more foundational than what we can see in the world around us.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
:alert: VQ’s Next Week! :alert:
Sparrow Tuesday 6/25
FLO Thursday 6/27
Come out and show support!
Convergence at greenmachine 7/4

COT:
Prayers offered and lifted.

Posted on

90s Summertime

AO: the-knoll
Q: El Capitan
PAX: morning stār, Pebbles, Sooie, The Banker, AAA, El Capitan, Ex-Pat, FLO, Sparrow, Timber, Malibu, @fishbiscuit (2.0), @tonks (2.0), @bumblebee (2.0), @icebox (2.0), @nitro (2.0), @cookie (2.0), @spike (2.0), @fern (2.0)
FNGs: 4 @nitro (2.0), @cookie (2.0), @spike (2.0), @fern (2.0)
COUNT: 19
CONDITIONS: Humid, upper 70s

TUNES: 90s jamzz

WARMUP:

My Climb Warm-up Routine
– downward dog / cobra
– power merkins (3x per side)
– deep calf stretch
– PE back stretch
– lower back stretches

– Mosey around back stop to center of field

THE THANG:

Part 1: Duck, Duck, Goose on the Plank!

– Duck PAX are all planking in a circle. Tagger chooses a “goose!” who will sprint around the circle to return to their spot. Instead of chasing, tagger does 10x Side Straddle Hops. Whoever is last to plank is “it”. (We had several close races!)

Part 2: Water Balloon Challenge

– 16x reusable water balloons contain laminated slips of paper with various workouts & are hidden around the playground.

– All PAX will hold a squat while one looks for a water balloon. He or she may pelt the PAX with the water balloon upon returning. All PAX will perform the exercise written within. Wash, rinse, repeat.

Cool down: Mosey’d a caboose-is-loose around the-knoll, then convened at playground for three minutes of Freddy Mercuries.

MOLESKINE:

– Count Off
– Name-O-Rama
– Welcomed aboard 4 FNG’s visiting Uncle Sooie’s family from Central Florida. All had excellent F3 name choices.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Black Lung & Hair Band to Co-Q a 4th of July convergence beatdown at greenmachine :flag:

COT:

“You are as important as you make another person feel.”
-Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks

I am so grateful for the men who make the-knoll such a positive, encouraging place to get stronger. I encourage y’all to be aware of the “least of these”, to see each person as a unique individual made in God’s image who is worthy of respect. Rather than seek glory for ourselves, seek the good of others in quiet service, empathy, and kindness.

Closed in prayer.

It was an honor to lead y’all this morning! :el-capitan:

Posted on

Trip to the Zoo – Animals on the loose!

AO: the-knoll
Q: Pebbles , Sooie
PAX: Sooie, Nubbins, Timber, AAA, Wolfpack, El Capitan, Pebbles, Sparrow, Malibu, Ex-Pat, Fish Biscuit, Tonks, Iowa, IceBox
FNGs: None
COUNT: 14
CONDITIONS: Warm and damp

WARMUP:
Mosey around the backstop
Disclaimer given
Bac’s – Bac-Bac’s
Don Quioxte’s
Slow Merkins
Slow Squats
Stretch on your own

THE THANG:
THANG 1
2.0s picked an animal then pretended to be that animal while running around distracting the PAX doing station work. 2min at each station.
1. Dips
2. Swing pull ups
3. Jump Squats
4. Pull ups
5. Lunges

THANG 2
6 cones set 50yds apart. Do 6 reps of an exercise then sprint to next cone. (Burpees, WWIIs, Merkins, Lt Dans, Partner Carry x2)
Bear capture the flag
Toilet Tag
Bear Tag

MOLESKINE:
Reflection on the 80th anniversary of D-Day. Good reminder that the things we struggle with, while not to minimize them, pale in comparison to what those men did to earn our freedom.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Welcome Nubbins to the-knoll! Looking forward to many more beatdowns together.

T-claps to the one and only morning stār for completing THE STRUGGLE last night. Congrats to all those men who did a very hard thing together.

COT:
Intentions given and Sooie prayed for all.

Posted on

Packing and Slacking

AO: the-knoll
Q: Pebbles , Sooie
PAX: AAA, El Capitan, Ex-Pat, Malibu, morning stār, Pebbles, Sooie, Sparrow, The Merchant, Timber, Wolfpack, Bumblebee (2.0), Link (2.0), Smoltz (2.0), Mucchi (2.0), Fish Biscuit (2.0), Tonks (2.0), Gabby Cat (2.0), Foxy (2.0), Big Red (2.0)
FNGs: None
COUNT: 20
CONDITIONS: perfect late spring morning

WARMUP:
mosey around the backstop.
Motivators from 7
BAC’s
BBAC’s
Slow Merkins
Slow Squats
Mosey to the flood table

THE THANG:
Pack Your Bags
2.0’s shared their ideal vacation spot and the 1 exercise they’d pack with them.
Total of 16 rounds of the exercises. 30 seconds on 30 seconds off. Had to run to catch our flight after we packed 9 bags.

Thang 2: Slacking
We setup a slack line and traversed it in various ways performing various exercises while waiting for to cross.

Thang 3: Game time
Infection
Toilet tag

MOLESKINE:
Reminder that unstructured time is great and sometimes it’s good to just do nothing together.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
El Capitan AOQ FOR THURSDAY’S AT THE KNOLL! El Cap has been at the knoll since the beginning and always brings joy, encouragement, hardwork, and dedication! Looking forward to all that he’ll bring as AOQ! Baby G-string born last week!

COT:
Prayers lifted and offered!

Coffeeteria with bananas for all from Pebbles ! Chocolate Milk for the 2.0’s. :boar: :coffee: :tm: for the adults!

Posted on

Moseys and Musings

AO: the-knoll
Q: DintyMoore
PAX: AAA, morning stār, Siri, FLO, Wolfpack, El Capitan, Timber, Ex-Pat, Sparrow, Pebbles, Sooie, Bumblebee, Tonks, Fish Biscuit, Smoltz, Gabby Cat, Foxy, Bookworm (2.0)
FNGs: 1 Bookworm (2.0)
COUNT: 19
CONDITIONS: idyllic

WARMUP:
Arm circles – 10 rep
Back backs – 10 rep
Good Mornings – 5 rep
Motivators – 5 count
Willy Mays Hays – 5 count
Hip Swings – 5 count

THE THANG:
Thing 1 – HIIT x 2
Playground
30 sec work / 15 sec rest
High Knees – 30 sec
Drop Squats – 30 sec
Romanian Split Squat Left – 30 sec
Romanian Split Squat Right – 30 sec
Left Leg Negative Squat -30 sec
Right Leg Negative Squat – 30 sec
Iron Mikes – 30 sec
Squat Jumps – 30 sec

Thing 2 – Running bases
Backstop – 4 groups, 30 second reps
Super Mario’s, Bernie, Mosey, Skip between
Merkins – Home
Shoulder Taps – 1st
Carolina Dry Docks – 2nd
Plank Toe Touches – 3rd

2nd lap turned into tag game, picking up any members of group in front of you that you catch after 50 total reps

Mary to finish – 2.0 Dealers Choice

MOLESKINE:
It’s what you learn after you know it all, that counts. John wooden to Bill Walton upon graduating from UCLA. Walton passed away this week.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Convergence events for end of May U Pull Up Challenge – pain-train and greenmachine on Saturday.

2.0 friendly workouts Saturday afternoon in Franklin – Taco Ruck, next Tuesday at The Knoll, and next Saturday at Middle Tooth.

coworking next Wednesday.

COT:
Wrapped in prayer for various stages of life. G-string 2.0 due any moment, shooting at pain-train, fatherhood and husbandry encouragement.

Posted on

FEEL THE RHYTHM

AO: the-knoll
Q: The Merchant
PAX: AAA, caprate, DintyMoore, El Capitan, Ex-Pat, FLO, Malibu, morning stār, Pebbles, Sooie, Sparrow, The Banker, The Merchant, Timber, Wolfpack
FNGs: None
COUNT: 15
CONDITIONS:
Sunny, clear skies, 62F
WARMUP:
Side-straddle hops, BACs, BAC BACs, motivators, WMH
THE THANG:
Cycle between different exercises along with the playlist, at your own pace

Song intros/outros are active recovery

Round 1: (Pop/Lower Body)
Verses: Squats, Choruses: Lunges, Bridge: Hold squat
Round 2: (Folk/Core)
Verses: Sit-ups, Choruses: Baby crunches, Bridge: Freddy mercury’s
Round 3: (Rock/Upper Body)
Verses: BACs, Choruses: Merkins, Bridge: Dips
MOLESKINE:
“The most important step a man can take. It’s not the first one, is it? It’s the next one. Always the next step…” -Brandon Sanderson, Oathbringer
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
May You Pull Up ending this Saturday

I forgot to record this part so I hope I’m not forgetting anything important :joy:
COT:
Thank you to all who came out for my VQ! Hopefully this will be the first of many.

Posted on

10 Stations

AO: the-knoll
Q: Timber
PAX: Sooie, The Banker, G-string, Malibu, Ex-Pat, AAA, El Capitan, Timber, Pebbles, Lunch Lady, Sparrow
FNGs: None
COUNT: 11
CONDITIONS: 67 degrees, mostly cloudy

WARMUP: SSH, BACs, back BACs, Seal Claps, Merkins, Imperial Walkers, Don Quixotes

THE THANG:
Station Work (2 rounds): 10 stations, rotate when runner returns
Stations – pullups, merkins, side lunges, calf raises, derkins, BW squats, planks, dips, farmer carry (with coupons), ~300m run
Team Mosey: ran 1 mile together

MOLESKINE: Ex-Pat sat in valiantly as AOQ, I don’t think G-string took a break from pullups the entire time he was at that station, we thought we heard the howl of Wolfpack but it turns out it was his snoring, the music playlist was hit and miss with some of the PAX

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
-VQ ALERT: The Merchant VQ this Tuesday
-check details at coworking for those work from home folks

COT: morning stār read from/talked about a children’s book a few weeks ago. This got me thinking about my favorite kids books and perhaps my favorite is The Giving Tree. It is such a simple book, but with a profound message: give until you don’t think you can give anymore, and then give a little more. May we continue to strive to be SERVANT leaders for our families.

Enjoy the rest of your week!
-Timber

Posted on

[coworking] 2ndFing while coworking in public, Bellevue Edition

AO: coworking
Q: morning stār
PAX: Ex-Pat, Sparrow, FLO, Wolfpack, The Merchant, morning stār, Three Stooges, EH (yet to be named)
FNGs: 1 EH (yet to be named)
COUNT: 8
WARMUP: get oriented and order a drink

THE THANG:
5 rounds of 25 min work session followed by 5 min walk

Found a pull up “bar” on one walk but were asked by DeSano’s not to use it again.

Lunch at Honey Fire.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
– looking at Monday afternoon and Friday morning for next week

Posted on

Roll the Dice!

AO: the-knoll
Q: Timber
PAX: Sooie, morning stār, AAA, El Capitan, The Banker, Timber, Sparrow, Malibu, Étouffée, Pebbles, FLO, The Merchant, G-string, voucher, Ex-Pat, Bubblebee (2.0), Goliath (2.0), Monkey (2.0), Fish Biscuit (2.0), Tonks (2.0), Smoltz (2.0), Ace (2.0), Gipper (2.0), Dr. Kitty (2.0), Mocchi (2.0)
FNGs: 2 Dr. Kitty (2.0), Mocchi (2.0)
COUNT: 25
CONDITIONS: 68 degrees, dew on the grass, sun out

WARMUP: 15 SSH, 15 BACs, 15 back BACs, 10 slow squats, 5 8ct burpees

THE THANG:
Thang 1: Roll the Dice – 4 rounds, 6 exercises (merkins, iron mikes, BW squats, WWIIs, leg raises, burpees), total # on dice = total # of reps
Rd 1 – roll 1 die, Rd 2 – 2 dice, Rd 3 – 3 dice, Rd 4 – 4 dice
*thank you to G-string for being our math guy and adding up the dice!
Thang 2: Ultimate Football – like ultimate frisbee but with a football (modification: each team could select 1 “running back”), team 2 wore patriotic themed beads around their neck for identification purposes

MOLESKINE: Malibu made a glorious return and brought with him some great cosmic rays for the morning, Étouffée showed he’s a little better than Uncle Rico (Napoleon Dynomite) and can still throw the pigskin, Tonks was the best dice roller of the morning, The Banker has now introduced 6 of his 9 2.0s (where 3 away from the entire crew), Sooie brought the coffee brew, chocolate milk for the 2.0s, the patriotic beads must have weighed heavy on Team 2 as Team 1 pulled out the victory in ultimate football, RECORD # of PAX at the knoll!!!

ANNOUNCEMENTS: may-you-pull-up challenge still ongoing, coworking planned for tomorrow, The Merchant VQ next Tuesday: make plans to be there to support him!

COT: Understanding your purpose, and having a clear vision in your life/work can help you achieve greater things and help you get through difficult times. I shared the story of a wrestling match in college. The Banker and I returned to New York after attending a funeral for one of our uncles who had just passed. Emotionally exhausted from the trip home, The Banker returned to school to find out he was 12 lbs over weight. He proceeded to stay up late, wake up early, and run during any free time between classes the next day to lose that weight and make weight. During the wrestling match later that day, in heroic fashion, he pulled out a stunning and almost impossible victory, sealing the team win by pinning his opponent. He had decided to offer up the challenge for our uncle. Had he not given himself the “why” he likely wouldn’t have been able to overcome the emotional and physical exhaustion to pull off the stunning victory. This is the stuff legends are made of! May we all reflect on and remember our “why” so that when things get tough at work, or with family, we push on!!

Thanks for a great morning,
-Timber