Volume 24, Edition 2
"Texas is a blend of valor and swagger."
~Carl Sandburg
Welcome to the revamped Texas Talks, the monthly newsletter dedicated to the Texas members of The Strenuous Life program. Our mission is to bring the previous month's region and subregion news, coordinate common goals, share upcoming activities and events details, and tell strenuous stories about you.
Why the First Aid Badge Matters
by Garrett Martin
I'm an SPED teacher at a school in Dallas for students with special needs called the Notre Dame School. I was asked to cover lunch duty for a fellow teacher who was out that Monday. I said yes. Lunch arrived, and everything transpired as it usually does. With about 10 minutes left of lunch, all seemed well until I passed by William's table. William is a gangly, nonverbal 16 year old who can say "hi" and "bye" and blow a kiss to sign "thank you". He uses a communication device to speak but only uses it on his terms and usually wants to talk about trains or Santa with it.
I remember turning and looking in his direction, and I saw his face quickly turning from red to purple. He had his mouth open, and he was frozen still due to shock and panic, I imagine. He made no noise or motions with his hands, seeking help. Never reached for his iPad. His fellow classmates around him had no idea he was in this state. His eyes were watering, and he was motionless. I quickly went over to ask him if he was okay, but he was not responsive. I heard a weird gurgling noise coming from him. He was trying to swallow. I finally figured out he was choking.
I tried to look inside his mouth to see if I could reach whatever was maybe stuck in there, but I couldn't see anything. I knew the next step was to do the Heimlich maneuver, which I'd never had to do on anyone before this, but luckily, I was trained on how to do it by my dad. Knowing he was not responsive, I had to lift him out of his chair to stand him up, but he wouldn't stand on his own for some reason. I had to hold him up. While holding him up with one arm across his chest, I quickly found his belly button with my other hand. I then moved my other hand down to join the other. It didn't feel like textbook technique, but it worked. One push in and a grape flew out of his mouth and onto the floor. He then became responsive to the situation at hand and started standing on his own.
I sat him back down and beckoned him to drink his water. His normal color returned to his face. His eyes slowly dried. And he began to make his happy noises again while I stood there with adrenaline pumping through me.
Editor's Note
As I was listening to Garrett tell this story during the Texas Monthly Check-In meeting, I could not help but wonder about all the potential outcomes that would not have had a happy ending. At that moment, I understood the importance of staying current with CPR/First Aid.
TSL emphasizes the importance of knowing life-saving skills and even has a First Aid badge. Be sure to read Art of Manliness' article, "How to Perform the Heimlich Maneuver in 6 Different Situations" to learn more
To learn more and earn your badge, visit the First Aid Skill page.
Regional Bits
Subregion Mascots & Logos
2024 is bringing out new ways of looking at the region and the subregions. At the Texas Monthly Check-in meeting held on January 24, special recognition was given to the Hill Country subregion for leading the way with new Texas subregion mascots and logos. What was initially the Austin subregion, then restructured to the Hill Country subregion, is now known as the Hill Country Mavericks.
Following suit, North Texas conducted a series of mascot nominations and voting for a mascot. After three rounds of voting, a winner was selected, and the subregion has a new mascot - Wranglers. The subregion is now conducting a logo contest, with the winning design expected to be completed by the end of February.
All subregions are encouraged to follow suit and rebrand. While there are no specific criteria, it is recommended to consider mascots and logos that have meaning to the culture of the subregion.
If you need help, please email guide@tsltexas.com.
Subregion Spring StrenFests
To help prepare for Texas StrenFest III, each subregion has been challenged to host a Spring Subregion StrenFest. These mini-StrenFests aim to work on activities and logistics and generate ideas to make each Texas StrenFest a bigger and better event each year.
Please reach out to your subregion guides for details.
Texas StrenFest III
Texas StrenFest IIII will be hosted by the Gulf Coast subregion. While the dates and location are to be determined, the goal is to set this by the end of this month. However, the Gulf Coast guides need your input. Please vote for your preferred preliminary location idea below.
What would be preferable to the group of likely Strenfest attendees?
State park on by beach - fixed campsite, access to restrooms
County "free camping" beach - on the beach, no restrooms
No beach; camp in the woods instead
Once the dates and location are set, the region will begin planning for the event. Stay tuned for more details to come.
Welcome Back, TSLTexas.com
The revamped TSL Texas website was previewed to the members attending the January Texas Check-In meeting. The group shared their feedback, which is what you are seeing today.
If you have any feedback to share about the site, please let us know by emailing guide@tsltexas.com.
Subregion Roundup 2024
The regional guides also ask that Texas members verify they are assigned to their respective subregions.
In addition to members registering for their subregions, @bhart, @bhartman007, and @thelonestarveteran are working on a directory for Texas members to help with communication.
Subregion Reports
News from the respective subregions
Panhandle
The Rio Grande Valley subregion is under development. We hope to have the subregion online and regularly contribute by this year's end.
If you are a guide or member of this subregion, please email guide@tsltexas.com to get information and support from the Texas region leadership.
West Texas
The Rio Grande Valley subregion is under development. We hope to have the subregion online and regularly contribute by this year's end.
If you are a guide or member of this subregion, please email guide@tsltexas.com to get information and support from the Texas region leadership.
Big Bend
The Rio Grande Valley subregion is under development. We hope to have the subregion online and regularly contribute by this year's end.
If you are a guide or member of this subregion, please email guide@tsltexas.com to get information and support from the Texas region leadership.
North Texas
North Texas 2024 Ruck Assessment
by Shawn Presley
The North Texas subregion held its first 2024 Ruck Assessment on January 6, 2024.
Attended by @thelonestarveteran, @jkwhitley, and @wsp2, the group covered approximately 2.7 miles in 50 minutes, carrying at least ten pounds, along the Bear Creek Trail in Keller, TX.
After completing the ruck, the group enjoyed a fellowship breakfast at Seven Mile Cafe. They then rucked the trail back to the starting point, completing the distance in approximately 45 minutes, proving that breakfast will power your day.
They completed approximately 5.4 miles in a total time of 1:35:00.
The next Nort Texas Ruck Assessment is scheduled for April 6, 2024, to cover the same trail for tracking purposes.
Hill Country
Hill Country had its second annual Cold Plunge & Hot Chicken event. Though the attendance was lighter this year due to the uncooperative weather, the subregion carried on their tradition in Barton Springs for cold water immersion followed by tasty hot chicken at Tumble 22.
South Texas
The South Texas subregion is under development. We hope to have the subregion online and regularly contribute by this year's end.
If you are a guide or member of this subregion, please email guide@tsltexas.com to get information and support from the Texas region leadership.
Piney Woods
Mission Tejas Strenuous Saturday 1-20-24
by Caton Strader
The first Piney Woods Strenuous Saturday of 2024 was a Ruck March in Mission Tejas, which turned out to be a solo venture, but the weather was perfect—a leisurely 2.43-mile hike in a couple of hours. The best part was that in certain parts of the loop that I was on, it would get so quiet I could hear the trees creaking with the wind, very peaceful. Looking forward to the next visit and the next Strenuous Saturday.
Gulf Coast
The Gulf Coast subregion spent January restructuring and preparing for 2024 activites, including hosting Texas StrenFest III
Rio Grande Valley
The Rio Grande Valley subregion is under development. We hope to have the subregion online and regularly contribute by this year's end.
If you are a guide or member of this subregion, please email guide@tsltexas.com to get information and support from the Texas region leadership.
TSL Foundational
Agons
In The Strenuous Life, weekly Agons are challenges designed to push you out of your comfort zone. Each week's Agon will encourage you to break out of your routine and do something a little different from what you usually do. Along the way, you’ll pick up new habits, learn new skills, and further your development in body, mind, and/or spirit.
Agons for February are:
Agon 5: Read a 150+ page book
Agon 6: Morning Push-ups
Agon 7: Knot Tying I
Agon 8: Memorize a 100+ word poem or quote
TSL Agons can be found and marked for completion here: https://strenuouslife.co/badges/weekly-agon/
Skill of the Month (SKOM)
The Strenuous Life encourages its members to expand their autonomy, agency, and connection with the tangible world by acquiring new skills — both the hard and the soft. Earn 50+ badges that represent 50+ different skills. Some of them are easier to achieve and others are real doozies, but all are fun to work on and will get you taking action, having more firsthand experiences, and increasing your competence, confidence, and enjoyment of life.
With Texas winter at its worst and most unpredictable in February, the decision was made to focus on a skill that can be done as easily indoors as outdoors. Therefore, in the spirit of the Alamo, Goliad, and San Jacinto, the February 2024 SKOM is Sharpshooter.
Per TSL Badge requirements: Complete the two mandatory requirements. Then, choose one of the firearms, and complete all of its requirements.
Explain the Four Cardinal Rules of firearms safety to a friend. (MANDATORY)
Take one course or class (minimum 3 hours) taught by a professional that covers either pistol, rifle, or shotgun shooting. (MANDATORY)
Pistol
Rifle
Shotgun
Sharp Shooter Badge Resources
Details about earning the TSL Sharpshooter badge and completing the requirements can be found here: https://strenuouslife.co/badges/sharpshooter/
Physical Fitness
As adherents of The Strenuous Life, we work out not merely to attain aesthetic effects (though this can be a wonderful byproduct), or because it feels good (though it definitely does), or even because it’s crucial for good health (which it assuredly is). We exercise our bodies to enhance our ability to think clearly, to master temptations and weaknesses, and to serve others. In short, we become strong to be useful. The Strenuous Life will provide you the tools, resources, and accountability to help you achieve that goal.
This month's "Focus on Fitness" is Stretching. Like a bear waking up from hibernation, it's time to slowly work out the tightness from however long your apathy has set in. Incorporate stretching into your 1-hour daily workouts.
Whatever physical fitness routine you choose, remember to mark your check-ins on the TSL website!
Good Deeds
The Strenuous Life is a revolt against the self-indulgent ethos that only looks out for oneself. We exhort men to have noble and good aims and to daily strive after them, even when it’s inconvenient. Virtue, duty, and service over self-gratification. Selfless self-improvement is our mantra. We strengthen and improve our families, communities, and country as we seek to become more fit, skilled, temperate, frugal, patient, courageous, resolute, and honest.
The February Good Deed theme is "Love." In the spirit of St. Valentine, do good deeds for the ones you love.
Whatever daily good deed you choose, remember to mark your check-ins on the TSL website!
Upcoming Activities & Events
The following events are currently scheduled for February:
TSL Book Club: February 8 at 8:00 p.m. CT
TSL Strenuous Saturday: February 17
RSVP EVENTS
If you would like your event shared on the Texas regional calendar and/or have an RSVP event created here, please email guide @tsltexas.com with the specifics. We'll get it loaded and return the links to you ASAP.
Final Words
We need your help. Please send us your stories, StrenReports, agon and badge work, your fitness and good deeds, and all things strenuous. We especially need photos and videos. Please send them to us so we can include them in Texas Talks, the website, and our social media channels.
Check out our social media content on our various channels. Be sure to give us a like and a follow!
We'll see y'all next month!
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