Watch Your 6

A phrase common among operators, be it our Military members, FBI, CIA, or law enforcement is “Watch Your 6”.

This code means “Watch your back”.

I have been thinking some about this phrase today as I have studied over a few photos to post to my Facebook and Instagram page.

While choosing the shots, the term “Watch Your 6” came to my head.

If you don’t mind, I’d like to elaborate just a little.

Some years back in the early fall, I took my first born, the one called Elise to the Rockies. I wanted to do some photography of the Aspens in full color.

We took a very short trip. It was mid September 2018.

We had been before to the Rocky Mountain National Park but it was winter. Cold, snowy and frozen.

Hallett Peak over Dream Lake at Sunrise

This was fall. And while cold, there would be trails open and plenty of lake views.

It was morning and I chose to hike the Bear Lake trail head hoping to photograph the sunrise lighting up Hallett peak over Dream lake. If lucky the lake would be calm for an epic reflection shot (my favorite).

We hiked up to Dream Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park in the dark. It’s a little spooky to do it in the dark, but it’s a very easy hike.

We arrived at the lake just before sun up. The famed Blue Hour.

As the sky began to get brighter, I set up my camera on the tripod in my trademark low to the ground fashion and began shooting.

While the lake was not calm Hallett Peak stood proudly across from me and I photographed it. Elise went on a little walk along the lake to enjoy the sunset alone.

By the way, if I haven’t mentioned, I love spending time one on one with each of my kids out in the quite of the morning in the wild doing photography. Special moments for sure.

Back to my story.

I was “focused” (pun intended) like a laser beam on the photograph I was composing and taking. All I was thinking about was that view and what was taking place as the sun began to get close to the horizon.

As I studied and gazed intently upon what was in front of me I heard

“Hey dad…”

“Yeah…?”

“Uhhh, look behind you….”

I turned around and the sky was beginning to turn blazing reds, purples and yellow.

Wow. What a stellar presentation.

I worked quickly to turn the camera around, framing in the shot between a series of giant pine trees to get the photograph one can only dream of. (appropriate to be at Dream Lake)

The Shot Behind me, At my 6

I dropped the ball on one of the single biggest pieces of advice I give that was once shared with me from one of my teachers, Gerald Hardage. "Always look behind you; the shot you are looking for just may be to your back”.

There’s a powerful lesson in this story; and it’s this.

When we walk through life we can become so hyper focused on what we think and have ourselves convinced we are looking for and what we think we want that we may in fact miss the best; even better than what we are staring at.

It’s here that we owe it to each other to always be watching each other’s 6’s…or backs.

Had Elise not been watching my back, I would have missed the shot that made it to our wall. That memorable shot from our Dream Lake hike was behind me. It was where I wasn’t looking. Why? I had blinders on and had been thinking for days about the shot of Hallett Peak.

I was so focused on what I was thinking I was looking for that I would have missed and then lost the better shot.

I’m grateful that she was watching behind me. For had she not been, I would have missed it.

Do you have people in your life who’s back you’re watching?

Do you have one or two others who are watching yours?

We must never develop tunnel vision to such a degree that we are blind to those subtle things which may actually be better for us or in us.

However, if in fact we do, It’s wonderful to have a few in our lives willing to help watch out 6. Someone willing to call out to us to bring our focus toward the correct view.

Who can you point to that’s watching your 6? Do you listen to them?

We must never be so proud so as to disallow those who may see things we are missing to call out to us and let us know…”Look behind you…you’re missing the mark.”

I hope this is helpful to you today.

Til the next time,

rob out