Tuesday, January 15

Timing Is Everything

I didn't have any business being there in the first place.

That was always Pop's viewpoint when I was a teenager and found myself caught up in some "less than desirable" circumstances. I think now--a hundred years later--I understand what he was trying to get through to me. Perhaps he wanted me to think through the possible outcomes, before I got involved and the situation became precarious.

I didn't do anything too terribly awful--wrecked a couple of cars, got arrested once, and had a short marriage to a fellow that turned out to be a junkie--before I realized the path I was traveling needed to change.

It wasn't an easy realization as I remember, either. Getting away from that marriage was an endurance test that involved the entire family. Shortly thereafter, I joined the Air Force.

That's when I learned the most about myself:
  1. I learned we can do anything if we believe we can.
  2. It's true there is strength in numbers, but be careful who you pick to be on your team.
  3. It's never too late for a new strategy.
But the single most important thing I learned is that the mind really is our strongest defense against anything.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wow!

I mean, wow!

I don't know which thing to ask you about first.

Nessa said...

Very good advice, lessons, truths, warnings. Everything.

OldHorsetailSnake said...

Well, those are good life lessons.

Anonymous said...

Y'know, it's not something I'd ever want to do but I've met so many people who've benefited (or at least learned a lot) from a spell in the military.

"It's never too late for a new strategy." I need to write that above my office door.