Oct. 2, 2025

“Rooted in the Community, for the Community.”

“Rooted in the Community, for the Community.”

"Text now! I'll Respond" What if your tree guy was a tree gal who leads with craft, faith, and community—and channels her business into veteran support? Meet certified arborist and ultra-endurance athlete Amy Nikai, one of Nebraska’s first female-owned, ground-level tree company leaders, as we trace how proper pruning, honest bids, and storm relief can grow into a movement that funds the 50 Mile March and honors military families. We start where roots meet purpose: why trail running drew Am...

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Season 4

"Text now! I'll Respond"

What if your tree guy was a tree gal who leads with craft, faith, and community—and channels her business into veteran support? Meet certified arborist and ultra-endurance athlete Amy Nikai, one of Nebraska’s first female-owned, ground-level tree company leaders, as we trace how proper pruning, honest bids, and storm relief can grow into a movement that funds the 50 Mile March and honors military families.

We start where roots meet purpose: why trail running drew Amy into arboriculture, how certification changes the way you cut for long-term canopy health, and why she refuses shortcuts like lion’s tailing. Then we go deeper into service. Amy recounts donating a week of chainsaw work after the Elkhorn tornadoes and building playgrounds with local partners—a blueprint for how trades can be the backbone of resilience. Her business philosophy is simple and rare: educate first, price fairly, never pressure, and drop the bill when jobs finish faster. The result is trust, not just transactions.

The heart of the episode beats with veteran stories. Amy’s husband, Bruce, retired as a Command Sergeant Major and former Ranger after 22 years. She opens up about identity after the uniform, the quiet weight military spouses carry, and the leadership that continues at home with teens, faith, and discipline. That spirit fuels a 22-day initiative: a portion of proceeds to 50 Mile March leading up to Veterans Day, plus a full day of giving on November 11. The team will wear shirts with real service members’ names, turning each back into a conversation that travels.

We also talk sobriety, 75 Hard, and habits that serve values. And we zoom out to what community really means: weekly rucks where phones stay down and voices come up, small acts that outlast headlines, and the reminder that most change starts on your block, not your feed. If you’re a homeowner, you’ll learn actionable tree care tips. If you run a business, you’ll hear a service playbook that actually builds loyalty. If you support veterans, you’ll find a living example of how to weave purpose into everyday work.

If this resonates, share it with a neighbor, subscribe for more conversations like this, and leave a review to help others find the show. Then tell us: what small act will you plant this week?

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00:00 - Meet Amy Nikai, Arborist & Leader

01:06 - The 50 Mile March Fundraiser Plan

02:07 - Why Arboriculture Chose Her

04:16 - Trees, Energy, and Forest Bathing

05:36 - Craft Over Cost: Doing Work Right

07:31 - Service First: Tornado Relief Stories

09:40 - Community Projects Beyond Trees

11:24 - Smart Tree Care for Homeowners

13:02 - Honest Bids, Zero Pressure

16:08 - The CSM Nikai Story

18:20 - Identity After the Uniform

22:00 - Faith, Family, and Leadership at Home

24:30 - Transition, Purpose, and Pride

27:12 - Date Nights, Discipline, and Routine

28:48 - Sobriety, 75 Hard, and Habits

31:12 - How to Join and Support the March

33:20 - Local Community Over Global Noise

35:10 - Small Acts, Lasting Impact

37:20 - Shirts, Names, and Living Legacies

38:40 - Closing Gratitude & Subscribe

WEBVTT

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Connecting the dots.

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Connecting his guests to the world.

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Creating more connections.

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Welcome to The Connection.

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Meet your host, author, coach, Air Force veteran, Jay Morales.

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So joining us in our conversation today is Amy Nikai.

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She's a certified arborist, owner operator, and very proud to be one of the first female ground level owned and operated tree companies in Nebraska.

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Ground level female owner, yes.

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I love it.

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And Nebraska Arborist Association Board of Directors, you were just appointed in 2025 influential leadership.

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You're not only in your craft, you're spending time advocating for your craft as well.

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So, and you're an ultra-endurance athlete.

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Pretty incredible.

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But this shows about the connection.

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And so Amy and I have been going back and forth years, right?

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Cross paths.

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We know the same people.

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But what stopped me in my tracks was our love for veterans.

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So, Amy, we contacted each other.

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You said, Hey, I've got an idea.

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Tell everybody what your idea was and what really caught our attention together.

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Yes.

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So because we love 50 Mile March, starting in on October 21st, my company, we are going to donate a portion of our proceeds for 22 days.

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Um, as a part of the 22 a day movement, we're going to donate a portion of our proceeds for those 22 days leading up to Veterans Day.

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And then all of Veterans Day, we are going to donate all of our proceeds towards 50 Mile March.

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We have, we're getting shirts made.

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We're going all out to help support and fundraise for this incredible organization.

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And that's what connected us.

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So now I'm going to back, I'm going to back us up with the 30,000-foot view because I'm going to show the shirt.

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I'm going to show the why.

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And below in the show notes, you'll have how to order, how to get in contact with Amy.

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But Amy, I want to talk to you about why and how you chose your profession of being a certified arborist.

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So it's kind of a funny story.

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So since I'm an ultra-marathon runner, I'm always in the forest running.

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The trees are always changing.

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I absolutely love it.

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It's different than road racing.

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So if you haven't tried it, get out there and do it.

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Highly recommend it.

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It's slower and you get to eat more food.

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What's not to love?

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So the trees are always changing.

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And I just really did find a passion for, I started as an office manager, then in an organization, then became got my Arborist license because I really did love the human connection as far as people.

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I'm a big people person, but also then also loved connecting with the trees and just trees are ever changing and how we can help the trees in the community long-term, five, 10, 15 years from now.

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So then I became GM at a company and then really was like what our passion was is serving the community.

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And so we did come up with I like, hey, you know what?

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I really want to hone in on.

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I was doing a lot of grant proposals to write for planting trees in the community.

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And actually, we did one for Omaha.

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We've done several for Gretna.

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And so it that is definitely if we're not giving back to the community, there's really a big problem.

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And so we did like, I was like, I'm just gonna do this.

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We're gonna start a new company rooted in the community for the community.

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We actually came up with the motto portion of it first and then came up with a company name, but we really did want to be rooted in the community for the community and doing community events.

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So the certified arborist, it kind of tied hand in hand with ultra running to start out.

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But then it really did come with, oh my gosh, this is truly a big passion.

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It is so much fun.

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And just there is actually there is a term in Japanese culture called forest bathing where it trees really do heal you.

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And there's just so much benefit to it.

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I have found that niche and I just absolutely love it.

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You know, uh I'll share this, and and I'm sure you've heard many stories.

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So a friend of mine in Columbus, he used to go home, and every day before he went into his house, there was a tree on the way into on his walk path, and he just touched it.

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I don't know if he was praying or meditating or what he was doing, right?

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But he was like intentionally touching the tree.

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You want to know something sad.

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Eventually, the tree over the years died, right?

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We're talking over 10 years, and he he he said, God, I couldn't figure that out.

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I just I put my hand on the tree.

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And someone explained to him that his negative energy from his body that he accumulated all day, the tree took it out of him and grounded it back to the earth.

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I just got no response.

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I just got his response.

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There is scientific proof that people with cancer and people they will send them out into the forest to help absorb the energy because the photons, all of it actually does change your energy.

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Yeah.

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Yeah.

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Scientifically.

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I truly believe in grounding, right?

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Let's just be honest.

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Being barefoot on the grass has some healing.

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Let but this is not a talking about healing.

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I'm just, I love your energy.

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But I do I do want to share with you, even from the real estate community, I just it's always thrown around.

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Anybody got a tree guy?

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You got a tree guy?

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And I want to change the landscape of you know, or or what your reaction is to like why choose your business?

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I I can say why, because I just detect your energy.

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Uh, we've done business before.

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I think that you're extra when it comes to your performance of going above and beyond.

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I think you are rooted in the community, but besides all those things, yeah, like what's the difference or or what's your what's your take on why you do what you do?

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So that someone, should I use Amy?

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Should I?

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Yeah.

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So I have seen and I don't I have seen for me personally connecting with the client, I will tell people up front, you will always find someone cheaper, always.

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What we do is our entire staff is certified arborists.

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And so we I can train any 18-year-old how to climb a tree and cut.

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Instead, what we do is we spend time educating, time, money, um, educating them.

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So they, when we do go up into the tree, we know how to make the proper cut, why to make the proper cut.

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And so for the longevity of it, it's not just we're trying to make a quick dollar.

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And in several of the neighborhoods, the let's say like the champions run neighborhood, the these higher end, like I will go and I'll say, you do not need to spend this money.

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Like tree companies will come in and convince them.

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I'm a big Dave Ramsey budget type of person too.

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And so I will literally kind of sometimes talk people out of it.

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And I think that honesty shows to people because I'm like, you it you can spend the money, I can talk you into spending the money, but there's really no hazard here.

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You have this ginormous cottonwood out in the middle of nowhere, and it doesn't really need are there dead branches?

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Sure.

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But is it's not impeding anything and it's just going to help the forest and everything else.

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So it's not like I I'm trying to convince them to spend the money.

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And I that is vastly different that I've noticed.

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The other option that or not option, the other thing that I've noticed too, that I really do value is spending time in the community.

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And the third thing would be we're honest with people.

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So I we've quoted jobs before, and we have said, you know, here's, you know, let's just say it's a$5,000 job.

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And we've said it's gonna be$5,000, and they agree to that.

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And we get it done faster.

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It's done efficiently, the client is happy and everything goes smoothly.

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We've gone in and said, hey, you know what?

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It went better than we expected.

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We're gonna take money off.

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Rather than what I have seen happen and what even, and not even in just in our industry, we're talking businesses in general.

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Yes.

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Um, every company, they've said, well, now we can go get another job done because it got done quicker and make our money even more.

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And instead, we're taking care of the client.

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And that to me is like what it's about.

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We're not here to price gouge, we're not here to get somebody on money, and we're not here to make dollar over or fifth, you know, hand over money.

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Like, we're truly there to solve and be there for the community.

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And that I'm a full believer in like karma and like truly giving back.

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And it it has luckily shown to fruition.

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Um, we've been very blessed.

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And I just I love that aspect of it because people have noticed that and people can see that genuine, genuine.

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Yeah, absolutely.

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And and so that's why I'll say so.

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I think in your space of home services, or you know what I mean, being a front-facing to the end customer, taking care of people.

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And this is not cheap, by the way.

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I I don't want to talk about just in general, like I think investing in your landscaping and having you know the difference between having a nice having nice trees and not people don't pay attention to it until it's too late.

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And I think you probably hit the nail on the head there where your relationship is what I hear.

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Your connection to the client is way more important than your services.

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Like you said, you can you can train an 18-year-old.

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I you know what?

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I think what's missing in this world, Amy, is um client relationship.

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I I'm not talking customer service, right?

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I'm not talking about yes and no, ma'am.

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I'm talking about connection.

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Can you can can you tell me about a time in the community, like a feel-good story where doing what you did made you connect with the client and maybe, maybe it was pro bono, maybe it was like a storm, maybe it was.

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I want to know, I want people to know when they hear Amy Nakai.

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I want them to know you're more than just a female-owned tree company that is extra, right?

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Like I love the word extra because this world was plain as hell, and people are just trying to get by with what they're trying to get by with.

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But go ahead and go ahead and share it.

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Um I could miss list so many just stories that are memorable and personable to me.

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But one of them truly was obviously the elk horn tornadoes that's close to home.

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There, the day it happened.

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I actually had someone who lived on that street who's a dear friend of mine call me the day it hit.

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And I mean, within minutes of it hitting.

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And she's like, all she could think about is we have a tree on our house and I need your help.

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Like that was her panic.

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And she said, My whole street is gonna need your help.

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So we actually tried to get there that day.

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And obviously they were doing kind of a search and rescue, so they wouldn't allow us it.

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We spent two hours trying to get in from every avenue, and it wasn't, we weren't able to.

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Praise Jesus, there weren't any casualties, any injuries or anything.

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But the next day, the church at there, like the whole community relevant.

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Yeah, I was there.

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I saw you guys there.

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Yeah, we need people with chainsaws.

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And what we did, what my and what my team did, it was so cool.

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Cause it wasn't even like, hey, we like obviously we'll pay you, we'll take care of it.

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But everybody was like, what do you need?

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When do you need it?

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What will be there?

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It was just not even a question of, hey, can I get some extra overtime?

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Hey, can I be there?

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It was none of that.

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It was literally like, what do you need?

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And so we were there with chainsaws because what needed to happen is all of the hazardous stuff needed to be taken care of before the community was just stacking stuff.

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So we went basically and we marched in the people with chainsaws, we marched in and helped people just clear their house, their driveways, all of that.

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And we actually spent that entire week donating our services and just helping.

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And every day it was like, hey, should we like they're kind of tailoring off?

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Do they do you think they need it?

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And we were like, you know what, we're just gonna go.

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And we did see some companies that were out there, like the fly by night crews that are out there trying to make the money.

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And it was just like, there's a difference between storm work and there's a difference between just a need.

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And like, I think out of all of that, it was just the most the best feeling where it was like my crew.

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It was just without question, we were there.

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Not, hey, can I get some overtime?

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Not, hey, how do you?

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What can I do?

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It was just plain service, and that was amazing.

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Another service project that we've done that was just super close to home that just was super amazing.

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Is we worked with In Common and Lockwood, and we did on 40th and Charles, there is a there were some huge hazardous trees.

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They bought an empty lot and we removed the hazardous trees.

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But from start to finish on that one, we built an actual playground for that community at Walnut Hill.

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And like that stuff is just because it wasn't even like I asked my crew, hey, I know we do we do tree work, but we're building a playground today.

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Do you do like it was just so out of our wheelhouse, but it's still so much fun to be a part of that.

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So there's just we took a day to do that, and it's not, hey, we could be making revenue.

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It was literally, I mean, obviously we could, but it was just about serving the community.

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Those are things that are just there's key likes like moments like that that we've done so many things that I just love their attitude and heart behind everything.

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I mean, you know, I think from afar, people can just listen to your energy.

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And I'm big into energy, right?

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I'm big into what people Oh, I'm big time in energy.

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Yeah, and and whatever it is that you're connected with, I think people want to be connected to that.

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So I want to make sure, you know, that I'm getting the word out about your, you know, your company.

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And I know that community has always been, you know, you didn't even need to tell me that, right?

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Like I know, I think a lot of people know, and I know where your heart is.

00:13:58.240 --> 00:14:06.480
What are some of the things that people think about, like they should think about ahead of time before they need you?

00:14:06.639 --> 00:14:12.240
Like, if I'm a homeowner, yeah, which there's plenty of trees you've been to my house before, right?

00:14:12.320 --> 00:14:14.000
Like what should we do?

00:14:14.159 --> 00:14:15.440
Trees that are too close to your house.

00:14:15.759 --> 00:14:18.399
Trees that are too close to your house, for sure, for sure.

00:14:18.720 --> 00:14:20.879
That's something that people don't realize.

00:14:21.279 --> 00:14:24.639
And then getting it honestly pruned by a certified arborist.

00:14:24.720 --> 00:14:44.799
There are a lot of people who go out and prune trees, and they actually, because they go with the least expensive bid, which I get because I'm a big burnt budget person, I would rather tell you, hey, this is your most important need, this is your least important need, and be upfront and honest and rather get it done with a certified arborist than doing the cheapest version.

00:14:44.879 --> 00:14:57.600
Because what ends up, if you go with a cheaper company, not all the time, but most of the time, they prune it improperly and it actually causes longer or quicker issues and the tree can die, or they just try to get a quick buck.

00:14:57.679 --> 00:15:06.000
And like a big one we see around the community is called lion's tailing, where they trim the tree super improperly and it basically looks like a lion's tail at the end of it.

00:15:06.320 --> 00:15:09.600
It actually is more detrimental to the branches, the tree health, all of that.

00:15:09.679 --> 00:15:12.639
And so I would rather be up front and get it done properly.

00:15:12.879 --> 00:15:17.039
So that's a big one is proper pruning techniques and trees that are too close to your house.

00:15:17.440 --> 00:15:21.360
Those are the two big ones that we people generally don't pay attention to.

00:15:22.000 --> 00:15:29.120
I think, Amy, in this space, most homeowners are afraid to even approach arborist companies because they've heard the stories, right?

00:15:29.279 --> 00:15:31.039
Just like every industry has it.

00:15:31.360 --> 00:15:41.360
But when you approach husband or wife or husband and wife together or whoever, however, you approach, are they are you are they obligated?

00:15:41.440 --> 00:15:48.559
You know, like I want to get estimates for certain things in my house, but I feel like I will buy from anybody just out on a second whim.

00:15:49.039 --> 00:15:50.399
How approachable are you?

00:15:50.559 --> 00:15:52.480
And and you know, do you estimate?

00:15:52.639 --> 00:15:54.320
Do you strategize with them?

00:15:54.480 --> 00:15:59.120
Do you have their vision and and then just leave them be and and let them come back?

00:15:59.279 --> 00:16:00.240
How's that work with you?

00:16:00.320 --> 00:16:00.720
Your price?

00:16:01.039 --> 00:16:05.679
Um, I never sell on this, I generally don't sell on the spot because I don't want people to feel pressured.

00:16:06.000 --> 00:16:08.000
Generally, my personality shines with it.

00:16:08.080 --> 00:16:10.559
So they just end up saying, yeah, just get it scheduled.

00:16:10.639 --> 00:16:11.840
It just depends on the personality.

00:16:12.000 --> 00:16:13.279
I am a type A person.

00:16:13.360 --> 00:16:19.279
So some people like to get multiple estimates, but generally speaking, once I meet with people, they go with me anyway.

00:16:19.440 --> 00:16:23.039
So that being to be honest with you, yeah, I've dealt with many.

00:16:23.120 --> 00:16:24.080
I've I've dealt with many.

00:16:24.320 --> 00:16:33.519
That being said, I don't mind them getting multiple estimates, but generally I talk them through on like, okay, like I said, I met with a lady today and she said, Well, what about these trees way out here?

00:16:33.919 --> 00:16:35.039
Should they get pruned?

00:16:35.120 --> 00:16:38.320
And I said, I mean, can't I can talk you into it?

00:16:38.480 --> 00:16:39.120
You don't need to.

00:16:39.200 --> 00:16:40.399
They're not affecting your home.

00:16:40.559 --> 00:16:44.559
They're not affecting anything, they're not affecting your neighbor's home, they're way out in a field.

00:16:44.720 --> 00:16:45.440
You don't need it.

00:16:45.519 --> 00:16:50.000
So we will strategize on here's your budget-wise, your number one priority.

00:16:50.080 --> 00:16:51.919
Here's your budget-wise number two priority.

00:16:52.000 --> 00:16:55.120
I'm big time on that, but that's more because I'm a Dave Ramsey budget person.

00:16:55.279 --> 00:17:02.080
And I also explained that to him is like, if I were to say, if money were no object, I would absolutely try risking it on this.

00:17:02.159 --> 00:17:03.360
Like as far as a treatment.

00:17:03.519 --> 00:17:08.480
Sometimes trees are kind of like, hey, you're at a 50-50 if this treatment's gonna work or not.

00:17:08.799 --> 00:17:11.839
If you want to try, if money were no object, I would absolutely try it.

00:17:11.920 --> 00:17:17.039
But if it doesn't, you know, but if you're a budget person, don't spend your money, don't waste your money.

00:17:17.200 --> 00:17:19.839
I would just no, enjoy you the tree while it's living its life.

00:17:19.920 --> 00:17:22.720
And so I'll strategize like that with them.

00:17:22.960 --> 00:17:24.559
I don't know if that answers your question.

00:17:24.880 --> 00:17:29.599
Yeah, no, it does, because I think most people say, wow, she sounds cool.

00:17:29.680 --> 00:17:31.599
And I there's people listening right now.

00:17:31.759 --> 00:17:36.400
Everyone has trees, like most everyone, but they don't take care of them.

00:17:36.480 --> 00:17:42.640
And by the time they get taken care of, there's some uh knuckle dragging, you know.

00:17:42.880 --> 00:17:51.359
I mean, listen, not I I I'm just saying in general, when people make hasty decisions and don't care about what they're choosing, it's too late.

00:17:51.519 --> 00:17:52.799
You're already going to be somewhere.

00:17:52.960 --> 00:18:02.240
I think you should get uh a consult with Amy, if if that's your business style, and and just say, look, here's here's my eight eight trees.

00:18:02.319 --> 00:18:03.119
What should I do?

00:18:03.359 --> 00:18:23.839
And I'm not trying to over token this or try to you know like tell people, but I'm telling you, once I do my trees, which we did before, then our neighbors asking questions and neighbors, uh I'll say, please give Amy a try, or not a try, give her a time to meet or a call, because you're easy to talk to.

00:18:23.920 --> 00:18:29.920
And and I think your service-led heart makes it easy for me to open my wall and say, okay, take take my money.

00:18:30.240 --> 00:18:41.279
No, but but I think it's important because knowing that I'm segueing into your community piece, it's important to me that the businesses that I support support the community.

00:18:41.359 --> 00:18:44.240
And I'm not saying everyone has to write a check.

00:18:44.720 --> 00:18:48.640
It's talent and treasure too, just like you did during the tornadoes.

00:18:49.039 --> 00:18:50.079
Yeah, yeah, sure.

00:18:50.640 --> 00:18:58.079
However, you did it, your time, I'm sure you spent some money, your treasure, and I'm sure your talent and your people jumped right in.

00:18:58.640 --> 00:19:05.279
And I and I want to talk about community, I want to talk about veterans because this is what the hardest crossing.

00:19:05.680 --> 00:19:05.839
Yeah.

00:19:06.160 --> 00:19:11.359
So I saw the design, which I'm gonna put up on the screen here, as well as the show notes.

00:19:12.799 --> 00:19:16.079
It said C S M Nikai, right?

00:19:16.240 --> 00:19:18.480
And I was like, wait a minute.

00:19:19.119 --> 00:19:22.160
And I didn't because here's here's what went through my mind first.

00:19:22.319 --> 00:19:26.000
I was like, oh, maybe I should be careful and ask, was it your dad?

00:19:26.079 --> 00:19:27.839
Or you know, could have been you, right?

00:19:27.920 --> 00:19:29.359
So I want people to know this.

00:19:29.440 --> 00:19:32.559
Like, I thought, okay, this could be anyone.

00:19:32.720 --> 00:19:37.279
So I want to know the story of the person on that shirt.

00:19:38.319 --> 00:19:43.039
My husband, we have been married 20 years this year.

00:19:44.160 --> 00:19:46.480
So um yeah, thank you.

00:19:46.720 --> 00:19:59.279
He is a fantastic leader, retired command sergeant major for the Nebraska Army National Guard, um, was an Army Ranger, and then moved here and they offered him a full-time position.

00:19:59.359 --> 00:20:02.079
So he worked full-time for the Nebraska National Guard.

00:20:02.160 --> 00:20:08.000
So it's a little different than the one week and a month soldiers that are still awesome warriors as well.

00:20:08.079 --> 00:20:10.160
So, but he worked full-time for them.

00:20:10.400 --> 00:20:17.759
So he traveled around, I mean, did tons of different jobs throughout the Nebraska National Guard units.

00:20:17.920 --> 00:20:23.839
And so he I could go on and on, just an incredible leader, an incredible role model for me.

00:20:24.000 --> 00:20:30.960
I mean, I I would if I could be half the leader that a third of the leader that he is, it would just melt my soul because he's so good.

00:20:31.039 --> 00:20:34.000
And it's the biggest thing I I mean, I say it all the time.

00:20:34.160 --> 00:20:43.200
When he was deployed, hearing wives come to me and say, You're Bruce Nakai's wife, like my husband raves about.

00:20:43.279 --> 00:20:48.240
Like when he was deployed, even like that was just epic to me.

00:20:48.400 --> 00:20:50.240
Just I loved, loved, loved it.

00:20:50.480 --> 00:20:55.279
It unlike a lot of people that I've heard, it was very hard for me to have him retire.

00:20:55.440 --> 00:20:57.119
Most wives are like, I'm done.

00:20:57.599 --> 00:21:04.000
It was gut-wrenching for me to have him retire because I he loved so much of what he did.

00:21:04.480 --> 00:21:07.200
I mean, it started to emotion, he was so good at it.

00:21:07.279 --> 00:21:22.559
And it was hard for me to have him, it was harder for me to have him retire because he was so passionate and so good about caring for others and setting people up for I see this vision for you for five to ten years from now, and I see this vision for you for five to ten years from now.

00:21:22.880 --> 00:21:26.000
And just seeing learning from him all of that.

00:21:26.079 --> 00:21:30.319
It was, but also I know he wanted to be here and help with our kids too.

00:21:30.400 --> 00:21:32.559
And so he deserved that too.

00:21:32.720 --> 00:21:39.839
And so we came to an agreement, we prayed about it for him to retire and all those things, and it just kind of fell in our lap.

00:21:39.920 --> 00:21:42.400
And what God provides amazing things.

00:21:42.559 --> 00:21:48.240
So it was wonderful for him to he retired after 22 years, and so he's been retired now for five years.

00:21:48.319 --> 00:21:49.920
So wow.

00:21:50.160 --> 00:21:54.319
So he's and what he's in a category of what I call fresh out.

00:21:54.480 --> 00:21:56.799
Five years is still fresh, you know what I mean?

00:21:57.039 --> 00:21:57.279
Yeah.

00:21:57.440 --> 00:22:03.440
As when you turn my age 55, I got out in 1998, so that's a long time ago, right?

00:22:03.759 --> 00:22:04.480
A long time ago.

00:22:04.640 --> 00:22:05.680
My hair was black.

00:22:06.000 --> 00:22:10.880
Anyway, you know, sometimes our our uniform is our identity.

00:22:11.519 --> 00:22:26.640
And it becomes part of us, you know, the things that we did with our family, the cycles, the process, the the deployments, the hey babe, I don't know when I'm coming back, or I know when I'm coming back, or the living out of a book bag.

00:22:26.720 --> 00:22:30.319
And I imagine, did you guys raise children then too?

00:22:30.640 --> 00:22:34.160
Uh, not when he was deployed, but when he was in the military, yes.

00:22:34.400 --> 00:22:34.640
Okay.

00:22:35.039 --> 00:22:39.440
So when he was full-time for the Nebraska National Guard, yeah, it was basically half the year he was gone.

00:22:39.599 --> 00:22:44.880
Just because of the way he did things, he would be like, yes, he was gone half the year.

00:22:45.039 --> 00:22:46.880
But it wasn't, it wasn't like deployments.

00:22:46.960 --> 00:22:48.960
It would be like, I'm gonna go scout a training unit.

00:22:49.039 --> 00:22:49.519
I'm gonna go.

00:22:49.839 --> 00:22:52.160
So it was just it was half the year for our entire marriage.

00:22:52.240 --> 00:22:54.559
He was gone, basically half the year every year.

00:22:54.799 --> 00:23:03.680
So it's funny that you say that because truly, the harder part for me when he retired was I realized it was literally a God moment.

00:23:04.240 --> 00:23:07.440
My identity was in being a soldier's wife.

00:23:07.680 --> 00:23:09.839
And that was harder for me.

00:23:10.160 --> 00:23:13.519
And I I was praying about it because I was, I'm gonna start getting emotional.

00:23:13.680 --> 00:23:18.799
I was praying about it because I was really like, no, I I I want you to do what you want to do.

00:23:18.960 --> 00:23:20.480
You deserve to do what you want.

00:23:20.559 --> 00:23:22.480
And he said, no, this has to be a joint.

00:23:22.640 --> 00:23:26.079
You you have to be okay with it, you have to be on what you want.

00:23:26.240 --> 00:23:27.759
Like, what do you think I should do?

00:23:27.920 --> 00:23:29.680
What do we should, what should we do?

00:23:29.920 --> 00:23:32.799
And it was very hard for me because he was so good at it.

00:23:32.880 --> 00:23:41.039
But I was praying about one day and God like told like Amy, this being a soldier's wife isn't your identity.

00:23:41.200 --> 00:23:42.960
And like that broke me.

00:23:43.920 --> 00:23:44.400
Sorry.

00:23:44.640 --> 00:23:49.039
And so that at that moment it was like, okay, you it is absolutely okay if you retire.

00:23:49.279 --> 00:23:51.119
And he's like, okay, I'm done.

00:23:51.200 --> 00:23:52.400
And I was like, wait, what?

00:23:52.559 --> 00:23:54.240
If you wanted to retire, it was okay.

00:23:54.400 --> 00:23:55.599
It's totally you deserved it.

00:23:55.680 --> 00:23:58.240
And he said, No, we had to make this decision together.

00:23:58.400 --> 00:23:59.279
So yeah.

00:24:00.240 --> 00:24:02.799
It was definitely my identity, but more.

00:24:03.200 --> 00:24:11.119
I I will tell you that I don't care who the soldier is in the family, it's the whole family that's in the military.

00:24:11.440 --> 00:24:15.599
But I want you to know the critical function of a soldier's wife or a soldier's husband.

00:24:15.680 --> 00:24:15.839
Okay.

00:24:17.119 --> 00:24:27.519
You had to carry the emotional weight of what he may have brought back or may not have brought back, or the absence, right?

00:24:27.599 --> 00:24:31.839
Because when you're at home, I'm not saying you're in your domain and things are peaching.

00:24:32.000 --> 00:24:32.720
That's not what I'm saying.

00:24:32.799 --> 00:24:37.119
I'm saying you're at home playing air traffic controller for your life, right?

00:24:37.759 --> 00:24:44.000
And then and then here he comes, or the not him in specific, but I want you to know my perspective.

00:24:44.160 --> 00:24:44.400
Yes.

00:24:44.559 --> 00:24:47.920
When I brought the energy back home, it wasn't always great energy.

00:24:48.000 --> 00:24:54.160
It was you are under a microscope in the military.

00:24:54.319 --> 00:25:01.200
And it's not about like being picked on or being called out, it's you have a you have a different standard of living.

00:25:01.279 --> 00:25:08.240
And notice I didn't say hire, I say you have a different standard of living in which certain more rules apply to you.

00:25:08.400 --> 00:25:10.960
And it is hard to navigate in those rules.

00:25:11.279 --> 00:25:25.119
But here's the hard part, and I'm and I'm gonna ask, and you don't have to answer for him if you don't feel comfortable, but after the last day that he put on his uniform, you probably remember the last time you saw him physically in uniform on in duty.

00:25:26.240 --> 00:25:29.119
What did you feel like and what do you remember him?

00:25:29.680 --> 00:25:30.400
Maybe that's the one.

00:25:30.559 --> 00:25:36.400
Um it took me so when we went down to sign paperwork, I think that's when it hit me.

00:25:36.640 --> 00:25:40.000
Because he wasn't wearing a uniform that day, but that's when it hit me.

00:25:40.079 --> 00:25:46.000
Is it it took me two weeks because then he once he retired, he still had what is it?

00:25:46.160 --> 00:25:48.480
Like terminal leave.

00:25:48.799 --> 00:25:49.519
Yes, thank you.

00:25:49.680 --> 00:25:50.640
So he still had that.

00:25:50.720 --> 00:25:53.359
So it was still like he, I don't know, it hadn't hit me yet.

00:25:53.440 --> 00:25:58.480
And it was it took me a while to put into words this next journey for us.

00:25:58.559 --> 00:26:00.079
Because again, he's he's young.

00:26:00.240 --> 00:26:05.519
He like a lot of people are like, oh my gosh, he's only 40 and he's starting a second career.

00:26:05.839 --> 00:26:12.319
But that it hit me then when we were signing paperwork, where it was, it's okay.

00:26:12.640 --> 00:26:21.440
It was harder, like I said, it was harder for me because he was so good at what he did, but he also was gone for the kids and he wanted to be, he deserved to be home for the kids.

00:26:21.519 --> 00:26:26.160
And so it was this very, I don't mixed emotions in a good way.

00:26:26.319 --> 00:26:27.920
I it I equate it to last night.

00:26:28.000 --> 00:26:31.279
I was joking about Clayton Kershaw just retired.

00:26:31.440 --> 00:26:35.680
And I was like, what do you think he's feeling having pitched the last game?

00:26:35.920 --> 00:26:44.799
And I'm like, I'm sure it was a bundle of emotions because his new kid, who his wife is pregnant, is never gonna experience him as a baseball player.

00:26:45.039 --> 00:26:54.880
And that's kind of how I feel is like now the kids are younger, they really don't remember him in uniform because the majority of it was just not them.

00:26:54.960 --> 00:27:02.960
And he was, which is what we wanted is we wanted him to experience the kids being like in their sports and everything else.

00:27:03.039 --> 00:27:13.440
So it was this big mixed bundle of emotions of I'm so excited to experience this next chapter, but also he was so good and so passionate about such a good leader.

00:27:13.599 --> 00:27:15.200
So that kind of thing.

00:27:15.920 --> 00:27:17.440
And both.

00:27:18.240 --> 00:27:25.119
No, I I love your perspective because I think you articulate it very well.

00:27:25.200 --> 00:27:40.000
I've I've spoken with a lot of military spouses or military families, spoken with mothers and fathers, spoken with brothers and sisters, but I never heard it like right now, Amy, where most spouses would be like, thank you, baby Jesus.

00:27:40.720 --> 00:27:40.960
Yep.

00:27:41.359 --> 00:27:53.680
And that I definitely it's so unique, I would say, just not that I'm a unique person, but it was so different for me because I loved seeing him do his purpose.

00:27:54.000 --> 00:28:03.839
And that is really what I mean, I've spoken to so many um soldiers' wives about is seeing your spouse be in their purpose is so critical.

00:28:04.000 --> 00:28:10.240
And seeing them fulfill what God has chosen for them is so critical and so incredible to see and witness.

00:28:10.960 --> 00:28:21.359
So that was just like I I'm anxious for and excited for what God has in store, but man, I loved seeing you happy and doing what you were just so blessed to do.

00:28:21.440 --> 00:28:23.839
But I also love seeing him avail.

00:28:23.920 --> 00:28:30.880
It's like then he was home with the kids with their baseball games, and so it's just such a great blessing on both sides of it.

00:28:31.279 --> 00:28:31.519
Yeah.

00:28:31.839 --> 00:28:32.559
I mean, absolutely.

00:28:32.799 --> 00:28:41.759
To to serve the country and have a great service record and then to retire and then, like you said, start a second career at age 40, I think is pretty incredible.

00:28:41.839 --> 00:28:45.519
And and not many people get to, you know, experience that.

00:28:46.400 --> 00:28:54.079
If your husband were sitting right next to you right now, what would you tell him about his years of service?

00:28:54.240 --> 00:28:56.240
For for I can feel that you're a patriot.

00:28:56.319 --> 00:28:57.279
I know you are.

00:28:58.559 --> 00:29:02.240
But if you can tell your father, you know, what what would you say to him?

00:29:02.559 --> 00:29:04.559
Uh just his leadership.

00:29:04.640 --> 00:29:08.559
I think we talk, I mean, I just bragged about it and like loved it.

00:29:08.720 --> 00:29:11.920
Those key moments where it was people talking about him.

00:29:12.480 --> 00:29:15.359
I've not once ever heard anything talk.

00:29:15.519 --> 00:29:16.960
It's always been high praise.

00:29:17.039 --> 00:29:20.880
It's never been like he chewed me out this one time or he, whatever.

00:29:21.039 --> 00:29:24.880
It's always been he pushed me to be a better person and he set me up for success.

00:29:24.960 --> 00:29:32.960
And he always had my end goal, my challenge me to say, here, I want to see you here in five years, I want to see you here in 10 years.

00:29:33.119 --> 00:29:35.839
And that was inspirational to me.

00:29:37.200 --> 00:29:41.200
The percentage of people that become rangers is very small.

00:29:41.359 --> 00:29:48.240
And then the percentage of people that hold the command sergeant major E9, the highest enlisted rank, is even smaller.

00:29:48.480 --> 00:29:56.640
And to have a 22 year career, have a family intact is a testament to, you know, probably your faith.

00:29:57.039 --> 00:29:59.119
The way I can hear your adoration.

00:29:59.200 --> 00:29:59.839
You said leadership.

00:30:00.480 --> 00:30:03.519
Probably 25 times so far on this planet.

00:30:03.920 --> 00:30:23.039
But I will tell you, and this is just me and my faith, when I hear a spouse adore their spouse, even a wife to, I mean, those words, so you don't hear people talk about, well, you know, my husband's a leader, right?

00:30:23.119 --> 00:30:24.079
Or my wife's a leader.

00:30:24.240 --> 00:30:25.599
Those words are not used.

00:30:25.759 --> 00:30:34.160
But I take it even in your house, and I'm just gonna ask, does he lead the house from a biblical sense or like a faith sense?

00:30:34.319 --> 00:30:36.799
Does he absolutely?

00:30:36.960 --> 00:30:37.759
Yeah, absolutely.

00:30:37.920 --> 00:30:46.799
It's fun to see, because so we have teens now, and so it is just fun to see him lead my son and lead my daughter.

00:30:47.039 --> 00:30:52.000
And it's just it's so great to see his impact on their life.

00:30:52.079 --> 00:30:56.240
And I'm so grateful to have a spouse to have a different perspective.

00:30:56.319 --> 00:31:02.240
And even though we're both type A's, we come with from different leadership positions and leadership suggestions.

00:31:02.400 --> 00:31:06.400
And so it's really I'm so grateful to have that.

00:31:07.200 --> 00:31:11.119
I love your take on it because it's so fresh and it's so eye-opening.

00:31:11.279 --> 00:31:15.440
And and I I want people to know how hard it is to transition.

00:31:15.680 --> 00:31:22.799
The worst day in in my career 10 years was the day that I took my uniform off.

00:31:22.960 --> 00:31:28.880
And my identity just for 10 years was wrapped into that battle dress uniform.

00:31:29.119 --> 00:31:29.759
Yeah.

00:31:30.240 --> 00:31:39.279
And and having it creased and ironed and boot shiny, and like I loved, I loved saluting people.

00:31:39.440 --> 00:31:42.720
I loved, I love the reach, I love the flag.

00:31:42.880 --> 00:31:44.400
I I mean, there's everything.

00:31:44.559 --> 00:31:49.359
I love shooting weapons, I loved formation, I loved, you know what I mean?

00:31:49.440 --> 00:31:50.640
I loved everything about it.

00:31:50.799 --> 00:31:50.960
Yeah.

00:31:51.680 --> 00:32:05.680
And then, you know, one day I was just like, I I love this, but something inside of me just said, like, there's a there's another calling for me.

00:32:05.759 --> 00:32:08.319
And notice I didn't say bigger, there's just another calling for me.

00:32:08.640 --> 00:32:09.519
Just a different, yep.

00:32:10.000 --> 00:32:16.880
It took me, Amy, it took me 25 years to be really proud to be a veteran.

00:32:16.960 --> 00:32:17.759
You know what I'm saying?

00:32:17.839 --> 00:32:19.759
Isn't that crazy to say it's not?

00:32:20.160 --> 00:32:23.680
When I got out, I was like, okay.

00:32:24.160 --> 00:32:26.000
There's parades for Saudi Arabia.

00:32:26.160 --> 00:32:28.400
Yay! All right, oh, they're all right.

00:32:28.640 --> 00:32:34.079
You know, I wasn't mocking, I was feeling like I didn't deserve.

00:32:34.319 --> 00:32:41.759
I was feeling a shame, and and you know my story of just I would say my husband has done.

00:32:42.000 --> 00:32:43.119
He's like, I didn't do it.

00:32:43.200 --> 00:32:46.559
So when I'm like, hey, get a military discount, I didn't do it for that.

00:32:46.720 --> 00:32:47.599
I don't need this.

00:32:47.759 --> 00:32:52.799
I don't like when they do stand up if you did this, he's like, I don't need that.

00:32:53.039 --> 00:32:57.039
He feels very similar to the what you experience is like I didn't do it for this.

00:32:57.119 --> 00:33:00.400
My purpose was literally to help serve other people.

00:33:00.559 --> 00:33:03.039
It wasn't for the accolades, it wasn't for that.

00:33:03.119 --> 00:33:04.799
I don't, I don't want recognition.

00:33:04.960 --> 00:33:06.480
He's big time on that.

00:33:06.880 --> 00:33:10.000
Yeah, and and most good leaders are, to be honest with you.

00:33:10.079 --> 00:33:14.400
Um, they eat last, uh they make sure everyone's, you know, goes ahead of them.

00:33:14.640 --> 00:33:20.240
They take care of their, not not only their soldiers, but their soldiers' families that connect with people.

00:33:20.400 --> 00:33:24.880
The worst thing that happens is a high-ranking official like that looks past the spouse.

00:33:24.960 --> 00:33:26.720
And I'm sure your husband didn't do that.

00:33:26.880 --> 00:33:32.960
I I can tell just from the stories you you tell me of the adoration that even the spouse has had for your husband.

00:33:33.039 --> 00:33:36.000
Because when they're gone, all you guys is have have is each other.

00:33:36.079 --> 00:33:40.960
And I want to say thank you to you, Amy, for doing your part.

00:33:41.359 --> 00:33:47.440
Because, and I and this is a lesson for or an ex a shared experience for other spouses, right?

00:33:47.599 --> 00:33:51.680
Um, it's easy to go deployed again.

00:33:51.920 --> 00:33:55.359
It's easy to go, but you're gonna miss out on.

00:33:55.759 --> 00:34:01.839
It's easy to say, God, you just you just came back from England and you're you're gonna leave now to Iraq.

00:34:01.920 --> 00:34:07.519
Like man, it's not like they're like, How can I get away from Amy?

00:34:07.680 --> 00:34:09.280
Let me just sign up for this.

00:34:09.599 --> 00:34:09.840
Right.

00:34:10.079 --> 00:34:10.719
You know what I mean?

00:34:10.800 --> 00:34:20.719
And and I will tell you, a soldier's love for their orders and and and doing the things that they're good at and and and just they want to serve.

00:34:21.039 --> 00:34:35.199
But when it but when it comes to opposing, and I think spouses in general, even outside the military, you should support your spouse or find something that you and your spouse can agree upon that you can say at all costs, I will protect the household by doing this.

00:34:35.440 --> 00:34:42.079
Now, listen, there's people who, and I'm not chastising, they spend time doing other things there.

00:34:42.320 --> 00:34:45.280
I I don't know what I have not right hand to God.

00:34:45.360 --> 00:34:47.199
I've never played fantasy football once.

00:34:47.280 --> 00:34:49.199
Now, I'm not saying that makes me good.

00:34:49.360 --> 00:34:51.280
I almost don't want to admit that, right?

00:34:51.440 --> 00:34:54.239
But I'm saying my time goes other other places.

00:34:54.480 --> 00:34:56.159
And I don't know.

00:34:56.320 --> 00:35:02.880
I just think the structure of your household and the way you talk about it is very traditional.

00:35:03.039 --> 00:35:04.559
And I think we get away from that.

00:35:04.880 --> 00:35:05.519
Am I right?

00:35:05.599 --> 00:35:06.880
Like Yes.

00:35:07.119 --> 00:35:07.599
Yep.

00:35:07.760 --> 00:35:14.719
It's you have your own interests, I have my own interests, and so it's never like, hey, what can we do?

00:35:15.039 --> 00:35:18.239
Like purposely, intentionally setting time together.

00:35:18.400 --> 00:35:20.079
Like we were on a curling league.

00:35:20.159 --> 00:35:21.679
That's my claim to fame.

00:35:22.880 --> 00:35:23.519
Yep, yep.

00:35:23.760 --> 00:35:27.039
So Bruce and I were always honored to meet someone.

00:35:27.280 --> 00:35:28.880
It is a lot of fun to meet me.

00:35:29.039 --> 00:35:31.760
So I have curling shoes and I have a curling broom.

00:35:32.559 --> 00:35:39.360
So we attention picked something that we could do together, that we both were like, we've never done this.

00:35:39.440 --> 00:35:45.840
And it's something that, like with his broken knees and everything, his jump knees out of it, all of it, that we could do together.

00:35:46.000 --> 00:35:51.119
Now we're big on like lifting together, but we were both we find those things that we could do together.

00:35:51.360 --> 00:36:00.800
So that's a big deal, I think, because you know, as the kids grow and and as you know, kids move out of the house, like we have Mason who's 16 years old.

00:36:00.880 --> 00:36:02.159
He's the last kid in the house.

00:36:02.320 --> 00:36:08.079
We have 28, 26, 21, and Mason left at home, right?

00:36:08.239 --> 00:36:09.760
Three girls and Mason.

00:36:10.320 --> 00:36:15.119
And, you know, I think it is important, you know, like my wife and I tried to intentionally date each other.

00:36:15.599 --> 00:36:22.000
Let me ask you this, and then you know, we'll lead here to the to towards the ending because I want people to connect with you.

00:36:22.320 --> 00:36:28.159
What was the last date you and your husband had for a good time, like to go out and have a good time?

00:36:28.559 --> 00:36:31.280
We go out every other Wednesday on a date.

00:36:31.440 --> 00:36:36.800
Oh, um, even if it yeah, and even if it's just hobbies, which shout out to hobbies because they are interesting.

00:36:37.199 --> 00:36:37.760
Hobbies.

00:36:37.920 --> 00:36:41.440
I love hobbies for another community-oriented folks.

00:36:41.760 --> 00:36:42.719
I absolutely love them.

00:36:42.800 --> 00:36:48.719
We go out to hobbies every other Wednesday for well, not I mean, it is hobbies because it's great street tacos.

00:36:49.039 --> 00:36:53.519
I would say it's not always hobbies, but it's like 99.9% of the time hobbies.

00:36:53.679 --> 00:36:57.679
So we serve our community youth group on Wednesday nights.

00:36:57.920 --> 00:37:01.760
We like my husband and I do, like kind of church security.

00:37:01.920 --> 00:37:04.639
And so while our kids are at youth group, we serve them.

00:37:04.800 --> 00:37:09.519
And then the following Wednesday we set a date night, and then we serve, and then we start have a date night.

00:37:09.599 --> 00:37:11.360
So we always do that every other week.

00:37:11.679 --> 00:37:15.599
So having a pattern is important to you.

00:37:16.400 --> 00:37:21.599
Yes, regardless of whatever if so, like this week it ended up being like Tuesday night, yesterday.

00:37:21.679 --> 00:37:25.280
So we went on a date night life, but regardless, we intentionally set that time.

00:37:25.440 --> 00:37:27.280
Otherwise, our lives get too crazy.

00:37:27.519 --> 00:37:33.440
So it's like like we he truly did say the other day, he said, When was the last time all four of us were in a car together?

00:37:33.599 --> 00:37:39.840
Because we just they have work and they have band and they have running and cross-country and everything else.

00:37:40.000 --> 00:37:48.320
So we have now set intentional family time dates together so that we can all four be together while we're still here and not in college yet.

00:37:48.960 --> 00:37:53.599
You have to intentionally set the time or the world will take your time for sure.

00:37:53.920 --> 00:37:54.159
Yeah.

00:37:54.320 --> 00:37:55.519
And and unfortunately too.

00:37:59.519 --> 00:37:59.760
Yeah.

00:37:59.920 --> 00:38:04.239
And one thing, you know, that you and I share in common is we're both sober.

00:38:04.400 --> 00:38:06.480
I'm about a thousand one hundred days.

00:38:06.719 --> 00:38:07.119
What was it?

00:38:07.440 --> 00:38:08.480
I just have to add the days up.

00:38:08.559 --> 00:38:11.039
I just know it's January of 2023.

00:38:11.440 --> 00:38:17.840
Okay, you you I'll calculate and you tell me why you how it came about.

00:38:18.320 --> 00:38:29.599
So I had heard this random thing about 75 hard from a friend, and I was everybody I talked to kind of was like, you don't have time, you're crazy, your schedule's already insane as it is.

00:38:30.159 --> 00:38:40.719
And because I actually, so unlike other female business owners who are doing like office work or bids or whatever, I'm actually out with the crew doing the work.

00:38:40.800 --> 00:38:45.599
So I'm like, how am I gonna squeeze in two extra workouts a day?

00:38:45.679 --> 00:38:48.320
Like, this is insanity on top of tree work.

00:38:48.639 --> 00:38:58.480
And the reason I did it on top of the tree work, well, the reason I was thinking about doing it on top of the tree work was because it was gonna require hard work and require sacrifice.

00:38:59.199 --> 00:39:05.840
And so I was thinking, okay, well, if I can do 75 hard, a couple reasons.

00:39:06.000 --> 00:39:07.039
One, the alcohol.

00:39:07.199 --> 00:39:09.760
I'm not a wasn't a super big drinker.

00:39:09.920 --> 00:39:19.119
However, I was definitely getting to a point with business owning where I was like, this was a stressful day, and then the next day was a stressful day, and then the next day was a stressful day.

00:39:19.199 --> 00:39:24.320
And so I just needed a drink at the end of the day because everything was hectic.

00:39:24.880 --> 00:39:28.239
And I got to ex yeah, exactly.

00:39:28.480 --> 00:39:30.639
Unwind and like, yes, I deserve it.

00:39:30.800 --> 00:39:31.440
I deserve it.

00:39:31.519 --> 00:39:43.039
And I got to a point where I was like, this is not, I don't want my kids to see that this is the solution, that this is the need to help unwind, and that this is the only way to do it.

00:39:43.280 --> 00:39:45.199
There are plenty of other ways to do it.

00:39:45.440 --> 00:39:50.639
And so I was a nervous, but I did 70, I started 75 hard.

00:39:50.719 --> 00:39:56.880
I actually ended up doing the entire live hard year for all of 2023, which was fantastic.

00:39:57.039 --> 00:39:57.440
I love it.

00:39:57.519 --> 00:39:59.360
And I basically just stuck with it.

00:39:59.519 --> 00:40:03.039
So there's been I mean, there's but I still read.

00:40:03.119 --> 00:40:04.639
I'm an avid read reader.

00:40:04.719 --> 00:40:10.480
And if you don't read, you absolutely should, even if it's just five pages a day or 10 pages a day, you absolutely should.

00:40:10.639 --> 00:40:14.480
So I don't necessarily get all 10 pages done every single day.

00:40:14.880 --> 00:40:16.480
Some days you probably do more.

00:40:16.719 --> 00:40:17.039
Right.

00:40:17.199 --> 00:40:17.519
Exactly.

00:40:17.679 --> 00:40:19.679
Some days I do more, some days I do less.

00:40:19.840 --> 00:40:25.599
I don't necessarily get all two workouts in every single day, but I'm still actively working out every single day.

00:40:25.760 --> 00:40:29.440
I'm still getting outside and getting like I still do count.

00:40:29.920 --> 00:40:34.079
So when I did 75 heart, I didn't count the tree work aspect of it during it.

00:40:34.159 --> 00:40:34.320
Yeah.

00:40:34.480 --> 00:40:36.320
Um because that was gonna be harder.

00:40:36.400 --> 00:40:37.599
Because I'm like, well, that's easy.

00:40:37.679 --> 00:40:38.559
I get that done already.

00:40:38.719 --> 00:40:40.559
And I'm like, no, this is supposed to be hard.

00:40:40.719 --> 00:40:46.400
So I didn't count any of the tree work towards it because a lot of people will fudge that and be like, well, I'm already working out.

00:40:46.559 --> 00:40:50.239
It's it's actively, I mean, tree work is hard, but I didn't count it.

00:40:50.400 --> 00:40:52.559
So anyway, so I did the live hard year.

00:40:52.639 --> 00:40:55.360
I still do hold to no alcohol.

00:40:55.599 --> 00:40:57.760
I don't think there's anything wrong with people that do it.

00:40:57.840 --> 00:40:58.960
I absolutely have nothing.

00:40:59.199 --> 00:41:06.960
I just I the more research I do, the more I'm like, it's you're literally entering a poison into your body, and I'm just I'm not okay with it.

00:41:07.440 --> 00:41:07.760
Yeah.

00:41:08.079 --> 00:41:08.800
And I'm with you.

00:41:09.280 --> 00:41:16.559
So that, and then I still do basically a follow-the-hole thing for the most part every single day, anyway, and have held to that since 2023.

00:41:16.639 --> 00:41:20.159
So that's 1,04 days, by the way.

00:41:20.400 --> 00:41:21.199
Well, hot days.

00:41:22.480 --> 00:41:24.000
That's freaking crazy, right?

00:41:24.239 --> 00:41:28.000
And and so it's crazy until it's not, Amy.

00:41:28.159 --> 00:41:30.239
It's crazy until it's not.

00:41:30.480 --> 00:41:30.880
Right.

00:41:31.039 --> 00:41:33.199
And for you, then I, this is a new norm.

00:41:33.360 --> 00:41:36.880
And I have 200 bottles of bourbon downstairs in my house.

00:41:37.039 --> 00:41:37.199
Okay.

00:41:37.920 --> 00:41:40.239
And I still buy it and collect.

00:41:40.400 --> 00:41:41.519
I have not touched it.

00:41:41.679 --> 00:41:44.719
My wife still drinks every now and then, but I don't partake.

00:41:44.800 --> 00:41:47.199
And I'm not the one to chastise anyone either.

00:41:47.360 --> 00:41:48.719
No, I leave it up to them.

00:41:48.880 --> 00:41:53.280
You know, I'm not the guy that like, oh, sorry, I don't drink.

00:41:53.360 --> 00:41:55.679
Like, I just make it like, no, thank you.

00:41:55.760 --> 00:41:57.280
You know, and then exactly.

00:41:57.760 --> 00:41:59.360
And I used to be controlled meat.

00:41:59.440 --> 00:42:00.239
That's the biggest thing.

00:42:00.320 --> 00:42:00.559
It's right.

00:42:00.639 --> 00:42:01.679
It doesn't control me.

00:42:02.000 --> 00:42:06.639
And having a cocky attitude about it of like, why would you put that poison in your body?

00:42:06.719 --> 00:42:07.840
That does nobody any good.

00:42:07.920 --> 00:42:09.599
The I just personally don't.

00:42:09.760 --> 00:42:18.159
So or when people are like um trying extreme diets, or like, oh, well, I'm keto, like I can't even look at that Snickers bar.

00:42:18.239 --> 00:42:20.239
I'm like, you're just asking for trouble.

00:42:20.400 --> 00:42:20.639
Yeah.

00:42:20.880 --> 00:42:22.800
You're just say you're not hungry.

00:42:22.880 --> 00:42:23.280
No, thank you.

00:42:23.440 --> 00:42:29.440
You know, you don't have to give a dissertation and a and a whole preaching on on how this works.

00:42:29.599 --> 00:42:32.159
So, all right, let's lead into community.

00:42:32.320 --> 00:42:33.760
Okay, into your effort.

00:42:33.840 --> 00:42:37.199
And this is how I want people to remember our conversation.

00:42:37.519 --> 00:42:40.639
So from October 20.

00:42:43.039 --> 00:42:43.679
2021.

00:42:43.920 --> 00:42:45.119
Sorry, it's 2021.

00:42:46.000 --> 00:42:46.960
It's 22 days.

00:42:47.119 --> 00:42:48.159
October 21st.

00:42:48.480 --> 00:42:49.199
October 21st.

00:42:49.760 --> 00:42:51.199
November 11th.

00:42:51.440 --> 00:42:52.159
October 21st.

00:42:53.280 --> 00:42:55.199
Through November through Veterans Day.

00:42:55.599 --> 00:43:02.880
Okay, so you're gonna portion of the proceeds of all of our work every single day is gonna go towards 50 mile march.

00:43:03.440 --> 00:43:04.079
Wow.

00:43:04.480 --> 00:43:09.760
So I'm gonna definitely want to push this out, you know, as much as we can.

00:43:10.000 --> 00:43:11.519
There's many channels that we use.

00:43:11.679 --> 00:43:14.880
We have the private tribe channel where you know the walkers are there.

00:43:14.960 --> 00:43:19.039
Are are you in our little tribe group, the 50 mile tribe Facebook group?

00:43:19.199 --> 00:43:20.639
Okay, I'm gonna put you in there.

00:43:20.719 --> 00:43:25.840
Okay, that's just where the back channel where most of us who have walked or volunteered, we're we all hang out there.

00:43:26.159 --> 00:43:28.559
You are no, but okay, fine we are.

00:43:29.199 --> 00:43:45.360
Okay, yes, and and I never want to pressure anyone at all, but I'm saying to you, you would be or your husband, or both, it to connect to community.

00:43:46.239 --> 00:43:46.400
Right?

00:43:46.480 --> 00:43:53.280
Like I know you you do a lot already, but for me, and this is me, and this is just me, like I love volunteering.

00:43:53.519 --> 00:44:00.159
I do habitat sometimes, sometimes I do Crohn's colitis, a couple, you know, different fundraising nonprofits.

00:44:01.280 --> 00:44:04.400
But the reason I do this is for my mental health.

00:44:05.119 --> 00:44:10.480
50 miles is a is a doozy, right?

00:44:10.559 --> 00:44:13.679
Like, let's just, let's just, I'm just being really polite right now.

00:44:13.760 --> 00:44:16.800
Yeah, it's harder than a rucker.

00:44:17.039 --> 00:44:28.800
Okay, so all I'm saying is, but what I love about it is every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, out right out there, crazy people show up at my doorstep, which I love them so much.

00:44:28.880 --> 00:44:35.920
And we walk, we rock five miles and we talk, and the phones are down, and we're like, yeah, and you own what?

00:44:36.079 --> 00:44:37.199
And what do you do?

00:44:37.360 --> 00:44:38.639
What did you think about this?

00:44:38.800 --> 00:44:43.039
I saw that the other night, and there are all walks of life, and guess what?

00:44:43.360 --> 00:44:49.679
People air their opinions, and nobody punches anybody.

00:44:50.320 --> 00:45:10.800
It's not even like it's almost culturized itself to learn from what's your religion, what's your belief, what's your, you know, we don't get into politics, we don't, we're not like this and that, but for the most part, it's a community of like-minded people who are supporting veterans that want to get better themselves.

00:45:10.960 --> 00:45:11.440
I don't know.

00:45:11.599 --> 00:45:13.599
Like, I would just challenge you to think about it.

00:45:13.679 --> 00:45:16.000
I don't want you to if you're on the podcast.

00:45:16.320 --> 00:45:21.119
But I would love to have you guys out one morning because you're right down the script for me today.

00:45:21.280 --> 00:45:21.599
I know.

00:45:21.679 --> 00:45:25.440
And it's just because I I get to work at the butt crack of dawn.

00:45:25.599 --> 00:45:27.519
That's the only problem, is like I get it.

00:45:27.599 --> 00:45:28.000
I get it.

00:45:28.639 --> 00:45:30.800
Like I'm already at work when you guys are rocking.

00:45:30.880 --> 00:45:33.360
Like, that's the are you serious?

00:45:33.599 --> 00:45:34.079
Oh, yeah.

00:45:34.159 --> 00:45:36.800
Like both of us are at work by the time you guys are rocking.

00:45:37.280 --> 00:45:40.320
Like we wouldn't have time, like I am all for it.

00:45:40.400 --> 00:45:43.039
It's and it's not the because we get up at 4 15.

00:45:43.119 --> 00:45:44.719
Like, I get up at 4 15 every day.

00:45:44.880 --> 00:45:46.719
So the time a day isn't a problem.

00:45:46.800 --> 00:45:52.000
Like when we would do runs at Hitchcock, I'm up at 4, 3:30 to go run at Hitchcock.

00:45:52.159 --> 00:45:53.679
So time isn't the problem.

00:45:53.760 --> 00:45:55.280
It's just we have work.

00:45:55.760 --> 00:45:56.239
The time.

00:45:56.880 --> 00:45:58.880
Yeah, yes, the priority is owning.

00:45:59.199 --> 00:46:01.679
No, but so how will people order?

00:46:01.840 --> 00:46:04.159
Tell me how this fundraiser will work.

00:46:04.880 --> 00:46:06.239
And I yes.

00:46:06.480 --> 00:46:06.880
Yep.

00:46:07.199 --> 00:46:11.679
So I would absolutely love for people to contact us if you have tree work.

00:46:12.239 --> 00:46:31.360
If you if you are any questions on like tree trimming, tree pruning, tree removal, tree planting, let me know because what we can do is schedule it because all of the a portion of the proceeds on those 22 days are going towards the 50-mile march.

00:46:32.480 --> 00:46:41.039
That's I will tell you just from my standpoint, whether you raise a dollar or a thousand or whatever you raise is not important to me.

00:46:41.199 --> 00:46:43.360
What's important to me is that you see us.

00:46:43.599 --> 00:46:45.920
And I and I am love that you see us.

00:46:46.079 --> 00:47:01.119
I love that your you and your husband's relationship of of you know having a military family, you know, it's it's easy to dilute our time and put it other places, but I just want to tell you how much this means.

00:47:01.199 --> 00:47:03.039
And it's not even about the money.

00:47:03.679 --> 00:47:04.800
No, it's about the community.

00:47:05.599 --> 00:47:05.920
Yes.

00:47:06.400 --> 00:47:09.519
And when someone says, Amy, who is that?

00:47:09.599 --> 00:47:14.320
And you're like, well, this is what they do, the story gets told to another person.

00:47:14.480 --> 00:47:16.480
And I I just want to tell you this, Amy.

00:47:16.960 --> 00:47:25.760
From our from my standpoint, I can't speak for everybody, but it's healing to me when I hear people like you talk about us and that you choose us.

00:47:25.920 --> 00:47:33.679
There's there's 300 veteran nonprofits within a stone's throw of my chair, and and a lot, and they do good work.

00:47:34.960 --> 00:47:46.400
I just want you to know how much it means to me that if if if you could meet 1998 Jay in the J today, I mean, I'm just grateful.

00:47:46.559 --> 00:47:58.239
I would have never pictured having a conversation with a successful business owner like yourself who gives back to the community, who let alone has a military-serving family and is just driven.

00:47:58.400 --> 00:48:02.960
Like it's the chances of having a conversation like this, I don't take for granted.

00:48:03.119 --> 00:48:03.360
Okay.

00:48:03.519 --> 00:48:04.800
So I just want to tell you that.

00:48:05.280 --> 00:48:05.599
Same.

00:48:06.000 --> 00:48:11.119
And and and I want you to know that I want to champion your business.

00:48:11.280 --> 00:48:21.039
I want people to think about you, not just what you do, but why you do it and the and the how and the approachability.

00:48:21.119 --> 00:48:22.079
And I don't know.

00:48:22.239 --> 00:48:24.159
What do you want to leave people with?

00:48:24.960 --> 00:48:29.280
What are some things in life that you you your mantras or your your your message to?

00:48:29.679 --> 00:48:34.639
It's so funny you said that because I was literally gonna be like, you should think about this at the end of the day.

00:48:34.719 --> 00:48:36.400
So like I it's funny that you said that.

00:48:36.559 --> 00:48:40.159
I truly, I think people need to get more involved in their community.

00:48:40.320 --> 00:48:43.760
I think like, I mean, truly, truly, it just changes you.

00:48:43.920 --> 00:48:50.960
We get so caught up, and I think it to echo with you guys' meeting every Monday, Wednesday, Friday.

00:48:51.440 --> 00:48:58.239
We as humans aren't necessarily meant to know what the heck is going on in the big world around us every single day.

00:48:58.400 --> 00:49:02.719
My friends echo that to me when I get inundated with world stuff going on.

00:49:02.960 --> 00:49:06.719
We need our community, and this is what we really were designed for.

00:49:06.800 --> 00:49:13.519
We're not meant to know what's going on big picture, like huge, huge, because it just overwhelms us and we get overwhelmed.

00:49:13.760 --> 00:49:49.199
And so meeting like that, and I champion that aspect of the community and echo that, it's so critical to get involved in your community, but to show up to these meetings on Monday, Wednesday, Friday to be a part of that niche community, that knit tight knit community, because it's so impactful in your life when you get overwhelmed and stressed and everything else, when anybody does, not just you, like when anybody gets overwhelmed and stressed, having somebody that you can just vent to and okay, are you needing me to, are you needing me to listen, or are you needing me to side with you, or you need me to do throw some punches?

00:49:49.280 --> 00:49:50.719
Like, what do you need for me right now?

00:49:50.800 --> 00:49:51.760
Do you just need a shoulder?

00:49:51.840 --> 00:49:52.320
That's fine.

00:49:52.480 --> 00:49:59.039
Having that community is so critical and getting involved in the community so you can be there for somebody is so critical.

00:49:59.920 --> 00:50:00.880
That is so profound.

00:50:01.199 --> 00:50:03.519
That is so profound, and here's why it's profound.

00:50:03.760 --> 00:50:04.639
You're right.

00:50:04.960 --> 00:50:14.000
If I turn on the news right now, I can get sucked in for 41 minutes, and I'm like, oh my God, what is it that I wanted to do?

00:50:14.400 --> 00:50:29.039
If if I worry about every bit of news, now now listen, I care for the world, but but for me to make a change right now, for me to be the most effective, it starts right here, starts right outside my window.

00:50:29.360 --> 00:50:29.599
Exactly.

00:50:29.920 --> 00:50:34.960
For you on your on your on your next tree, starts with the next handshake.

00:50:35.039 --> 00:50:42.159
And I think we overlook that because we're like, you know, rooted tree specialists, like what?

00:50:42.960 --> 00:50:44.079
What's her deal?

00:50:44.239 --> 00:50:50.079
Yeah, it's not what you do, it's the community you serve and how you do it.

00:50:50.159 --> 00:50:52.719
And and I think I can hear you.

00:50:53.360 --> 00:50:56.559
There's people, Amy, that are going to work tomorrow that absolutely hate what they do.

00:50:57.119 --> 00:50:58.079
But they gotta do it.

00:50:58.400 --> 00:50:59.440
They gotta do it.

00:50:59.679 --> 00:51:00.000
Yep.

00:51:00.719 --> 00:51:06.639
My advice to anyone and you is to love what you do, correct?

00:51:06.960 --> 00:51:16.320
Even if you don't, and here's why love the process so you can get better at whatever it is that you're trying, like God is preparing you for.

00:51:16.639 --> 00:51:18.960
I literally just had this conversation.

00:51:19.119 --> 00:51:28.880
We, my husband and I just had this conversation with our son, because you never know the mustard seed or the seed that you're planting in someone's life.

00:51:29.039 --> 00:51:34.159
And your smile that day could impact and leave a legacy in someone's life.

00:51:34.239 --> 00:51:38.559
So it doesn't matter if you like your job or if you don't like your job or anything else.

00:51:38.639 --> 00:51:43.599
You just never know the impact that you're leaving going forward to whomever it is.

00:51:43.760 --> 00:51:49.679
It could be a laugh or a joke that you said that day, or the other day, my husband got lows.

00:51:49.840 --> 00:51:52.880
The lady told him, She's like, Wow, you have the patience of a saint.

00:51:52.960 --> 00:51:54.800
And he said, Me, me.

00:51:55.039 --> 00:52:05.199
And she's like, I've just never had, and he that was impactful for him because he never like he clearly had patience that day that he didn't realize he had, and it left a legacy.

00:52:05.280 --> 00:52:06.159
And she said, You know what?

00:52:06.320 --> 00:52:12.559
When I go home or next time I get frustrated, I'm gonna say Bruce had patience, and I need to have patience like Bruce.

00:52:12.639 --> 00:52:17.440
And like, you never know those mustard seats or those little impacts that you could leave throughout the day.

00:52:17.840 --> 00:52:24.639
It's the plainest, most simple acts where people go, Oh, I, you know, like, oh Jay, it's so cool.

00:52:24.880 --> 00:52:27.760
You started this thing, and it's so impactful.

00:52:28.000 --> 00:52:31.360
Nobody was there on the first one, and it wasn't supposed to be a thing.

00:52:31.440 --> 00:52:38.400
It wasn't like, dear internet, I'm launching something pretty incredible in the next five years.

00:52:38.559 --> 00:52:43.519
Like I think that a lot of the things in life are just the mustard seed, just like you said.

00:52:44.400 --> 00:52:52.480
Not glamorous, no one cares, no one looks, but if you pay attention to that mustard seed, it's gonna grow.

00:52:52.719 --> 00:52:57.599
And I I think there's two things that I'm taking away from our conversation today.

00:52:57.840 --> 00:53:01.519
Number one is your perspective on the military family, like wow, okay.

00:53:01.760 --> 00:53:11.360
And then two is how almost every time that I've even spoken to you or messaged you, you're always talking about I'm involved in this and that.

00:53:11.760 --> 00:53:13.760
I'm you know what I mean?

00:53:14.400 --> 00:53:26.800
Yeah, and and you know, seeing you guys and at the the relevant center, I mean it's uh it's it's a lesson to me to say, Jay, stop.

00:53:27.039 --> 00:53:30.320
Uh pay attention to what Amy's doing, connect with her more.

00:53:30.480 --> 00:53:33.360
She's uh you've been in the peripheral vision, right?

00:53:33.440 --> 00:53:34.159
And you've been there.

00:53:34.400 --> 00:53:39.599
And I don't know, like I'm so recharged now that it's gonna be hard to sleep.

00:53:42.800 --> 00:53:44.559
This is not a draining conversation for me.

00:53:44.880 --> 00:53:46.320
This is not a draining conversation.

00:53:46.480 --> 00:53:48.800
This is a recharging gener uh conversation.

00:53:50.159 --> 00:53:52.000
I just want to thank you and your husband.

00:53:52.159 --> 00:53:55.840
I want to thank your husband, Bruce, for his 22 years.

00:53:56.480 --> 00:54:00.400
Man, no one does anything for 22 years, especially the military.

00:54:00.559 --> 00:54:12.880
You know, and and I want to say to you that if there's anything that the 50 mile march can ever do for you, your business, me at me personally, as a real estate agent or just a connector, I want people to know where your heart is.

00:54:12.960 --> 00:54:16.079
And I know where it's it's rooted in the community, right?

00:54:16.159 --> 00:54:18.079
I don't I don't know the taglines, but I don't want to mess it up.

00:54:18.639 --> 00:54:20.880
In the community for the community, literally.

00:54:21.280 --> 00:54:22.400
That's so good.

00:54:22.559 --> 00:54:25.840
Well, I'm grateful for your time and I really appreciate it.

00:54:26.159 --> 00:54:27.599
And I just want a quick shout out.

00:54:27.679 --> 00:54:31.679
So Merch Club designed these shirts, they are fantastic.

00:54:31.840 --> 00:54:34.559
Yes, so show the shirts, but merch club put them together.

00:54:34.719 --> 00:54:37.760
Chris did a fantastic, Chris and his team did a fantastic job.

00:54:38.000 --> 00:54:40.079
We are gonna wear the shirts on Veterans Day.

00:54:40.159 --> 00:54:41.119
I'm really, really excited.

00:54:41.280 --> 00:54:53.280
And so each of these, it was cool because it my team came back and they're like, you know, we actually had to res we all were, I chose I told them, excuse me, you I want a soldier's name on the back, like you got to pick somebody.

00:54:53.360 --> 00:54:57.760
And they actually like they were like, we had to research people, like our family members.

00:54:57.840 --> 00:55:02.079
It took us time and like we really got a chance to like dive in and get to know people.

00:55:02.239 --> 00:55:06.400
That was really cool, like seeing them get to know part of their family that they didn't know.

00:55:06.639 --> 00:55:07.519
So yeah.

00:55:07.840 --> 00:55:13.280
And and that's cool because like I said, every with every name on the back, there's gonna be like, who is that?

00:55:13.519 --> 00:55:14.960
Yeah, is that you?

00:55:15.199 --> 00:55:18.880
And and that leads to conversation, and conversations are healing.

00:55:19.119 --> 00:55:21.679
Sometimes conversations are way better than medicine.

00:55:21.840 --> 00:55:24.480
But I'm so glad that we tied this all together.

00:55:24.639 --> 00:55:26.559
And I definitely want to follow up.

00:55:26.719 --> 00:55:28.239
I want to see how things go.

00:55:28.400 --> 00:55:32.239
I want a champion in business, and and I thank you for your service to our community.

00:55:32.480 --> 00:55:33.760
Thank you so much for your time.

00:55:33.840 --> 00:55:34.960
I appreciate it.

00:55:35.280 --> 00:55:35.920
All right.

00:55:36.480 --> 00:55:37.280
Thanks.

00:55:39.280 --> 00:55:41.920
Thanks for tuning in to The Connection.

00:55:42.159 --> 00:55:48.800
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00:55:49.039 --> 00:55:52.639
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00:55:56.079 --> 00:55:57.920
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00:56:03.840 --> 00:56:07.760
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00:56:08.239 --> 00:56:10.159
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