Keep Going

My head hangs low
Breathing heavy
Heart rate high
Memories flowing

I close my eyes
As the sweat drips down my face
Keep going
I say to myself

I rub some chalk on my hands
I grip the bar and feel the texture
My mind connected to my body

My feet are rooted to the ground beneath
I solidify my body
my will
my resolve

I squeeze the bar
brace and lift
Every inch I lift the bar
I feel my muscles tighten
Until I hit the top of the lift
I then lower the bar

I sit down,

My head hangs low
Breathing heavy
Heart rate high
Memories flowing

Beads of sweat drip down my face
Each bead of sweat is my pain
Each bead of sweat is my rage
Each bead of sweat is for me
To fight another day

Workout done
Demons tired
I push forward,
For those we lost
I push forward
For my brothers in arms:

Ayman Kafel is the co-founder and managing partner of Project Sapient Podcast. It is the #1 law enforcement and military podcast with over 12,000 listeners and growing rapidly in just under a year. Project Sapient was founded to engage brothers and sisters in law enforcement and military communities in conversations that need to be had and exemplify the positive and unpack the controversy plaguing the profession and our society.

Ayman has seen the ugliness of war and evil in the world. He has survived two civil wars prior to immigrating to the United States in the late eighties.

In addition, Ayman is an Army Combat Veteran who was deployed during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2005. He became a police officer in 2007 after 8 years of service in the Army.

Ayman has been a police officer for over 15 years. He has worked as a patrol officer, plain-clothes officer, detective, fire investigator, Metro SWAT operator, DEA Task Force Officer, DEA Special Response Team assistant team leader.

His current position is the commander of his department’s Problem-Oriented Policing Unit. He leads a team of investigators that employs unconventional methods and Special Forces philosophy in achieving specific objectives in the communities he serves. These unconventional methods range from winning hearts and minds to specific strategic law enforcement actions to arrest and prosecute those who are the root cause of various crimes.

Ayman has made it his mission to use his experience and bring awareness of PTSD, TBI, depression and various other mental health disorders that are very prevalent in the veteran and law enforcement communities. To talk openly and confidently about these things without the stigma of what society labels combat veterans and law enforcement have.