Just some random thoughts about actions vs. words and how the beast affects my patience.
Some of you know I'm actively engage in mentoring vets and charity organizations that support them. I try to work with folks, most still on active duty, to get over the stigma and seek treatment. Many are in a very bad place because they've been in denial or blind. So, it is very raw as you all know here. So it has become a passion, mainly because we all know people that are caught jumping in and out of the daily suicide bomb (22/day here is the USA). It may be exhausting but I've seen more than one person on here comment that by saving just one, they will feel better.
So by investing myself, I've started working my network for some charity and donations for the cause. I've also reflected on the frequent comment "Thank you for your service." That comment means a lot, especially for the Nam vets that were neglected by an ignorant public. Now sometimes, to me, with budget cutbacks and painfully slow improvement, those words are starting to feel a bit tainted, expected, even shallow. It seems that when a person says it they have an excuse to move on do nothing else, to be free of showing active support. I know the beast tells me to take it personal and most of those people are genuine and many engaged in other worthy pursuits. Still it made me reflect on it, write about it and to seek more "support" from them.
I know the men & women here understand my feelings better than most so I thought I share with you my pep talk (email message) to some volunteers helping us do a charity event:
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Do NOT disengage when someone responds that they cannot attend [the charity event] which usually comes with some rhetoric about how much they support wounded warriors and wish us well. Jump through that door!
A better response is; the fact they cannot attend is fine, we know it is late, but it is more important for them to SHOW real support, not speak of it, in two ways:
(1) Donate
(2) Share by word-of-mouth
The [event] invitation & website allow people to donate in-lieu-of attending, any amount $1, 5, 50, 500, etc. We need to put a mirror up in front of the "regretfully cannot-attends" and encourage them to go to the website and take an active role in supporting wounded warriors by using the "DONATE" button & SHARING the cause/webpage with everyone they know; so they can brag about the worthy new charity they're proud to be part of and support.
We need to take advantage of pressing them while we have the charity event as an excuse to reach out and touch their souls, yank them from all the noise that distracts them and causes them to simply repeat what they were brainwashed to say "thank you for your service."
Enjoy your turkey day, a lot of veterans died and suffered so we can have a Thanksgiving. I'm thankful for their sacrifice and I will reflect on it this thanksgiving as I do nearly every day. The fact is that at least 22 will kill themselves on Thanksgiving to stop the pain they brought home with them from combat; 22 more will do it the next day, and on and on, exhausted by life. That is the brutal reality. This is what drives [Joe,] [Bill] & myself.
This is my passion. I hope it moves you as well. I don't mean to offend but this is my truth.
I appreciate all the hard work you are all doing to help me actively engage my passion.
I sincerely thank you,
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So I intend to still tell my fellow vets thank you for your service and be gracious to anyone saying that to me but I'm working on adding a little encouragement to my response because after the words, it is up to us vets since we're the ones most invested.
Stay safe, stay strong
