In honor of Veterans Day, I want to thank all who serve and have served. As I write this, my nephew is in the middle of boot camp, starting his career and service in the US Navy. During WWII, my grandmother was a Rosie Riveter in Long Beach, CA and my uncle served on a submarine during the Cold War. I have grandparents and great grandparents who served in WWI and WWII and extended family members that have served in various branches during war and peace. I have heard many stories.
Merriam-Webster defines “service” as “contribution to the welfare of others”. There are countless ways to interpret this, but one way I view service is being willing to face the unknown with courage and focus. I believe we all can learn what this looks like from our veterans and take these learnings into our daily lives.
Serving in the military shapes and forms you. So many stories and experiences have been shared, while so many are too painful to relive or cannot be shared. The impression and impact of service is deep. I can never begin to understand what that is like, yet I see the strength, character, and resolve that veterans demonstrate. In those moments of challenge, fear, and unknown, they train their brains to shift focus and move forward. We have so many veterans to learn from, both retired and active. They are in our communities, part of our families, and at our work. It’s not only how they moved forward in battle, but how they move forward every day, in between and after.
I have had the fortune to discover and work alongside vets and supported projects like The Wounded Warrior Project and programs focused on reskilling vets for jobs outside of the military. I will continue to support vets, hear the stories they want to share, learn from and apply their wisdom to how I show up to the unknown, and thank them for their service.
If you know a vet who might be interested in coaching support, please connect them with me. I offer discounted services for veterans.