Knives don't get off the counter and stab people
Guns don't pull their own triggers
Dogs don't bite unless they are threatened or trained or abused
Objects don't do stupid crap, people do stupid crap.
It isn't a question of gun control, or safety in schools. Random people are not waking up in the morning and thinking that shooting up a school is a great idea to start their Friday morning.
Until the country realizes that this a matter of the person committing the crime and not the object, nothing is going to be accomplished.
Sunday, December 16, 2012
Sunday, November 4, 2012
That moment when...
You realize that you have overcomed so much in such a short period of time.
You realize that you have surpassed expectations, have lived up to expectations, and have fallen short of expectations.
You realize that you have never made everyone happy, and that you may never be able to make everyone happy, but you can make yourself happy.
You realize that you have failed at things and they have made you a better person because not accomplishing it the first time doesn't mean you never will.
You realize that you almost gave up and quit instead of sticking it out through the fight, because it looked like life was crashing around you.
You realize that there were and are people there for you and support you, and that those who never have/did won't be there in the end.
You realize that the past is exactly that, and that it will only affect your future if you let it.
You realize that challenging yourself is a requirement.
You realize that you may not get hurt again if you let your heart out from behind the wall; if only because this time you trust the one who holds it.
We all have these moments where we look back at who we were and realize that it isn't who we are. Sometimes, that's the most important moment of them all.
You realize that you have surpassed expectations, have lived up to expectations, and have fallen short of expectations.
You realize that you have never made everyone happy, and that you may never be able to make everyone happy, but you can make yourself happy.
You realize that you have failed at things and they have made you a better person because not accomplishing it the first time doesn't mean you never will.
You realize that you almost gave up and quit instead of sticking it out through the fight, because it looked like life was crashing around you.
You realize that there were and are people there for you and support you, and that those who never have/did won't be there in the end.
You realize that the past is exactly that, and that it will only affect your future if you let it.
You realize that challenging yourself is a requirement.
You realize that you may not get hurt again if you let your heart out from behind the wall; if only because this time you trust the one who holds it.
We all have these moments where we look back at who we were and realize that it isn't who we are. Sometimes, that's the most important moment of them all.
Challenge Accepted
Who would have thought that a reference from How I Met Your Mother would have such an impact on society? Whether it be for a funny internet meme, a challenge to pick someone up in a bar, to do something incredibly stupid that is worthy of Youtube. However, it can also be for those harder challenges in life, running a long distance race, joining the military, skydiving, anything that involves some "testicular fortitude" as a MAJ Sincere used to say.
The thing about those challenges, the ones that push you to your limits and maybe even past them, is that they improve who you are as a person. Just in the past year, hell maybe even the past 6 months, I've done things I never thought would be a possibility for me....Run 2 races longer than 3 miles and actually be motivated to do so, attempt to skydive (I got on the plane at least), got a slot in the 82nd Airborne, got a slot to Airborne school and I'm actually starting to look forward to it.. I'm doing all these things, that if you would have told me were gonna happen... I would have laughed at you and told you that there was no way on earth any of that was going to happen, but here I sit, and here all of it is happening.
When you start to accept the harder challenges in life, you gain a little bit of motivation, a little bit of strength, and a little bit confidence. I'm not saying that I'm willing to go Running with the Bulls, but I'm certainly willing to start trying things i never thought I would. I look back to who I was and how it was easier to stay on the safe side to now where I'm willing to put it out there on the line.
So what's your challenge? What's gonna be the challenge that pushes your limits? What's gonna get you to say "Challenge Accepted!"?
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Fear is a Pain
The first time you do something you've never done before, it's scary maybe even damn near terrifying. For some that feeling is what makes them feel alive, for others it stops them dead in their tracks.
The problem comes up when those fears could create problems in your career, or in your life. For some (myself included) the fear and uncertainty become less and less the more we do the same activity, but it never goes away. There will always be that pause before you jump, rappel, dive, etc. It never seems to completely go away, but what if it feels like its getting worse? Is it because you're putting yourself out there more (in my case an attempt at skydiving) and its just an just a lack of trust, confidence, fear, or all of the above?
The worst for me was the attempt at a tandem skydive (attempt because i never left the plane). I felt this rush hit me all over, felt like pins and needles, then my body basically controlled everything, I couldn't seem to control my breathing, which was very fast. It was the fight or flight method, my body didn't like the adrenaline rush so it reacted...at least that's my thinking. The part about this, I was fine until I was at the door of the plane about to exit and drop at about 120 miles an hour out of the sky from about 13,000 feet (then have a parachute open at about 6000). I was fine loading up, flying up, even cracked a few jokes...
Isn't that how it always goes though, everything is fine until you actually have to do it then you panic? Why is that? Why is that the 1st time I do something I freak out and sometimes don't finish, but when I go back I have this determination to get it right and go through with it? Why can't it just be a "go" on the first try?
Too many questions, not enough answers. All I know is that if I really want to be Airborne, I better get used to being up high...just need to figure out how to control my body instead of my body controlling me.
The problem comes up when those fears could create problems in your career, or in your life. For some (myself included) the fear and uncertainty become less and less the more we do the same activity, but it never goes away. There will always be that pause before you jump, rappel, dive, etc. It never seems to completely go away, but what if it feels like its getting worse? Is it because you're putting yourself out there more (in my case an attempt at skydiving) and its just an just a lack of trust, confidence, fear, or all of the above?
The worst for me was the attempt at a tandem skydive (attempt because i never left the plane). I felt this rush hit me all over, felt like pins and needles, then my body basically controlled everything, I couldn't seem to control my breathing, which was very fast. It was the fight or flight method, my body didn't like the adrenaline rush so it reacted...at least that's my thinking. The part about this, I was fine until I was at the door of the plane about to exit and drop at about 120 miles an hour out of the sky from about 13,000 feet (then have a parachute open at about 6000). I was fine loading up, flying up, even cracked a few jokes...
Isn't that how it always goes though, everything is fine until you actually have to do it then you panic? Why is that? Why is that the 1st time I do something I freak out and sometimes don't finish, but when I go back I have this determination to get it right and go through with it? Why can't it just be a "go" on the first try?
Too many questions, not enough answers. All I know is that if I really want to be Airborne, I better get used to being up high...just need to figure out how to control my body instead of my body controlling me.
Friday, September 28, 2012
New Dreams Are Okay
We all have these dreams when we were growing up, whether it was to be a ballerina, veterinarian, president, singer, firefighter, cowboy, etc. We had that dream, but as we got older, we realized that some of these dreams just weren't possible...so we changed them.
Yet, when we are older, trying to make that dream career work we fight it everyday because ultimately...this isn't the dream career, it's a nightmare. It's at that point you have to realize that maybe what was your dream isn't what you're going to be happy doing.
I always wanted to be a high school teacher, even after I decided to join the military I told myself that I would teach when I left the Army. After my short experience at a Chicago high school, I am reconsidering if teaching is what I want to do. No one should ever come home from work and automatically crash out for two hours, or spend more time complaining about work then talking about what was good that day. I realized that maybe, just maybe, while I wanted to be a teacher it isn't what is going to make me happy.
It is true that life is too short to be miserable in your job, or in anything.
So if you realize that what you thought was a dream is simply a nightmare, then make a new plan, set new goals, find new dreams, or dig up old ones. Don't torture yourself, do what will make you happy, even if it takes a few tries.
That's my advice at least.
Yet, when we are older, trying to make that dream career work we fight it everyday because ultimately...this isn't the dream career, it's a nightmare. It's at that point you have to realize that maybe what was your dream isn't what you're going to be happy doing.
I always wanted to be a high school teacher, even after I decided to join the military I told myself that I would teach when I left the Army. After my short experience at a Chicago high school, I am reconsidering if teaching is what I want to do. No one should ever come home from work and automatically crash out for two hours, or spend more time complaining about work then talking about what was good that day. I realized that maybe, just maybe, while I wanted to be a teacher it isn't what is going to make me happy.
It is true that life is too short to be miserable in your job, or in anything.
So if you realize that what you thought was a dream is simply a nightmare, then make a new plan, set new goals, find new dreams, or dig up old ones. Don't torture yourself, do what will make you happy, even if it takes a few tries.
That's my advice at least.
Saturday, September 15, 2012
Who Are You?
Learning about yourself is the hardest lesson to learn, however, it is a necessary one. It is especially hard if you think you already know....
What we know of ourselves is generally connected to what we do. The question, "who are you?" comes to mind. A general response is "I'm a Sales Manager", "I'm a Business Executive", "I'm an Army Officer" "I'm a (insert profession here).....When did our jobs become who we are? We aren't what we do, so why does that seem to be a common response?
Shouldn't the response be about the values we hold, the person we are away from our professions, our goals, our dreams? That's too much in a fast paced world, and for a lot of people...way too touchy-feely. I try to answer that question without the common response. I know what I do, but who am I?
I know the values I hold, I know the goals I have, but who am I when I'm not at work? With a world that's based on public perception it's more about "How do you want the world to see you?" (It feels like an entirely different question, but really the two become intertwined)
The standard answer of, "Someone who is confident, and goal oriented, and driven..." Yea, I get it we all want to come off as the most awesome person in the world, but that doesn't really happen often. So think about it... How do you want the world to see you? If you can answer that question right off the bat, credit to ya...but is that really who you are, is that really how the world sees you? Or is it just what seems like the thing to say because it makes the most sense?
Questions like these are never fun for most people, it can feel like you're getting tased and waterboarded at the same time (yes I know...that equals death), but really it's just an opportunity to put down the cell phone, the computer, the workload, and just take some time for introspection without having to go on some nature hike and eat berries you've never seen before.
Take the time, I am.
What we know of ourselves is generally connected to what we do. The question, "who are you?" comes to mind. A general response is "I'm a Sales Manager", "I'm a Business Executive", "I'm an Army Officer" "I'm a (insert profession here).....When did our jobs become who we are? We aren't what we do, so why does that seem to be a common response?
Shouldn't the response be about the values we hold, the person we are away from our professions, our goals, our dreams? That's too much in a fast paced world, and for a lot of people...way too touchy-feely. I try to answer that question without the common response. I know what I do, but who am I?
I know the values I hold, I know the goals I have, but who am I when I'm not at work? With a world that's based on public perception it's more about "How do you want the world to see you?" (It feels like an entirely different question, but really the two become intertwined)
The standard answer of, "Someone who is confident, and goal oriented, and driven..." Yea, I get it we all want to come off as the most awesome person in the world, but that doesn't really happen often. So think about it... How do you want the world to see you? If you can answer that question right off the bat, credit to ya...but is that really who you are, is that really how the world sees you? Or is it just what seems like the thing to say because it makes the most sense?
Questions like these are never fun for most people, it can feel like you're getting tased and waterboarded at the same time (yes I know...that equals death), but really it's just an opportunity to put down the cell phone, the computer, the workload, and just take some time for introspection without having to go on some nature hike and eat berries you've never seen before.
Take the time, I am.
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