Doing something is always better than doing nothing.

It was the 3-year mark since Officer Jake Wallin was killed.  While my husband wasn’t gunned down, I do know the soul-crushing experience of having your first responder leave for work one day and not come home. I saw an article for a workout in Jake’s honor at a local CrossFit gym. Though I am not in CrossFit shape, I signed up.

When you feel like there is nothing you can do – there always is.

It doesn’t need to be big. It might be practical and will probably be hard, but for me this was the right thing to do on a day I wanted to honor the life of a fallen officer. It was a way for me to show up.

I had no doubt the workout would be difficult. I asked a few friends, but no one was able to attend. I went anyway. Alone, and sure I’d be the most unfit person there.

I didn’t care. I could give my best effort on this day.

When you think about what Jake and his fellow FPD officers went through on that nightmare of a day, a tough workout isn’t something to complain about. I was grateful to do a hard thing. To try and give something when there is nothing that can make that day any better.

I was happy to represent law enforcement families. I am one. I will always be one.

Thank you to the amazing women at EHP Performance who helped me through that workout and waited to finish with me when they could have been done much quicker. They were full of encouragement. I was exhausted, but happy to have gone, worked hard, and sweated it out.

Doing something is always better than doing nothing.

Rest in Peace, Jake. Your sacrifice is not forgotten.