What another lovely piece of writing. A lot of things I "know" but ignore, or deny. Thanks for I can't wait for the next one. Two thoughts, not that you asked: 1. Good sleep fixes everything. As does time, and a hot meal. In cold weather training, we were always instructed that if we were in a dire situation... had been wandering around in a bad blizzard and things were hopeless.... stop, dig a hole, start a cooking fire, and make some hot chocolate and a warm meal if possible. People rarely die in a blizzard on a full, warm stomach. Although that was not what you said, specifically, it is something I have learned and relearned. My worst moments in my career were not a function of lack of work ethic or trying... they were a result of sacrificing the basics that you described so well in this missive. On a lighter note... I take exception to your assertion that words have meaning. Words are socially constructed, and as such, they have no inherent value. IMHO. People give words meaning, and different people can ascribe different meanings to the same word. I recall a higher ranking officer that interrupted one of my partners during a lecture with "that is a made up word!". His response: All words are made up. Languages are dynamic and living. Now... sorry for the long response! I have to go read my wife. :)
I love the idea of changing your identity to effect change......Purpose defines identity. I had a battalion commander who would always ask you "what is your purpose?". He would tell me in confidence how amazed he was at how many people couldn't answer that question. If I'm being honest, it really challenged me to define my purpose. Now, I ask myself that question daily.
What another lovely piece of writing. A lot of things I "know" but ignore, or deny. Thanks for I can't wait for the next one. Two thoughts, not that you asked: 1. Good sleep fixes everything. As does time, and a hot meal. In cold weather training, we were always instructed that if we were in a dire situation... had been wandering around in a bad blizzard and things were hopeless.... stop, dig a hole, start a cooking fire, and make some hot chocolate and a warm meal if possible. People rarely die in a blizzard on a full, warm stomach. Although that was not what you said, specifically, it is something I have learned and relearned. My worst moments in my career were not a function of lack of work ethic or trying... they were a result of sacrificing the basics that you described so well in this missive. On a lighter note... I take exception to your assertion that words have meaning. Words are socially constructed, and as such, they have no inherent value. IMHO. People give words meaning, and different people can ascribe different meanings to the same word. I recall a higher ranking officer that interrupted one of my partners during a lecture with "that is a made up word!". His response: All words are made up. Languages are dynamic and living. Now... sorry for the long response! I have to go read my wife. :)
I love the idea of changing your identity to effect change......Purpose defines identity. I had a battalion commander who would always ask you "what is your purpose?". He would tell me in confidence how amazed he was at how many people couldn't answer that question. If I'm being honest, it really challenged me to define my purpose. Now, I ask myself that question daily.