Set Yourself on Fire
"Success isn't a result of spontaneous combustion. You must set yourself on fire. " ~Arnold H. Glasow
I'm surrounded. I'm flying again in support of a conference and I've found myself surrounded by people associated with the military, both service members and families, who are incredibly passionate about what they do. Vic's career has gone in waves in regards to passionate people. The Soldiers of Fort Bragg were of a caliber all their own. These are the Soldiers who's names have followed Vic throughout his career. The families at Germany and Korea changed my life. Their names and faces walk with me every day. Each assignment has had great Soldiers and Families, don't get me wrong, but the greatest of these echo in our daily lives. I believe that the trait that made them great and successful was their passion.
I sat yesterday next to a Soldier who was passionate about his service to our country. He is everyman, a family man, a Godly man, a civic minded man and an incredibly trained Soldier. As I listened to him talk about his fantastic wife and how much he loves what he does and how he is active in a program at his church, I was reminded about the journey that Vic and I have taken so far. In the past few months I have purposely seperated myself from these memories. I'm disenchanted with the Army and I'd like to just ignore the great parts of the last 16 years to be left alone with my frustration. The problem with my plan is that it is completely contrary to who I am. I am a product of all that is good or has been good in Army programs. I married a Soldier who was born to support and defend our Constitution. I always say that taking the Soldier out of Vic would leave me with nothing but skin and bones and I'm beginning to realize that taking the Army wife out of me might just do the same.
So I'm surrounded, not only by people equally passionate as I was about military families, but by my own dilemma. Where do I go from here? Do I light again the fire I first had for this military life or do I walk away and hang up my hat?
For now I'm going to enjoy the energy that I'm getting from being around this incredible group. I'm going to be thankful for the opportunity to be reminded by a stranger on a plane about all the great things that the Army has brought into my life. For now I'll look at the flicker of flame still within me and contemplate what to do with it.
I'm surrounded. I'm flying again in support of a conference and I've found myself surrounded by people associated with the military, both service members and families, who are incredibly passionate about what they do. Vic's career has gone in waves in regards to passionate people. The Soldiers of Fort Bragg were of a caliber all their own. These are the Soldiers who's names have followed Vic throughout his career. The families at Germany and Korea changed my life. Their names and faces walk with me every day. Each assignment has had great Soldiers and Families, don't get me wrong, but the greatest of these echo in our daily lives. I believe that the trait that made them great and successful was their passion.
I sat yesterday next to a Soldier who was passionate about his service to our country. He is everyman, a family man, a Godly man, a civic minded man and an incredibly trained Soldier. As I listened to him talk about his fantastic wife and how much he loves what he does and how he is active in a program at his church, I was reminded about the journey that Vic and I have taken so far. In the past few months I have purposely seperated myself from these memories. I'm disenchanted with the Army and I'd like to just ignore the great parts of the last 16 years to be left alone with my frustration. The problem with my plan is that it is completely contrary to who I am. I am a product of all that is good or has been good in Army programs. I married a Soldier who was born to support and defend our Constitution. I always say that taking the Soldier out of Vic would leave me with nothing but skin and bones and I'm beginning to realize that taking the Army wife out of me might just do the same.
So I'm surrounded, not only by people equally passionate as I was about military families, but by my own dilemma. Where do I go from here? Do I light again the fire I first had for this military life or do I walk away and hang up my hat?
For now I'm going to enjoy the energy that I'm getting from being around this incredible group. I'm going to be thankful for the opportunity to be reminded by a stranger on a plane about all the great things that the Army has brought into my life. For now I'll look at the flicker of flame still within me and contemplate what to do with it.
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