I'm in lock-step with you right here, Ivan. My feelings of disdain and pride all swirl in the same little orb. I wrote a poem a few years ago that I wish had made it into Phantoms. The last stanza is:
"What is it called when you feel chewed up
And spit out
But still proud?"
There isn't a word for it in the English language. Maybe in German or French or something beautiful and foreign, but in our current state of affairs we are expected to embrace a binary system. You're either this or that. I'm glad to not be the only one that doesn't buy that nonsense. Keep writing. Stay loud.
Publish that poem. Send it to me and I will with full credit and assertion. I love your work and that we’ve bonded over writing. Ours is a curious path, but I wouldn’t trade it. I know you know.
My experience is not the same as yours. However, my view is similar. I wonder how often this paradox appears in reality - not the social media driven world, but in the quiet times when everyone is left to their own introspection.
I find myself wondering how much of a difference personal experience, time and time in service make in the development of the view you are discussing.
As I was reading your post, I found myself thinking of General Butler and his book. Of the viewpoint he espoused and how loudly he decried military action. I was almost expecting you to mention it.
Thank you for your comments, Shawn! Yes, I want people to reflect on what service and serving means. For all of us, and to your point, it’s an individual journey.
I believe it takes time to evaluate the impact of service against our experiences. Not everyone will reach the same conclusions or even spend time ruminating, but I believe most people who serve view it as a significant part of their lives no matter how long they served. Not all of them were like us!
As for Ol Gimlet Eye, stay tuned! I have an entire leadership showcase dedicated to him and his own view on the conundrum of service as it relates to the paradox I wrote about this week. I got you!
I wanted to show up with a bunch of words describing the level of “okay I resonate with and recognize this thought process”, and I can’t find the words. Very grateful you share yours, as always.
I'm in lock-step with you right here, Ivan. My feelings of disdain and pride all swirl in the same little orb. I wrote a poem a few years ago that I wish had made it into Phantoms. The last stanza is:
"What is it called when you feel chewed up
And spit out
But still proud?"
There isn't a word for it in the English language. Maybe in German or French or something beautiful and foreign, but in our current state of affairs we are expected to embrace a binary system. You're either this or that. I'm glad to not be the only one that doesn't buy that nonsense. Keep writing. Stay loud.
Publish that poem. Send it to me and I will with full credit and assertion. I love your work and that we’ve bonded over writing. Ours is a curious path, but I wouldn’t trade it. I know you know.
Ivan,
My experience is not the same as yours. However, my view is similar. I wonder how often this paradox appears in reality - not the social media driven world, but in the quiet times when everyone is left to their own introspection.
I find myself wondering how much of a difference personal experience, time and time in service make in the development of the view you are discussing.
As I was reading your post, I found myself thinking of General Butler and his book. Of the viewpoint he espoused and how loudly he decried military action. I was almost expecting you to mention it.
Semper Fi
As I was reading what you wrote,
Thank you for your comments, Shawn! Yes, I want people to reflect on what service and serving means. For all of us, and to your point, it’s an individual journey.
I believe it takes time to evaluate the impact of service against our experiences. Not everyone will reach the same conclusions or even spend time ruminating, but I believe most people who serve view it as a significant part of their lives no matter how long they served. Not all of them were like us!
As for Ol Gimlet Eye, stay tuned! I have an entire leadership showcase dedicated to him and his own view on the conundrum of service as it relates to the paradox I wrote about this week. I got you!
I.
I wanted to show up with a bunch of words describing the level of “okay I resonate with and recognize this thought process”, and I can’t find the words. Very grateful you share yours, as always.
Thank you, Dan, as always. We veterans all exist in the same plane. How we reach the vanishing point is an individual effort.
Great read
Thank you, as always!