Sep 12, 2017
Episode 16 of Mart and the Fishbowl comes at a very interesting time. The Lord works in mysterious ways and the Universe has a way of dropping little gems on us from time to time when we’re careful enough to notice, so it was no coincidence that the release of Mart and Dave’s sit down with an active nine-year member of the Marine Corps, Adam Newell, comes the day after one of the most tragic events most of us have experienced in our lifetime thus far with the attacks on the World Trade Center on 9/11.
Perspective influences and dictates so much about one’s view of this life and how it is experienced. Often times on this show Harvey and Dave delve into the sports world and how much it teaches and offers us, so it was a privilege and a humbling experience to listen and gain some new perspective as Adam Newell dove into some more serious fare this week concerning life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness, and the experience of those who help defend those rights by which we all currently live.
As a 33 year old Adam Newell began his career in the Marine Corps at the older age of 24. Coming into his first Bootcamp as a former college baseball player Adam was tipping the scales at 270 pounds. He came out three months later at 198 pounds. When explaining some of the mental and physical rigors of a bootcamp Adam puts it quite simply as, “You’re either gonna do it, or you’re gonna do it.” Pushing the barriers of the mind and the body is a hallmark of military training and while it is impossible to know what it is like without experiencing it, Adam drops some serious knowledge in his effort to explain it.
Adam’s nine year journey with the Marine Corps began as a machine-gunner then some physical deterioration led to a lateral move to working in intelligence and more specifically with Unmanned Aerial Systems or Drones. These years have taught Adam a tremendous amount about Leadership, Communication, Accountability, Mental Toughness, Enthusiasm, Balance, and he touches on each of these themes and how they have shaped him as a Father, Husband, and Marine.
From dealing with the mortality and mental health of fellow Marine brothers and friends to the importance of listening to others and learning the best way to communicate with them, Mart and Dave were sponges this week as Adam Newell calmly and firmly shared his insights into the demanding world of a Marine.
Beyond Adam’s insights it has been his actions and the actions of millions of others just like him that allow us to pursue life, liberty, and happiness. Even as the turbulence of society today seems too much to handle at times, Adam Newell’s story offers us some much needed perspective into what is really important in this life, and we are so thankful that he shared it.