Sunday, December 20, 2020
Good Stuff!
Way of the Warrior Kid by Jocko Willink
By John Brown
If so, boy, have I got a book for you.
It’s an illustrated novel for kids called The Way of the Warrior Kid by Jocko Willink. They say it’s for kids, but I guess I must be one heck of an old kid because I loved it.
In real life, as a commander for Task Unit Bruiser, Willink led the Navy SEALs deployed to one of the most pivotal and intensely fought battles of the Iraq War—the eight-month Battle of Ramadi. Willink spent 20 years in the military, most of it as a SEAL, and he shares terrific insights about leadership, working as a team, and personal performance in his books.
However, The Way of the Warrior Kid is a bit different. It’s a funny, fictional story of a fifth grader named Marc.
Fifth grade was the worst year of Marc’s life. Marc stunk at gym class. He’s struggled in math. And he had a terrible time on his class field trip because he couldn’t swim. And the, of course, there was Kenny Williamson, the class bully.
Marc’s mother tells him that his Uncle Jake is coming to stay for the whole summer. Uncle Jake is a Navy SEAL. And when he hears about Marc’s struggles, Uncle Jake proposes a plan—he’s going to turn Marc into a warrior.
But becoming a warrior isn’t easy. It means a lot of pull ups, sit ups, pushups, squats, swimming, eating right, and studying harder than ever before. Will Marc be able to transform himself into a warrior before school starts in the fall – and finally stand up to Kenny Williamson?
Well, you’ll have to read the book to find out.
When asked why he wrote the book, Willink said, “Seeing my own kids grow up made me remember that kids face a lot of challenges. I wanted to show how kids can apply the fundamental principles I learned in the SEAL Teams to overcoming the various challenges they face.”
The style reminds me a bit of The Diary of a Wimpy Kid, but this book slips in a little more insight about life. And I’m happy to report that the mix was perfect for this reader.
If you have a son in grade school, middle school, high school, college, or has rounded the corner on fifty, I think he’ll enjoy this book. I know I did. I’ve now ordered the second and third in the series and can’t wait to read them.
Christmas Spirit Thoughts
During the Christmas season I overdose on the Hallmark Christmas Shows by viewing 2-3 almost daily. I simply love them, even when I generally know the plot and outcome. This year the PBS channel showed a very touching movie called “Christmas Jars.” During the year a family would put their loose change in a quart bottle and then give it to a needy family during the Christmas Season.
The other day I got up and while getting ready for the day, I was thinking how lucky I am to live in the Bear Lake valley. We have had very few COVID-19 cases, our unemployment is extremely low, help wanted signs are scattered around the city, there hasn’t been any protests, riots or looting. The Moldenhauer family is building a large shopping plaza to assist our shopping and banking needs. What a “Wonderful World” I thought.
Later that day I went into town to get the mail and while doing that I needed to do some shopping and lo, in each of the places I went there was an Angel Tree or a Fireman’s boot asking for help to fill a child’s Christmas wish or to help the Cluff family during their crisis.
But the needs of these families don’t stop on Christmas Day! They continue on for every day after for an unknown length of time. So, I want to challenge each of you to keep the spirit of Christmas all year and start a Christmas Jar to help our neighbors with daily, weekly or monthly donations to your church leaders, city office, library food bank, or the Fireman boot.
I hope we all have a merry Christmas and healthy prosperous New Year, and thanks again for making this a beautiful place to live.
Randall Knight
Nutcracker Ballet Cache Civic Ballet
DEC 24, 2020 AT 5 PM MST – JAN 1, 2021 AT 10 PM MST
Click to view day of show - https://www.youtube.com/c/BardavonPresents/videos
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