The Next Mile: A Review and Reflection of 2020

March 2, 2020, I stumbled upon this picture on my social media newsfeed and decided to share an antidotal story about an experience I had at the United States Army Ranger School. 

Over the years, people have asked me to recall challenging moments from this experience. Usually, I will tell a comical story about soldiers engaging in buffoonery to liven up a dire situation. However, this captured moment was challenging in a different way. This is a snapshot during the 1st or 2nd day of Ranger School. I honestly cannot remember which one, but it doesn’t matter. The first week all runs together with little, to no sleep. Our task was to follow a gazelle, also known as a Ranger Instructor, on a 1-ish mile sprint to Victory Pond to conduct the Combat Water Survival Test (CWST).

As we ran to the pond, we carried 3 quarts of water on our back, an additional quart of water draped over one shoulder, while awkwardly attempting to carry a waterproof bag that was full of dry clothes, boots, and additional gear which was needed for the training. To say that the load was uncomfortable is an understatement. Between the lack of blood circulation, tripping soldiers, and cackling sound of loose gear, I am sure we looked ridiculous.

As embarrassing as it is to say, this was one of the most mentally exhausting runs I ever completed. I know, it sounds dramatic. 1 mile can’t be that bad. You are correct, a 1-mile run does not usually make my list of challenging days in the military. However, this was different.

So what does this have to do with 2020? Everything.

My awareness level of COVID-19 was elevated shortly after this post. Schools began to close, remote learning was initiated, and parents, guardians, and school administrators had to make tough decisions regarding the well-being and logistical complexities for students in this country and abroad.

Moreover, 2020 our communities experienced a racial reckoning. For some, this year was an awakening to the conversation regarding race, racism, and equity. For others, it was a reminder how far we have come and how far we need to go to ensure justice, equity, and inclusion.

Lest not forget that this year we witnessed an election like no other. One that will have ramifications for years to come. One that still is the catalyst for difficult holiday conversations and social media exchanges.

Yes, this was a year to remember.

As I look at the picture above, I’m reminded that there are two groups of Ranger students. The first group is coming to the CWST. The group in the back is getting ready to run to the next training event for the day. I distinctly remember that nobody quit on the run to the CWST, but there were two ranger candidates in my formation quit on the second run.

So what’s the point?

There has been much talk about being done with this year and moving into brighter days. Almost an expectation that life is going to get back to normal and we can all just breathe freely again…or for once. I personally believe in some ways this ideology is problematic. A key component of mental toughness and perseverance is expectation management. This entails a commitment to remembering the suffering, continually counting the cost, and choosing to contend despite the adverse situation.

So yes, I hope that 2021 will be unicorns and rainbows. But that is unlikely for many. This is not meant to be an apocalyptic foretelling. These words are rooted in reality and encouragement. That encouragement is meant for all of us to remember the pain, and to remember the psychological or physiological toll(s), and to choose to run again.

On the second run there were a couple of noteworthy differences. The bags were heavier due to our clothes and boots being soaked in water. The first ¼ of a mile (which felt like an eternity), were directly uphill. However, the most important difference in my opinion was this; we already did it. We already knew how miserable the mile was. We knew approximately how long is was going to be, and we knew that it would end. Even though there were only 1 hour between the first run and second run, I learned a strategy for carrying my gear differently. This minor tweak is what I focused on during the initial part of the run. I didn’t think about the added weight, I just thought about adjusting my posture and form to carry the load differently.  

Pushing through adversity does not mean that the next chapter will be easier, but it could mean that you learn how to adjust your psychological and/or physical strategies to carry the load differently. Although this may not apply to every person’s unique situation, I hope that we can see the collective strength of managing our expectations, adjusting our posture(s), and deliberately choosing to run the race with the end goal in mind instead of hyper-focusing on the current pain.

Dr. Cedric Williams is a Consulting Psychologist & CEO of Legacy Consulting & Research Group. His work and research interests are in the domains of Multicultural Competence, Resilience, Leadership, and Occupational Thriving. He serves as the Diversity and Inclusion Chairperson for the American Psychological Association’s Division 13, the Society of Consulting Psychology. Dr. Williams provides executive coaching and consulting services for individuals, teams, and organizations. For more information fill out the service request sheet below.  

References

Williams, C. (2020, March ). The Miserable Mile. Retrieved from https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/miserable-mile-cedric-williams-ph-d-/

Dr. Cedric Williams

Founder + CEO

Legacy Consulting & Research Group LLC

Photo: Airborne and Ranger Training Brigade