Sharing one lesson at a time
It is important to keep all your hopes and dreams alive for as long as possible. Most things in life that are worthwhile take a lot of patience, hard work, and time. It is easy, when denied a dream, to let that dream die, or adopt a new, lesser dream, for the sake of easier …
Continue reading "Lesson 21: Keep all your hopes and dreams to yourself"
Before the military, I never thought this was something I would have to say. There is a sort of trust that goes into soap dispensers when you are finished with your business and it is a trust that never crossed my mind to examine. Call it a lack of imagination, over trusting foolishness, a naïve …
Continue reading "Lesson 20: Beware of public soap dispensers"
I am not saying this specifically for your benefit, although you are the one who has the most to gain from this practice. Have you ever looked at the floor of a public bathroom? Disgusting right? Now take that mixture of all the nastiness coming from people’s lower half and add all the nastiness from …
Continue reading "Lesson 19: If you’re going to use public showers, wear shower shoes"
Time goes on. As we evolve, some things get easier, some things get more difficult, and the only thing that stays the same is that change is inevitable. Young people tend to think they know everything, old people know that they know barely anything, and no matter how many answers you find, there always seems …
Continue reading "Lesson 18: Those before you had it rougher, those after you have it easier"
Compassion and sensitivity are not unworthy characteristics to have. I have met compassionate and sensitive people that are as courageous as you can be, and I have met arrogant and selfish wannabe heroes that would cower at the first sign of trouble. When I say snowflake, I am referring to someone that is closed minded, …
Know your limitations. This applies to every job I have ever held but was especially true when it came to military service. In most jobs, the highest stakes you will face is likely losing your job. In the military, a lot of what you do can have life or death consequences. The outcome will also …
Continue reading "Lesson 16: Don’t do what your stripes can’t handle"
Have you ever worked somewhere, and you encounter someone that is so epically clueless or so clearly out of place that you wondered to yourself, or allowed, “how in the heck did this person get here?” The fact that they are a coworker absolutely blows your mind. You rack your brain over the logic but …
Continue reading "Lesson 15: There are always those that fall through the cracks"
I heard and encountered this one long before I ever even considered enlisting. I held two different jobs and had already spent a few years in college before I signed a four-year commitment to the Air Force. I have seen it done by parents (mine and others), managers, supervisors, teachers, professors, doctors, dentists, you name …
I have met people with their Doctoral Degree who have been morons. I have met college dropouts that are among the smartest people I know. The military is no exception to this. I have met high ranking officers that I wouldn’t choose to follow across the street, and I have met low ranking enlisted members …
Continue reading "Lesson 13: Superior rank does not indicate superior intellect"
Deciding that you want to join any branch of the armed forces is a big decision. People do it for a host of different reasons. Raising your right hand and swearing the oath are only the first step. Words are valuable, but it is our actions that determine that value. It doesn’t take any courage …
Continue reading "Lesson 12: Respect is earned by enlisted, expected by commissioned"
