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How a Voluntary Stint with the Navy SEALs Changed my Life | Jared Smith | TEDxUAlberta


the sea was angry that day my friends

the sea was angry that day my friends George Costanza said like an old man

George Costanza said like an old man

George Costanza said like an old man taking back soup at a diner this

taking back soup at a diner this

taking back soup at a diner this particular day I was with 10 of my

particular day I was with 10 of my

particular day I was with 10 of my closest friends carrying a rock 45

closest friends carrying a rock 45

closest friends carrying a rock 45 pounds of weight we’ve been training

pounds of weight we’ve been training

pounds of weight we’ve been training together for 12 months now this

together for 12 months now this

together for 12 months now this particularly experience we had hours

particularly experience we had hours

particularly experience we had hours under her belt he’s 45 pound rocks were

under her belt he’s 45 pound rocks were

under her belt he’s 45 pound rocks were to be carried for 10 miles their deep

to be carried for 10 miles their deep

to be carried for 10 miles their deep sand this sea kept pounding on the

sand this sea kept pounding on the

sand this sea kept pounding on the shores of the west coast of California

shores of the west coast of California

shores of the west coast of California pump I got the spray into her face the

pump I got the spray into her face the

pump I got the spray into her face the water was over 48 degrees Fahrenheit was

water was over 48 degrees Fahrenheit was

water was over 48 degrees Fahrenheit was cold at that time light hamstring was

cold at that time light hamstring was

cold at that time light hamstring was ripped my leg was swollen my knee was

ripped my leg was swollen my knee was

ripped my leg was swollen my knee was swollen my arms were trembling under the

swollen my arms were trembling under the

swollen my arms were trembling under the weight of this rock I had a moment where

weight of this rock I had a moment where

weight of this rock I had a moment where I honestly didn’t think for the first

I honestly didn’t think for the first

I honestly didn’t think for the first time in my life I could go any further

time in my life I could go any further

time in my life I could go any further the weight was too heavy

the weight was too heavy

the weight was too heavy I looked up a baby seal instructor

I looked up a baby seal instructor

I looked up a baby seal instructor barking orders at me he said it’s easier

barking orders at me he said it’s easier

barking orders at me he said it’s easier to keep up and catch up Smith let’s go

to keep up and catch up Smith let’s go

to keep up and catch up Smith let’s go my teen starting to move up I fell

my teen starting to move up I fell

my teen starting to move up I fell behind down on one knee this rock the

behind down on one knee this rock the

behind down on one knee this rock the weight of it crushing two years before I

weight of it crushing two years before I

weight of it crushing two years before I was sitting at Elm cafe Nettleton on the

was sitting at Elm cafe Nettleton on the

was sitting at Elm cafe Nettleton on the patio during a cappuccino

patio during a cappuccino

patio during a cappuccino and a half hour of contemplation to

and a half hour of contemplation to

and a half hour of contemplation to myself thinking a little bit about my

myself thinking a little bit about my

myself thinking a little bit about my beautiful family a thriving business how

beautiful family a thriving business how

beautiful family a thriving business how good life was the Sun was up blue sky

good life was the Sun was up blue sky

good life was the Sun was up blue sky Humbert and then I received a phone call

Humbert and then I received a phone call

Humbert and then I received a phone call when everything will change sure many of

when everything will change sure many of

when everything will change sure many of you have had phone calls like this you

you have had phone calls like this you

you have had phone calls like this you know what it feels like

know what it feels like

know what it feels like my mother just voice trembling on the

my mother just voice trembling on the

my mother just voice trembling on the other line

other line

other line my sister had cancer and not the good

my sister had cancer and not the good

my sister had cancer and not the good kind but she was a young mother the

kind but she was a young mother the

kind but she was a young mother the daughter was only 3 or 3 years old at

daughter was only 3 or 3 years old at

daughter was only 3 or 3 years old at the time and so we all knew that she

the time and so we all knew that she

the time and so we all knew that she would fight this we would help her fight

would fight this we would help her fight

would fight this we would help her fight it and we would win six months later I

it and we would win six months later I

it and we would win six months later I was at a cancer clinic with my sister

was at a cancer clinic with my sister

was at a cancer clinic with my sister she has lost 80 pounds through her

she has lost 80 pounds through her

she has lost 80 pounds through her treatments I remember in his cancer

treatments I remember in his cancer

treatments I remember in his cancer clinic carrying her from room to room

clinic carrying her from room to room

clinic carrying her from room to room she waved next to nothing in my mind I

she waved next to nothing in my mind I

she waved next to nothing in my mind I thought I will carry you for as long as

thought I will carry you for as long as

thought I will carry you for as long as it takes I will carry you forever if I

it takes I will carry you forever if I

it takes I will carry you forever if I have to if we can beat this if that’s

have to if we can beat this if that’s

have to if we can beat this if that’s what it takes I’ll carry a sing at her

what it takes I’ll carry a sing at her

what it takes I’ll carry a sing at her hospital bed two months after that her

hospital bed two months after that her

hospital bed two months after that her head of mine she said Jared how kind of

head of mine she said Jared how kind of

head of mine she said Jared how kind of like my little redhead daughter grow up

like my little redhead daughter grow up

like my little redhead daughter grow up without her mother how can I possibly

without her mother how can I possibly

without her mother how can I possibly kina she passed away

I was left in the week of grief as many

I was left in the week of grief as many of you have been in your lives I’m sure

of you have been in your lives I’m sure

of you have been in your lives I’m sure not sure what to do unchartered waters

not sure what to do unchartered waters

not sure what to do unchartered waters should I pick up a bottle should I just

should I pick up a bottle should I just

should I pick up a bottle should I just bury this thing and move on

bury this thing and move on

bury this thing and move on should I get dizzy have interesting

should I get dizzy have interesting

should I get dizzy have interesting conversation with my sensei of 20 years

conversation with my sensei of 20 years

conversation with my sensei of 20 years a mentor of the friend even Houston

a mentor of the friend even Houston

a mentor of the friend even Houston we sat down and I said what should I do

we sat down and I said what should I do

we sat down and I said what should I do I feel like I’m left with such huge

I feel like I’m left with such huge

I feel like I’m left with such huge disparity waves of it crashing over top

disparity waves of it crashing over top

disparity waves of it crashing over top and he said fight hardship with hardship

what do you mean by that

what do you mean by that he said find something tough that

he said find something tough that

he said find something tough that requires a team of people around you to

requires a team of people around you to

requires a team of people around you to accomplish go do that it’ll give you a

accomplish go do that it’ll give you a

accomplish go do that it’ll give you a sense of direction and focus well one

sense of direction and focus well one

sense of direction and focus well one thing led to another I chosen an

thing led to another I chosen an

thing led to another I chosen an impossible adventure with Navy SEALs

impossible adventure with Navy SEALs

impossible adventure with Navy SEALs that would require 12 months of training

that would require 12 months of training

that would require 12 months of training to prepare I recruited 18 men we

to prepare I recruited 18 men we

to prepare I recruited 18 men we whittled down to 11 for two hours

whittled down to 11 for two hours

whittled down to 11 for two hours sometimes four hours a day of training

sometimes four hours a day of training

sometimes four hours a day of training in preparation for what would become

in preparation for what would become

in preparation for what would become what we would call our crucible we were

what we would call our crucible we were

what we would call our crucible we were pretty excited about this opportunity

pretty excited about this opportunity

pretty excited about this opportunity and that year was good one for me it

and that year was good one for me it

and that year was good one for me it provided me with that direction

provided me with that direction

provided me with that direction focus something death honor my sister

focus something death honor my sister

focus something death honor my sister was in every push up every Burpee every

was in every push up every Burpee every

was in every push up every Burpee every single pull-up that I did I thought

single pull-up that I did I thought

single pull-up that I did I thought about the pain that she had to the dirt

about the pain that she had to the dirt

about the pain that she had to the dirt and it made my pain a little less so

and it made my pain a little less so

and it made my pain a little less so there we were after all of this training

there we were after all of this training

there we were after all of this training standing in this incredible facility

standing in this incredible facility

standing in this incredible facility called seal fit commander mark Devine

called seal fit commander mark Devine

called seal fit commander mark Devine former SEAL team 3 commander owned and

former SEAL team 3 commander owned and

former SEAL team 3 commander owned and operated his facility he allowed us to

operated his facility he allowed us to

operated his facility he allowed us to come and find out what it meant to be as

come and find out what it meant to be as

come and find out what it meant to be as he said the real

he said the real

he said the real Navy SEAL first few days his tenth were

Navy SEAL first few days his tenth were

Navy SEAL first few days his tenth were part torture Park GI Joe part fun

part torture Park GI Joe part fun

part torture Park GI Joe part fun weapons training hand-to-hand combat we

weapons training hand-to-hand combat we

weapons training hand-to-hand combat we did a lot of training simulations long

did a lot of training simulations long

did a lot of training simulations long runs in the beach we had a lot of fun it

runs in the beach we had a lot of fun it

runs in the beach we had a lot of fun it was tough but we knew that these seals

was tough but we knew that these seals

was tough but we knew that these seals were preparing as for what would become

were preparing as for what would become

were preparing as for what would become our crucible the crucible was modeled

our crucible the crucible was modeled

our crucible the crucible was modeled after hell week and for those of you

after hell week and for those of you

after hell week and for those of you that have watched any Hollywood Navy

that have watched any Hollywood Navy

that have watched any Hollywood Navy SEAL movies you’ve had a glitch just a

SEAL movies you’ve had a glitch just a

SEAL movies you’ve had a glitch just a mannequin 92 to our minutes there to our

mannequin 92 to our minutes there to our

mannequin 92 to our minutes there to our sessions on the beach under 350 pound

sessions on the beach under 350 pound

sessions on the beach under 350 pound dogs with rocks on what’s called the

dogs with rocks on what’s called the

dogs with rocks on what’s called the grinder which is a cement concrete pad

grinder which is a cement concrete pad

grinder which is a cement concrete pad in the training facility this would be

in the training facility this would be

in the training facility this would be an endless hour after our regimen that

an endless hour after our regimen that

an endless hour after our regimen that was intended to greatness

was intended to greatness

was intended to greatness and the idea that was that when you meet

and the idea that was that when you meet

and the idea that was that when you meet your end the learning starts so there we

your end the learning starts so there we

your end the learning starts so there we stood at the beginning of what would

stood at the beginning of what would

stood at the beginning of what would become our crucible not sure what would

become our crucible not sure what would

become our crucible not sure what would happen to us hands on her back waiting

happen to us hands on her back waiting

happen to us hands on her back waiting and anticipation and a Navy SEAL when we

and anticipation and a Navy SEAL when we

and anticipation and a Navy SEAL when we had never met before smaller men ripped

had never met before smaller men ripped

had never met before smaller men ripped shredded arms tattoos everywhere

shredded arms tattoos everywhere

shredded arms tattoos everywhere he started pacing back and forth hi boys

so the Canadians are here I know would

so the Canadians are here I know would like to be a Navy SEAL

like to be a Navy SEAL

like to be a Navy SEAL I hear you’re tough you don’t look tough

I hear you’re tough you don’t look tough

I hear you’re tough you don’t look tough I need you to know I’ve made men and

I need you to know I’ve made men and

I need you to know I’ve made men and women waiting tougher than you truck

women waiting tougher than you truck

women waiting tougher than you truck within the first four hours of my

within the first four hours of my

within the first four hours of my simulation if you don’t Navy SEALs to

simulation if you don’t Navy SEALs to

simulation if you don’t Navy SEALs to with Memorial today more Memorial Day

with Memorial today more Memorial Day

with Memorial today more Memorial Day and today happen to be the one you said

and today happen to be the one you said

and today happen to be the one you said you know what we do we celebrate the

you know what we do we celebrate the

you know what we do we celebrate the lives of the men we’ve lost where our

lives of the men we’ve lost where our

lives of the men we’ve lost where our sisters our brothers we have a barbecue

sisters our brothers we have a barbecue

sisters our brothers we have a barbecue we toast them I’ve lost eight men in the

we toast them I’ve lost eight men in the

we toast them I’ve lost eight men in the last 12 years but I’m not with it

last 12 years but I’m not with it

last 12 years but I’m not with it because I do what I’m told to come out

because I do what I’m told to come out

because I do what I’m told to come out here and spend some time with the

here and spend some time with the

here and spend some time with the Canadians if you want a Navy SEAL

Canadians if you want a Navy SEAL

Canadians if you want a Navy SEAL experience one thing to say to you you

experience one thing to say to you you

experience one thing to say to you you better not waste my time it would begin

better not waste my time it would begin

better not waste my time it would begin from there and there were three profound

from there and there were three profound

from there and there were three profound moments over the next 36 hours Ernie now

moments over the next 36 hours Ernie now

moments over the next 36 hours Ernie now you get animals with four men raced the

you get animals with four men raced the

you get animals with four men raced the only thing we had to recover was

only thing we had to recover was

only thing we had to recover was Gatorade and fig burps I swear to God if

Gatorade and fig burps I swear to God if

Gatorade and fig burps I swear to God if anyone here has a big barbecue right now

there were three profound things that

there were three profound things that hit me in this experience the first the

hit me in this experience the first the

hit me in this experience the first the first happened when we were asked to go

first happened when we were asked to go

first happened when we were asked to go into the high plank which is essentially

into the high plank which is essentially

into the high plank which is essentially in this position it’s the high plank

in this position it’s the high plank

in this position it’s the high plank position to push that position many of

position to push that position many of

position to push that position many of you probably tried it

you probably tried it

you probably tried it our instructor said Smith your team

our instructor said Smith your team

our instructor said Smith your team what’s your max high plank was it eight

what’s your max high plank was it eight

what’s your max high plank was it eight minutes of 25 seconds we tested it many

minutes of 25 seconds we tested it many

minutes of 25 seconds we tested it many times before

times before

times before zip ticket number between 29 and 30 he

zip ticket number between 29 and 30 he

zip ticket number between 29 and 30 he did and we went into high plank position

did and we went into high plank position

did and we went into high plank position and hit it six thirty

and hit it six thirty

and hit it six thirty this was after about 22 hours training

this was after about 22 hours training

this was after about 22 hours training we thought we were gonna die I looked

we thought we were gonna die I looked

we thought we were gonna die I looked over at my buddy Bennett is there a poor

over at my buddy Bennett is there a poor

over at my buddy Bennett is there a poor shaken like this the seal instructor

shaken like this the seal instructor

shaken like this the seal instructor kick bargain Adams stop shaping Bennett

kick bargain Adams stop shaping Bennett

kick bargain Adams stop shaping Bennett just help a minute seven he said okay we

just help a minute seven he said okay we

just help a minute seven he said okay we are gonna cheer together the following

are gonna cheer together the following

are gonna cheer together the following easy day we’ve got this who young and we

easy day we’ve got this who young and we

easy day we’ve got this who young and we started cheering this chant together I

started cheering this chant together I

started cheering this chant together I want you to finally just feel what it

want you to finally just feel what it

want you to finally just feel what it felt like through an experiment we’re

felt like through an experiment we’re

felt like through an experiment we’re gonna cheer this together and count

gonna cheer this together and count

gonna cheer this together and count three four four different rounds we’re

three four four different rounds we’re

three four four different rounds we’re gonna stay easy day we’ve got this

gonna stay easy day we’ve got this

gonna stay easy day we’ve got this hooyah let’s scare people outside the

hooyah let’s scare people outside the

hooyah let’s scare people outside the Citadel

Citadel

Citadel with the volume we chanted that probably

with the volume we chanted that probably

with the volume we chanted that probably 1370 times and then we looked up shaking

1370 times and then we looked up shaking

1370 times and then we looked up shaking in a puddle of sweat and we realized

in a puddle of sweat and we realized

in a puddle of sweat and we realized that we had made it to 31 minutes we

that we had made it to 31 minutes we

that we had made it to 31 minutes we celebrated the celebrations were

celebrated the celebrations were

celebrated the celebrations were short-lived

during one of the next evolutions who’s

during one of the next evolutions who’s after surf torture and then just before

after surf torture and then just before

after surf torture and then just before beach wars we were asked to blinkers and

beach wars we were asked to blinkers and

beach wars we were asked to blinkers and headed to the water was 3 o’clock in the

headed to the water was 3 o’clock in the

headed to the water was 3 o’clock in the morning in the night was long darkness

morning in the night was long darkness

morning in the night was long darkness is not your friend on the beaches with

is not your friend on the beaches with

is not your friend on the beaches with five Navy SEALs and as a team we linked

five Navy SEALs and as a team we linked

five Navy SEALs and as a team we linked arms we were asked to back into these

arms we were asked to back into these

arms we were asked to back into these huge pounding waves in the search and

huge pounding waves in the search and

huge pounding waves in the search and layer heads down on the sand and let the

layer heads down on the sand and let the

layer heads down on the sand and let the waves crash on top of us over and over

waves crash on top of us over and over

waves crash on top of us over and over and over again and the steel is claimed

and over again and the steel is claimed

and over again and the steel is claimed that we would be able to last at least

that we would be able to last at least

that we would be able to last at least 20 minutes this position every time that

20 minutes this position every time that

20 minutes this position every time that we crashed on top of us

we crashed on top of us

we crashed on top of us frigid water here you couldn’t breathe

frigid water here you couldn’t breathe

frigid water here you couldn’t breathe you couldn’t see you can speak instead

you couldn’t see you can speak instead

you couldn’t see you can speak instead was in places that I didn’t even know I

was in places that I didn’t even know I

was in places that I didn’t even know I had

had

had Blake dermis I started in on this

Blake dermis I started in on this

Blake dermis I started in on this self-talk of pity talk to myself that’s

self-talk of pity talk to myself that’s

self-talk of pity talk to myself that’s horrible I can’t do this anymore

horrible I can’t do this anymore

horrible I can’t do this anymore so cool I was actually shivering so

so cool I was actually shivering so

so cool I was actually shivering so badly that one of the instructors say

badly that one of the instructors say

badly that one of the instructors say that’s not shivering this Jack Henry

that’s not shivering this Jack Henry

that’s not shivering this Jack Henry stopped jackhammering sniff I was

stopped jackhammering sniff I was

stopped jackhammering sniff I was praying it my my buddy next thing you

praying it my my buddy next thing you

praying it my my buddy next thing you would pee in the waters

and then I had a moment when my

and then I had a moment when my instructor said if you’re focused on

instructor said if you’re focused on

instructor said if you’re focused on yourself right now you won’t last

yourself right now you won’t last

yourself right now you won’t last another minute

another minute

another minute your job is him the man next to you his

your job is him the man next to you his

your job is him the man next to you his job is you get out of your head boys

it’s profound as soon as I started

it’s profound as soon as I started focusing on Montgomery to my right my

focusing on Montgomery to my right my

focusing on Montgomery to my right my swim buddy

swim buddy

swim buddy the man I’m supposed to protect I asked

the man I’m supposed to protect I asked

the man I’m supposed to protect I asked how you dealing with that right have you

how you dealing with that right have you

how you dealing with that right have you got this hold on can you change the

got this hold on can you change the

got this hold on can you change the evolution with the rocks is called the

evolution with the rocks is called the

evolution with the rocks is called the will to live our instructor had said the

will to live our instructor had said the

will to live our instructor had said the reason this devolution is called the

reason this devolution is called the

reason this devolution is called the will to live because if you don’t think

will to live because if you don’t think

will to live because if you don’t think this is life or death you won’t make it

this is life or death you won’t make it

this is life or death you won’t make it through the first month we have ten

through the first month we have ten

through the first month we have ten miles of hiking and when we see sweat on

miles of hiking and when we see sweat on

miles of hiking and when we see sweat on your faces we’re gonna put into the

your faces we’re gonna put into the

your faces we’re gonna put into the water when we see a set of stairs in the

water when we see a set of stairs in the

water when we see a set of stairs in the valley we’re gonna go test out the

valley we’re gonna go test out the

valley we’re gonna go test out the stairs to see if they can withstand the

stairs to see if they can withstand the

stairs to see if they can withstand the weight of you and your rocks well by

weight of you and your rocks well by

weight of you and your rocks well by this time we were delusional by this

this time we were delusional by this

this time we were delusional by this time we were stinking product over fate

time we were stinking product over fate

time we were stinking product over fate we have so much Gatorade in it it was

we have so much Gatorade in it it was

we have so much Gatorade in it it was pouring out of our course we looked like

pouring out of our course we looked like

pouring out of our course we looked like at the pot nest then taped in her hair

at the pot nest then taped in her hair

at the pot nest then taped in her hair and one of our teammates had a small

and one of our teammates had a small

and one of our teammates had a small concussion and blood all over and we had

concussion and blood all over and we had

concussion and blood all over and we had blood all over our shoulders from

blood all over our shoulders from

blood all over our shoulders from carrying these walks we were disaster

carrying these walks we were disaster

carrying these walks we were disaster Smith TV here to keep up and catch up

Smith TV here to keep up and catch up

Smith TV here to keep up and catch up there I was with my rock my who’s the

there I was with my rock my who’s the

there I was with my rock my who’s the nation was that I was carrying my sister

nation was that I was carrying my sister

nation was that I was carrying my sister but this time I couldn’t carry the

but this time I couldn’t carry the

but this time I couldn’t carry the weight it’s too sad could go any further

weight it’s too sad could go any further

weight it’s too sad could go any further I thought I’d be stuck there forever all

I thought I’d be stuck there forever all

I thought I’d be stuck there forever all of a sudden one of my teammates came up

of a sudden one of my teammates came up

of a sudden one of my teammates came up behind me just handle my back come on

behind me just handle my back come on

behind me just handle my back come on Smith

Smith

Smith let’s do it other teammates circle back

let’s do it other teammates circle back

let’s do it other teammates circle back you put their hands on my back put their

you put their hands on my back put their

you put their hands on my back put their hands on each other and we carried it

hands on each other and we carried it

hands on each other and we carried it rocks for the next nine miles and not

rocks for the next nine miles and not

rocks for the next nine miles and not one step did I not have someone’s hand

one step did I not have someone’s hand

one step did I not have someone’s hand on my back my challenge for you it’s not

on my back my challenge for you it’s not

on my back my challenge for you it’s not seek out happy moments so you go tough

seek out happy moments so you go tough

seek out happy moments so you go tough moments hardship crisis this is where we

moments hardship crisis this is where we

moments hardship crisis this is where we learned when we meet our end the

learned when we meet our end the

learned when we meet our end the learning begins the transformation

learning begins the transformation

learning begins the transformation happens I don’t care what your challenge

happens I don’t care what your challenge

happens I don’t care what your challenge is it doesn’t matter if it’s a moment of

is it doesn’t matter if it’s a moment of

is it doesn’t matter if it’s a moment of silence for three days doesn’t matter if

silence for three days doesn’t matter if

silence for three days doesn’t matter if it’s a marathon

it’s a marathon

it’s a marathon doesn’t matter if this train with Navy

doesn’t matter if this train with Navy

doesn’t matter if this train with Navy SEALs find your challenge and go do that

SEALs find your challenge and go do that

SEALs find your challenge and go do that do it with the team and remember cheer

do it with the team and remember cheer

do it with the team and remember cheer together hooyah remember to focus on

together hooyah remember to focus on

together hooyah remember to focus on others in your moments of despair and

others in your moments of despair and

others in your moments of despair and remember to allow others

[Applause]

[Applause] [Music]

”

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