Fantastic Fridays-#314 November 10th The Strong Within Daily Affirmation Podcast

I Make Sure That Everyone Comes Home

I was watching a program called Navy Seals-Their Untold Story. I like military documentaries because it fascinates me how they train people, and how they instill structures and habits in individual’s minds and behaviors. I thought about going into the military myself because I thought they could not only toughen me up and challenge me, but they could also help me organize my physical habits and life.

I normally am a messy guy, you look at my desk and I have papers everywhere. I’m working on minimizing things and creating better organizational habits for my life though. My grandfather was in the military and it made a lasting impression on me how orderly he was. His shirts were always folded meticulously the same way every time and put away nicely in his dresser, his mail was always opened precisely with his letter opener and then filed away in a box neatly, and even all his tools were organized in a clean and perfect manner. He had his tools organized nicely hanging up on a cork board along the wall, and in shelves he had jars and jars of different sizes of nuts, bolts, screws, nails in such a pristine way. And seeing those habits in my grandfather and father, I admired at how the military trained individuals by breaking down their bad habits. As they took away their need for things giving them only the essentials in boot camp training, and then teaching them a new way of organizing their life.

But back to the real message here, as I was watching the documentary…there was a Navy Seal talking about a Vietnam War conflict where they were discovered and a massive fire fight broke out. They were outnumbered 50 to 1. And all the sudden it got quiet in certain areas where there used to be gunfire, and the SEALS realized that the enemy soldiers began to regroup to surround them. So the two SEAL members, and their two guides, decided that to evade capture they needed to retreat.

When they got to the rendezvous point the soldier being interviewed in the program said he asked one of their guides what happened to his Navy SEAL brother. And the guide said he was killed and left behind. And being committed to the safety of his fellow brother, he decided to live up to their code of “leaving no man behind” and so he went back into the fire fight to find him. He knew that his Navy SEAL brother would do the same for him if he were in a similar predicament, and so he never hesitated as he went back into enemy fire.

In fact when he found the fallen soldier, he thought his comrade was dead as there was no response from him, and so he picked him up to carry him back to the boat to escape. They were pursued, and an explosion went off that threw them both in the water…which woke up the man being rescued. They made it back home, but the man rescued was badly wounded and had to go thru at least 17 extensive surgeries and they thought he wouldn’t make it.

They both survived however, and they both received the medal of honor for different events in their involvement in the war for extreme valor.

Watching this documentary really moved me by seeing the respect and love that the Navy SEALS have for each other. They talked about how they weren’t fighting for their country, they weren’t even fighting for their families at home, but they were fighting for the guys next to them. They were each other’s keepers. And I wondered what if we had that mentality for those around us? What if we worked to help save those around us, to be each other’s keepers, by living better lives to be the example and also to be the support for those who need it? What if we had the mentality to not give up on people so easily, and to protect them as they went through their own private hells?

Now I know in the military it’s a little different during a life or death engagement, those men chose to do what they do, and when we’re trying to help our coworkers or neighbors…they may not be as willing to be pushed to becoming better individuals. But maybe it’s not our job to judge people right away, but to support them the best way we can. I know some people have given up in life because people gave up on them a long time ago.

I was reading a book called The Gift of Fear by Gavin de Becker where he said there’s one commonality among all serial killers:

• They were all abused—whether physically, psychologically, sexually, or neglected; in one form or another as children. 

And in his book he told a story of where he was giving a speech inside an American prison, and one of the inmates asked him about his personal story. Without going into much detail, in the book the author talked about the very rough childhood he had. And so the inmate said, “your story is almost exactly as mine, so why are you out in the word and I’m locked up in here?”  His question was meant to ask Gavin how he was able to cope with his tumultuous life as young child. And he wanted to know how Gavin could turn his negative, into something that helped him function within society successfully.

Gavin said that the difference in some people’s lives is sometimes just one act of kindness towards a struggling child. Whether it be a teacher challenging them and believing more in them, or a police officer taking the extra time and sharing kindness with them, or any other person who showed the child that they are cared about in one manner or another.

You see, sometimes the kindest acts don’t have to be the most labor or time intensive. Sometimes the kindest acts can just be noticing someone and letting them know they aren’t invisible…and that someone cares about them.

So what if you were to try to leave no person behind, what if you were to really care for those who are around you. I remember reading in the Bible where Jesus talked about loving your enemy, and to care and pray for those who persecute you.

“If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others?”

So if you’re in school—keep watch on the ones who need to be let known they’re seen and cared about, that they matter, and that they’re noticed for being themselves. Be the person who shares that kindness with those who get teased, picked on, or are ostracized just because they don’t fit in or they’re different.

If you’re in work—refrain from the gossip that tears people apart, compliment people authentically on the characteristics that you like about them, and say hello and ask them how they are. Let them know they’re noticed.

And with your families get out of auto pilot and ask better questions than just “how was your day?” Get them thinking, be creative in your engagement with them. Be present with them. Ask them something like “what were the 3 best things about their day,” or “what exciting thing did they learn that they could teach you about.” Or even if they’re having a bad day…be there to listen to them. Let them know you are willing to be there for them in a higher capacity.

I heard a great story in supporting someone where a man was listening to his fiancé during a very difficult time in her life. After she was done talking he said, “Babe…I’m not sure what to do here, but tell me how to be great for you right now…and I’ll do it.” And that really moved me, because usually I’m trying to fix people’s problems as fast as possible. I give advice so quickly saying do this, go here, be this…or whatever dime store advice that’s easy to give out. And it made me think that maybe there’s a better way at times by asking how I can be great for them and getting their input on what they really need.

So leave no person behind, and care for your non blood brothers and sisters like you would your own family. Trying to care for the masses can be hard I know, there are people who rub me the wrong way at work and in life…and sometimes those people won’t be the ones who will be in your care…but don’t give up on people…encourage them with your attitude of joy and encourage them with your support by letting them know they’re noticed.

You can’t save everyone, but you can try to be your best for people and you can try to see behind people’s hurt and pain…so that they might be able to know that someone cared for them in their time of need. Sometimes it only takes one kind act to help someone turn their whole life around. What if you were the one that they needed today? Will you be there—will you be fully present—to leave no one behind today?

Today’s Personal Commitment:
What does leaving no person behind mean to you? Maybe it might be not leaving yourself behind either. We spend so much time saving everyone else before us… that we never take time to take care of ourselves properly. So how can you be a better steward today? How can you serve better and let people know they matter? How can you give a little extra care into the world and leave it better than when you first got there? How can you love and care for yourself better today? You are the difference in what can and will change the world…how will you heed the call, and how will you leave no person behind today?

I Make Sure That Everyone Comes Home

 

 

Thanks for listening.  I'm sending great energy your way as we become Strong Within together,
Personal Development Life Coach-
Chris O'Hearn

Contact info- email: [email protected]  phone:865-219-3247

 

 

Music by:
- Zest by basematic (c) copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license.
- I Have Often Told You Stories (guitar instrumental) by Ivan Chew (c) copyright 2013 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license.
Location: Knoxville, Tennessee USA but available worldwide