If anything, reading about David Goggins has really questioned my beliefs around what human species are truly capable of. Part of me assumed there was more than a little embellishment in the stories Goggins recounted. When I reached the end, I knew that would not have been his style … it makes everything he did stand out that much more.
What impresses me the most is the sheer diversity in his pursuits and accomplishments. The armed forces asides, the explorations into ultra-running, pull-ups, motivational speaking, and now fire-fighting look honestly a random combination. But that’s what makes it so appealing, at least to me, he finds a new goal and works towards it until success. There is a simplicity in that lifestyle I find comforting. Having said that, it is definitely not for everyone, and I would say not for most people. Goggins mentions briefly the sacrifices made to his social life, something I am not sure most could part with so willingly. But I can give nothing but kudos to him, having that level of discipline and commitment makes me jealous. I would go so far as saying that his behaviour is a signal of the unbreakable faith Goggins has in his mind to work through any obstacle.
I found the challenges included to be a productive element of his overall message of mental fortitude. He really does make it easy on anyone to take the first step. Extreme as he may be, there is an element of shoot-for-the-moon-and-land-in-the-stars to it all (even though I am sure that he would not have intended it to be that way).
This has been a book that I have put off reading for a good long while, I thought the hype surrounding it sounded too good to be true. I was right of course, it was because it is. If this story were published centuries ago, I imagine the name Goggins would echo in the fabric of society as strongly as Heracles, Jason, and Che Guevara. It is the stuff legend and myths are made of, you can’t help but be inspired.