The Power of Positivity

GUAM

11.22.2017

Story by Petty Officer 3rd Class Destinyy Reed 

USS Emory S. Land (AS-39)

A Haitian-born and Brooklyn, New York-native is motivated to put down his personal trainer hat and pick up a command ball cap as a part of the U.S. Navy’s silent service aboard the expeditionary submarine tender, USS Emory S. Land (AS-39).
Hull Maintenance Technician Fireman Edson Toussaint serves in repair division one aboard the Guam-based submarine tender, one of two submarine tenders in the U.S. Navy, conducting coordinated tended moorings and afloat maintenance in the Pacific Ocean as well as the Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Arabian Sea and parts of the Indian Ocean. Submarine tenders are additionally capable of providing repair and logistic services to deployed surface ships.
Toussaint, a former personal trainer, compares the motivational similarities required for working out to being an HT.
“I go into my shop every morning motivated to learn,” said Toussaint. “I may be the only one down there thrilled to learn a new trick or trade, but it doesn’t matter because learning something new means that I’m continuously bettering myself.”
A Navy hull maintenance technician is responsible for planning, supervising and performing tasks necessary for fabrication, installation, maintenance, repair and inspection of shipboard structures, plumbing, sewage and piping systems. They organize and supervise personnel in maintenance and hull repairs. In addition, they instruct personnel; enforce safety and security procedures and prepare records and reports.
Toussaint said that he doesn’t mind doing the hard work because he doesn’t focus on the negatives of his job. He said that being motivated and positive about anything always starts from within because everything is influenced by thoughts.
“I wake up every morning and tell myself that I am going to have an amazing day,” said Toussaint. “Even if it doesn’t turn out that way, it doesn’t really bother me because I maintain positive thoughts because how you think is important.”
Toussaint’s motto is “Thoughts influence actions: always think of yourself as the greatest.”
Positive thinking is like exercising a muscle, only it gives a mental workout. The more people use it, the better they will be at it. Positive thinking works by implementing coping skills. Toussaint said his coping skills are working out and reading books. They’re his form of meditation.
“You hear me say it again and again, if you focus on the positives in life, then every day is simply amazing,” said Cmdr. Robert Lopez, executive officer of USS Emory S. Land (AS-39).
Coping with stress through working out gives Sailors an outlet for their inner emotions, all while working different parts of the body to keep themselves physically fit.
Toussaint said that it’s vital for him to be stress less when performing his job. Working out is his form of meditation to relieve stress and mentally prepare for work.
“I don’t just workout to workout, I like to work hard,” said Toussaint. “Every day I want to get better. I want to be better at working out, better at being an HT and better at life.”

• Date Taken: 11.22.2017
• Date Posted: 03.18.2019 00:04
• Story ID: 314581
• Location: GU
• Hometown: BROOKLYN, NY, US