{"id":104400,"date":"2019-11-08T11:29:41","date_gmt":"2019-11-08T16:29:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/news\/?p=104400"},"modified":"2024-04-16T16:52:38","modified_gmt":"2024-04-16T20:52:38","slug":"turning-point","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/news\/turning-point\/","title":{"rendered":"Turning Point"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s a little early for lunch at The Tides, a buffet-style restaurant across State Road A1A from Patrick Air Force Base south of Cocoa Beach, Florida, where Staff Sgt. Kevin Greene \u201917<\/strong> works as a unit deployment manager for the 920th<\/sup> Rescue Wing. He\u2019s just here to meet someone. But the buffet table catches his eye.<\/p>\n

\u201cActually, I\u2019ve never had lunch here,\u201d Greene says. \u201cLet\u2019s see what they have.\u201d<\/p>\n

He picks up a plate and starts piling it on. Chicken. Fried catfish. Corn on the cob.<\/p>\n

\u201cI usually eat on base,\u201d he says before adding: \u201cI might need to come over here more often.\u201d<\/p>\n

You can\u2019t help but notice how fit Greene is whether he\u2019s sitting or walking, never mind the subtle limp in his stride. It\u2019s no surprise when he says he\u2019ll work out this evening at the community center near his home in Palm Bay. Maybe he\u2019ll ride a stationary bike or lift weights.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll decide later,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

It didn\u2019t used to be this way with food, sports or his life.<\/p>\n

\u201cI played basketball,\u201d Greene says. \u201cThat\u2019s it. Basketball. Sometimes I look back and think, \u2018Why was I so closed-minded?\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n