Grammarly sent me a little “you might have a problem” email earlier this week.
Apparently, I’ve written over 900,000 words in the last five weeks. They claim it’s more than 99% of users, with more unique words than 99% of them too. I don’t know how that’s true, but I definitely have been writing a lot lately. I had no idea it was even close to that much.
It’s both kind of cool and kind of hilarious. Why? Because it wasn’t part of a strategy, a streak, or even a goal. It just came from putting in the writing reps. One sentence, one section, and one page at a time.
I’d love to say it’s all poetry and brilliance. But it’s hardly that. It’s been mostly retelling of long hours coaching, martial and security strategies and the kind of sentences that get rewritten three or four times before they sound right.
Still, I’ll take it.
Some of it’s for the book. Some of its old stories I’m finally writing down. Some of it’s heart-wrenching, some of it’s about training, traveling, coaching, fighting, or just trying to make sense of the thoughts that appear between deadlifts, dog walks, deep in the mountains or just walking into the office.
It reminded me of something George Washington once said:
“To be prepared for war is one of the most effective means of preserving peace.”
Sometimes the work is the preparation. And sometimes the work is the peace. Not trying to be prolific, just consistent.
Keeping the standard high, even when no one’s watching.
So, here’s to showing up, stringing some stories together, and hoping at least a few of them land where they’re supposed to.
Now, back to work.
Matt Shannon, Security Pro 