Posts on Pedal and Progress

New barracks, starting class, and fixing teeth.

Wed, 20 Aug 2025 09:20:39 -0500

During the last week I have had quiet a few changes happen in my life. I moved to a new barracks on Wednesday after under 24 hours of notice, I went to the dentist and found out that I am going to have some major work done to my mouth, and I finally started going to school after being here in holding for the last month and half. With these changes comes excitement, nervousness, and opportunities for me to grow.

Daily Stoic: Where Is Perfectionism Holding Me Back?

Sun, 10 Aug 2025 14:27:06 -0500

“We don’t abandon out pursuits because we despair of ever perfecting them.”

- Epicteus

I am always free to iterate on a project or idea in the future, so there is no reason to let perfectionism hold me back. I used to let it hold me back when it came to writing and recording music all of the time. I would begin working on a song and I would not be happy with a part of it so I would obsess over the imperfect part trying to find something that would be perfect, even though I did not already have a plan or idea of what perfect would be. This lead to me having dozens of unfinished recordings of what could have been at the very least fine songs or recordings. While I have not been recording music in a long time, I eventually stopped doing this and instead gave myself a deadline to finish a song, this lead me to finishing songs and not getting stuck in the weeds with sections of the song until I had a finished draft. This meant no matter what I had something that was complete, while I may have been able to bring it closer to perfection, I was free to do this without giving up on the project due to perfection not being met.

Daily Stoic Journal: What small progress can I make today? & Can I live well no matter how trying the environment?

Thu, 07 Aug 2025 09:20:39 -0500

What Small Progress Can I Make Today?

“Well-being is realized by small steps, but is truly no small thing”

Zeno

Today I can continue to make small progress in areas of my life by continuing to try to reinforce the routines I have been trying to foster for myself. Another way I can constantly make small progress throughout the day is by adding checklist items to my pocket notebook I keep in my shirt or in my digital Obsidian notebook, and then check in on my notebooks at the top of every hour when my watch vibrates in order to keep the notes listed within these notebooks in the forefront of my mind.

Daily Stoic Journal: Where Can I Find Confidence?

Tue, 29 Jul 2025 10:52:39 -0500

I can find confidence in knowing that I am actively trying to become more humble to my Lord who is the creator of all things that are good. Through him I will be saved and given life everlasting worshiping and loving The Father.

I can find confidence in discipline. The more discipline I create for myself, the more confidence I gain. If I am able to wake up in the morning when I say I will –0530– even though I am now able to get out of bed whenever I want, so long as I am ready for muster, I will gain more confidence because my first action in the morning will be one that I planned and overcame. In order to accomplish this I will also need to begin going to bed at a set time every night, which will be at 2200. This new discipline will be the foundation on which I build my other disciplines. Writing daily is another discipline that I have been working on. Currently I have been writing in my physical journal, which this post is being transferred from, reflection and intentions can be set which will track my growth. Practicing harmonica regularly will require discipline, it will be easiest to see a confidence gain, because as I practice daily I will become a more confident player. I will also become disciplined to work out 3 times a week, starting with doing a push up routine from the hundred push ups website. I will also begin running around the local track in the future as well. The final, and most important, discipline that requires consistency that I am doing is reading prayers aloud from my Orthodox Prayer Book in the morning, evening, noon, and all meals.

My Final Words to Myself Before Bootcamp

Sun, 27 Apr 2025 11:55:10 -0700

In less than 48 hours, my recruiter will pick me up. In less than 72 hours, I will swear in again at MEPS and officially become a recruit for the United States Navy.

I will miss my family, friends, and home — but I am ready to move on, challenge myself, and serve my country’s Navy.

I am 36 years old. I have overcome many things already, and I know I have the strength inside me to overcome even more.

A Post for A Future Sailor

Sun, 20 Apr 2025 21:48:06 -0700

In 9 days I will be leaving my current life to begin a new one as a United States Navy sailor. The beginning of this new life is one that I have tried to prepare for by reading and researching online, but one that I can never be fully prepared for as it will be completely foreign to me. I write this letter today for the version of me who has completed this first step of the new chapter in my life as a sailor. This first step will be one that every sailor must complete, which is Navy RTC, or more commonly known as boot camp. While I have had some time to prepare a physically by running, doing push-ups, and planks, I am not sure how ready, but I know I will be able to overcome the challenges that will be presented to me during my 9 weeks in boot camp.

Who I Am Becoming

Fri, 18 Apr 2025 16:03:29 -0700

This post will be a description of the version of myself who finishes Navy boot camp. I will be describing him as if I am meeting him for the first time.

What this version of myself is like

Physically he will be lean and in shape. He will be comfortable pushing his body past its comfort level. He will be able to complete over 50 push ups in one sitting, be able to plank for over 3 minutes, and complete a mile and half run in under 14 minutes, which is less than a 9 minute mile pace.

Why I Chose This Path

Thu, 17 Apr 2025 10:13:24 -0700

I was watching a video on the topic of God and making decisions a few days after visiting the Navy recruitment offices in order to schedule my appointment for MEPS. The video was on the topic of over thinking decisions and the problems that it can lead to. For instance thoughts of relying on the self can begin to take hold of your life when weighing decisions for extended periods of time. The recommendation in the video was to make a decision, and then rely on God to for strength and help through the decision. After hearing that, I decided that I would enlist in the Navy and not debate with myself any longer. With that being said over the last month and half after making this decision I have still had thoughts about whether or not I am making the right decision, when I have these thoughts I remember that Jesus will support me through this and if it is not the right thing to do than He will not let me enlist.

A Break Before My Break from Civilian Life

Thu, 20 Mar 2025 18:23:19 -0700

Last Friday I swore in at MEPS. I accepted a 6 year contract for the AECF (Advanced Electronics and Computing Field) rating. I have been taking care of some things so I can spend the last month of my time as a civilian spending time with people, getting in better shape, and doing my first solo bike camping trip.

Moving on

I put in a Military Leave of Absence to my job and have one more week left until I am no longer on the schedule. I will probably pick up a few shifts to help out and spend some time with all of my co-workers who I am definitely going to miss. I am very grateful for the position I was given by my bosses and I will miss them and my coworkers, as well as many of the customers and the ability to get them out on the road riding their bike. I enjoyed being a bike mechanic and since I have put in military leave, I have the option to go back to it after my six years serving the country is over. I am looking forward to keeping in contact with many of my coworkers and seeing their growth from afar in the next six years.

My First Day at MEPS

Thu, 13 Mar 2025 18:54:19 -0700

Today was my first of two days at MEPS (Military Enlistment Processing Station), and it was an interesting experience. I am writing this recap at around 7PM, 3 hours after getting back home from MEPS. I got a small taste of what it was like to be in the military while doing some testing there today, and I have a feeling I will get more of a taste tomorrow as I will be there for around 12 hours. The process of testing today took me about 2 hours but it was a bit nerve wrecking and hectic. I know I will be getting some great sleep tonight, which is nice because I will need to be up early tomorrow. The following is a run down of how the process went and how I will prepare for my bigger day tomorrow.

My Path to MEPS: Enlisting in the Navy in my mid 30's

Mon, 10 Mar 2025 20:50:03 -0700

I have two more days ahead of me before I head to MEPS in order to verify my PiCAT (Online ASVAB), get checked out by the doctors, and if all goes smoothly, enlist for the Navy as a Cyber Warfare Technician or IT. As the day approaches the reality of the situation becomes more present in my daily life. I am in my mid 30’s, working as a bicycle mechanic for the last decade. I was in a long-term relationship, nearly 10 years, that just ended and I am feeling like I need to take on some new challenges to begin this new chapter in my life. Since I am older and probably a lot more mature than most of the people coming to MEPS as hopefully recruits I feel a bit more prepared for this event, which makes some of the advice I read online not targeted toward me as it is mostly telling people to expect to have to take orders and be bored while waiting for things to happen.