In Chris Swanson’s first book, Tinman to Ironman: 26.2 Ways to Crush Your Failures and Transform Your Life Today!, he teaches 26.2 lessons to transform your life, specifically family, finances, faith, and fitness, exemplifying how strengthening those areas leak over to all areas, allowing for a successfully balanced life. Chris shares a little bit of his upbringing as a “tinman,” highlighting the moment he was cut from the baseball team in ninth grade despite being the “home-run king” in a previous environment. This devastating time of his young life caused him to give up on his physical life for over a decade. Like so many of us, Chris allowed one failure to effect the rest of his life until he decided to changed it.
He goes through lessons he has learned along the way, whether it be in athletics or in law enforcement. I believe it should be a requirement for not only anyone thinking about entering the police world, but also the spouse of significant other of those going through the academy. The stories not only prepare for the possibly gruesome road ahead and not only how to survive some of the moments to come, but how to thrive.
For me, I believe Chris’ material helped me to be a better law enforcement wife. I remember when my husband had his first DOA (dead on arrival). I’ll leave gruesome details for another time, but I was able to sit and listen to my husband tell me about what he saw and experienced without cringing. I believe the stories I read in Chris’ book helped to prepare me. I want to be someone he can talk to about anything, even it includes a gory image of an event he had to endure. I also believe that if more people, whether it be a “normal” member of the public or a law enforcement spouse, can understand a little more of what these heroes go through, we would have a lot more respect for them as public figures and as husbands and wives.
So if you are married or dating a LEO, related to one in some other way, or just want to know more about what it is like in their world and want to transform your life, Tinman to Ironman is an amazing read that will leave you with lessons you can take to the grave.
