The Change of Command #1945

I’m typing this from Gate 6 at the San Diego airport.

It’s a Saturday morning. I’m waiting to board flight #1059 to Austin.

Today I have two of the coolest travel buddies ever: Emerson and Eleanor.

We just had the privilege of attending my dear friend Captain Daryle Cardone’s Change of Command ceremony.

Daryle was the commanding officer of the USS RONALD REAGAN—the only forward-deployed carrier in the U.S. Naval fleet. He and his 5,000 Sailors and their support strike group were based in Japan and responsible for protecting our allies in the region.

(I got goosebumps typing that feeling into, once again, the freedoms on which our flourishing are so dependent and the anonymous men and women who have volunteered to protect those freedoms. I repeat: Freedom isn’t free.)

Now…

Daryle has been following my work for over a decade. When we first connected via FaceTime a couple years ago, the first thing he asked was how Alexandra and the kids were doing.

(I got tears in my eyes typing THAT!)

So…

Daryle invited me and the family to join him for the special ceremony.

I was, of course, an immediate “YES!”

And…

I decided to bring the kids by myself so my wonderful Wifey could get the first three days off in roughly 12 years.

(I laughed out loud (literally) typing THAT! 😆)

So…

We had an incredible trip.

I’ll share some stories in the next few +1s.

For now…

I want to share my favorite part of Daryle’s speech.

In addition to his celebration of his incredible wife, Kate, my favorite part of Daryle’s speech was when he got emotional celebrating his daughters and their role in serving our nation with him.

Daryle is the one who once told me “freedom isn’t free” when we were chatting on a day he missed his daughter’s college graduation because he was overseas in Japan leading the 5,000 Heroic Sailors on the REAGAN.

After recognizing the important role THEY played in his service to our great nation…

He told his daughters: “I hope you always know what it means to serve a cause larger than yourself. I am so proud of you. I love you.”

And…

That’s Today’s +1.

Here’s to taking a moment to celebrate the men and women (and their FAMILIES!) who sacrifice so much to protect the freedoms on which our flourishing are so dependent.

And…

“I hope you always know what it means to serve a cause larger than yourself.”

And…

I’m proud of you for your commitment to being your best self in service to something bigger than yourself.

And…

I love you.

It’s Day 1.

We’re all in.

LET’S GO!