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This morning I watched my #retiredarmy buddy bury his #82ndairbornedivision and #75rangerregiment #veteran son who should not have had his 39 year old life cut short after leaving service as an #iraqwar veteran. #godbless every parent who experiences the unthinkable.
Veteran owned whiskey in the glass.
@hoteltangodistillery
#usasoc #socom #specialoperations #specops #rltw #82ndairbornedivision #fortbragg #fortbraggnc #bourbon #bourbonenthusiast #whiskey #soldierslovewhiskey #whiskeylover #battleofmogadishu #usarmy #hoteltango #tfranger #bourbonneat #southernpinesnc #vfwpost7318 #amputee #adaptive #gratitude #godblessveterans #godblesstheusa
Starting this beautiful week off with a little laughter!
My young cub was playing with some Pop-its on the 4th of July when he started throwing them at me. Can you believe that!? I was an innocent bystander And then I got the idea to “one up” him. I told him he could throw one at my bare chest. Little dude’s eyes got as big as the moon! I would say that part of his reaction was due to shock. “What did my Dad just suggest!? Is this a trick!?” Is what I imagine he was thinking. When Caleb realized I was serious, he got excited. A little bit of danger or thrill can light up a young man’s day. I try not to damper that danger/thrill but rather encourage it... Guide it. I believe it’s that inner excitement that can make us unstoppable. That spark that could lead to risk taking behavior. Guiding it towards productive ventures is huge!
Example: “I hate my job” is one we all can relate to Is that little spark inside saying “Take a risk! See what else is out there!” Anyone that financially supports another person or child would say that switching careers is not a “little risk” and I would agree. What if that dream job is one on-line search from reality?! Time to ACT!
#creatingmylife #takearisk #bealion #laughalot #tattoodad #notadiagnosis #feelingalive #todayisallwehave #fuckptsd #retiredarmy #retiredmedic #onlyonelife #onedayatatime #tryingtobepresent
A little surgery for this throwback . A sniper and dear friend had an infected ingrown hair on his neck. When you’re the only medical personnel on the ground, you do whatcha gotta do. OEF 2008-2009 when my sleeve was black and gray Cracks me up that I have my surgery kit and then inches away is a chew bottle. Army life I guess ♂️ Good times! Earning the trust of my men was very important, being called “doc” is a privilege... I had to earn it! #armymedicalcorps #retiredarmy #retiredmedic #bealion #handmethescalpel #usarmy #OEF
#tattoodad #notadiagnosis #fuckptsd #goodtimes #firstinfantrydivision
THERE’S NOT ENOUGH TIME!?!? Not a promotion... buuuut I love this watch! It was a gift from my lovely GF during a tough time in my life. Christmas time wasn’t as cheery when Dad was on house arrest. It was humiliating time as a father. ♂️♂️♂️ This watch is also a great conversation starter for someone has been crippled by social anxiety! But this watch recently broke and I was devastated. So my GF and @treehut worked together to get it fixed and now I’m flossin again! Thank you so much!
Time is an important topic of discussion. There are 24 hours in a day. Everyday. Probably for as long as I’ll be alive. Am I deciding to put my 24 hours to best use? This is an important question I continuously reflect on. When I’m chasing my goals, do I have time to spend an hour doing x, y or z?! Fuck no! Get out of my way! If it doesn’t align with my goals in mental health, addiction recovery, physical health, fatherhood, professional progress, etc. then what power does it have over my time!? I can’t afford to waste 10 minutes of my limited day worrying about what other people do, say or think! I can’t control that shit anyways! My goals will not wait 10 minutes, every minute spent somewhere else is a minute that could have been used crushing shit towards my success! “I don’t have time for..” is an excuse! It is either worth my time or it isn’t! Put the bullshit aside and utilize the time at hand!
#mondaysbelike #bealion #timeisprecious #notimelikenow #creatingmylife #tattoodad #foodforthought #nottodayisis #fuckptsd #retiredarmy #retiredmedic
The St. Cloud VA Summer Games were a blast!! I placed 1st on the one mile run and 3rd in the bench press... FYI, fastest mile ever at 6:07! Saaaaaay whaaaaat!? In the pouring rain ♂️♂️♂️ I might be turning into a runner ♂️♂️♂️♂️ Hanging out with other veterans is always a treat for me! Throwing in some healthy activities and it’s bliss! Every time I’m around veterans from other generations I get excited. Their stories, their class. I learn something from every conversation. I have a lot of respect for older veterans, like retired heroes! Those men and women had it sooooo much harder than my generation. I didn’t land on the beaches of Normandy! I didn’t navigate the fields of Vietnam! Perspective
Thanks to my lovely GF and older cub for the support and pictures ❤️ #stcloudva #veterans #army #retiredarmy #retiredmedic #runningforfun!? #littleguys #creatingmylife #fuckptsd #tattooeddad #fuckptsd #onedayatatime #notalone #notadiagnosis #creatingmylife #foodforhealth #foodformedicine #fitness #firstplace #thirdplace
WARNING: SAPPY DAD POST. After my last arrest I decided I had a lot of changing to do, the way I was parenting was no exception. I had the military mentality of "...because I said so, don't ask questions or complain". What I found to be missing from that is the instructional responsibility that I have as a Dad. I am supposed to be the one answering his questions, showing him the why, where, when, what and how of this life. If I'm not answering those questions, I'm leaving it up to his friends, teachers, social media, etc to do it and I could write a book on why that's a bad idea! The problem was, two years ago I had more questions about myself, my own reality and my own expectations. I wasnt unable to answer the life questions he desperately needed. Now there is instruction. This is why we do/don't say, think, believe, etc. Everyday I can find a teaching point... I found out that using a personal example from my life opens up a conversation with him. He understands now, probably better than any 10 year old, that his parents are still learning, that they're human too. It's been an amazing experience and today I was reassured that he's been listening. I always tell him that I only want 2 things for his life and I'll support him no matter what.. I want him to be happy, a true kind of joy. I also want him to be safe in all sense of the word. Well this kiddo handed me a paper they did at school today. It said "To: Dad. Thank you for: spending so much time trying to figure out if I'm 2 things (happy and safe). From: Caleb."
Mic drop!
2008, 2011, and 2014. Happy Veterans Day to all those that have served. It was one of my greatest accomplishments to spend 10+ years in the world's best Army Stay safe friends, live a life of honor.
#veteransday #thankyouveterans #thankyouvets #retiredarmy #retiredmedic #retiredmilitary #army #marines #navy #airforce #coastguard #honor #combatdoc #combatmedicsdoitbetter