I know it's been a while since I have written. Honestly, my head has been so filled with thoughts, I have been trying to figure out how to best put them onto paper. Two weeks ago we remembered the 10th anniversary of September 11, 2001. A day that no American will soon forget. With that, came news specials, constant coverage and the replaying of those horrible sights we all saw unfold before our eyes 10 years ago. For me, I felt the same anxiety and paranoia that I felt 10 years ago. As much as I didn't want to watch all of the news coverage, I found myself glued to the TV all over again. I told myself I would only watch one night of coverage and three days later the TV was still on. Watching all the children and spouses who lost loved ones on that fateful day was heartbreaking. Some were born after their parents perished, while others were too young to remember. But that was only one side of how America was affected by that day.
Since then, millions of people in the military have been deployed overseas for months at a time, many going back again and again. And many that never make it back. They leave families and friends behind and make the ultimate sacrifice. Fighting a war that some were only in their early teens when it started. For those who do come back, many are injured, whether it be emotionally or physically. Many struggle acclimating to civilian life. For many, their life will never be the same.
There is an organization that I stumbled across called the Wounded Warrior Project that helps wounded veterans from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and helps them through a debilitating injury. Many have lost limbs or are dealing with PTSD. When you look at the faces of the people they are helping, they are mostly in their twenties and thirties and have their whole life ahead of them. They signed up to protect our country, made it back alive, but now have to deal with a life changing condition. They are just like my friends and I. Young, starting families, and looking forward to settling down. For them things will never be the same. The more I watched the coverage of the anniversary of the September 11 attacks, the more I not only wanted to help out the victims of the families, but I wanted to reach out and thank every member of the military and their families for doing something I would never have the courage to do myself.
That got me thinking. What could I do to help? It's so easy to think that the job is so much bigger than me. I felt so insignificant. What can just what person do. But then I read this quote: "Nobody can be everything, but everyone can do something." Isn't it true? What would happen if every person donated one dollar or one hour to their favorite charity? I think it would be pretty amazing. And pretty significant.
So, I started researching Wounded Warrior Project to see if they had any local offices that I could volunteer with. Minnesota isn't exactly a large base for the military, but every state has to have veterans. Right now I am in the process to try and figure out how I can help. Updates to follow...
In the meantime, I feel like I have had somewhat of a revelation. I have been telling some friends about this fun and exciting project I have been working on and reactions have been all over. Some just say "good for you", while others seem very interested and have asked me more details. I know it's not for everyone, but for me it has been so exciting to think that I am even impacting one person to do better. My family has even noticed a difference in my attitude. They say I seem more happy and less negative. I even find myself telling myself to calm down on the way to work, where before I had severe road rage. I am still a work in progress, but aren't we all. For as long as we are here, we have time to change who we want to be. I am in no way close to perfect, but I really hope there is a better me waiting to be discovered. I have already inspired my team at work to volunteer at the barn where I work with horses. So I guess my experiment is already a success. My goal was to inspire one person to volunteer and it looks like I have already inspired four and it's only been a month. I would say that is pretty good. I can't wait to see what happens in the next eleven months.
I think my biggest revelation might have come in the way of my career. After seeing all these worthy organizations that are out there helping young veterans and their families I feel like that is my calling. I feel like I am destined to help them. It may not work out now or even in the next year, but for the first time in a long time I feel like I have purpose. For me, being the only single one in my family, I feel that I sometimes have to justify my free time since I couldn't possibly be busy if I don't have a family. Well screw that I say! I might not have my own family, but I am choosing to do something good with all my "single" spare time and it feels pretty awesome! A short while ago, I felt my career had potential. I felt like I could really be in it for the long haul. There is potential to make a decent living, but at the end of the day I still think, "all I am doing is analyzing food." Although my job may be important to the many companies I work with, in the grand scheme of things, I feel like I am not contributing. So I started to think, "I could stick with my career and donate all my extra free time to volunteering and spending time with a worthy cause OR I could eventually leave my career and donate my life in the way of a job that is meaningful everyday." This is obviously a huge decision and will take months to decide what I should ultimately do, but I finally feel like I have a goal.
I read this excerpt in my SELF magazine yesterday:
"Set your pace: To succeed at any challenge in life, you've got to tune out the noise around you - the footsteps of others (ahead and behind), distracting "advice", doubters who tell you it can't be done. Instead, focus on your inner voice. Setting your own goal, charting your course and trusting your instincts take courage, but they are the surest route to crossing your personal finish line a winner."
I read this over and over again and just thought how much I agreed. Some of my friends and family might think I am crazy to even think about giving up my career someday, but for me, being happy and knowing I am doing good is what matters most. For me I will follow my heart. There will come mistakes and regrets, but only then will I become a stronger person. And for that I am grateful.
Check out these pages to find worthy organizations that help wounded military veterans and their families.
Wounded Warrior Project
www.woundedwarriorproject.org
Special Operations Warrior Foundation
http://www.specialops.org/
Medal of Honor Recipient Dakota Meyer's $1 Million Challenge
http://www.dakotameyer.com/
Until next time,
M
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Horse Sense
It isn't a secret that I love animals. About a month ago, I got on a horse again for the first time in over ten years. It was just an hour trail ride, but I immediately started dreaming about having my own horse someday. Horses are a lot of work, and since I don't have a yard, it soon set in that my dream wouldn't happen anytime soon. I started thinking about volunteering at a horse stable while trying to learn all I can about horses. I searched the Web and soon came across an organization called We Can Ride. It is a local organization here in Minnesota. It is a horse therapy program for children, adults, and veterans with cognitive, physical, emotional and behavioral disabilities. They offer weekly classes in which the rider can improve their balance and strengthen muscles. It also gives them more self confidence and freedom that a wheel chair can't.
Tuesday was my first class and I must admit, I was a little intimidated. The leader told me to go get my horse, Snickers, who was barely taller than me. I couldn't believe that with no training someone was going to let me go get a horse from the stall and lead him around the barn. I was in heaven. As I warmed up Snickers and walked around the barn, the stress of the day suddenly went away and I thought of nothing else than this horse that I was in charge of. I knew the kids would be arriving soon and wasn't sure what the class was going to be like. I offered to be a horse leader the first couple of times just to get used to how classes were run. There are a variety of horses that have been donated to the organization over the years. Some were champion race horses while others were trail horses. Some are old and some are stubborn, but all have something in common. They have an excellent demeanor with children and some you just know were born to be therapy horses. These horses put up with kids pinching them and pulling their hair, all the while keeping their cool. Animals have an amazing impact on people and evidence of this is seen over and over while in class.
The first kid to ride Snickers was a little five year old boy named Elliott. With his helmet on, he hopped up on the horse and couldn't stop giggling. His laugh was contagious and echoed through the barn. About five minutes into the ride, Elliott decided he wanted to get off the horse and without warning jumped off. I was suddenly glad that I was the horse leader and not the side walker but soon realized this was a great reminder that anything can happen with kids.
The second rider went on without a hitch, but it was the third rider that truly touched me. Her name was Kayla. A ten year old girl with no visible disabilities. We all saw the connection she had with her horse right from the beginning. Kayla smiled as her horse sniffed and greeted her, while the rest of us held back tears. It was amazing to me how much of an impact a horse can have on someone. Kayla was talkative and wouldn't stop smiling. She was very knowledgable about horses and had shared with us her history of going to horse camp. To me, she seemed like your average ten year old. Just another girl on a horse. That is what is so great about this program. It doesn't matter if these kids are in a wheelchair or can get around on their own. In class, they are all the same - just a kid on a horse. They are responsible for steering and commanding their horse to go where they need to go. For that hour every week, they are just like every other kid.
The best part of this class for me, was the ability to forget about everything else that was going on in my life. For the first time in longer than I could remember, I didn't think about work. I didn't think about my to do list or what I needed to get done this coming weekend. For those three hours all I thought about was the horse next to me and the kid riding it. It was absolutely fantastic. I wasn't stressed out, I was thrilled. Finding an organization where I get to work with horses and kids is the perfect place for me.
When I got home, I was full of dirt, smelled like manure and was pretty exhausted. But those three hours had more of an impact than anything I have done in longer than I can remember. Eight more weeks of class and I can't wait for next Tuesday!
M
We Can Ride
http://www.wecanride.org/
Tuesday was my first class and I must admit, I was a little intimidated. The leader told me to go get my horse, Snickers, who was barely taller than me. I couldn't believe that with no training someone was going to let me go get a horse from the stall and lead him around the barn. I was in heaven. As I warmed up Snickers and walked around the barn, the stress of the day suddenly went away and I thought of nothing else than this horse that I was in charge of. I knew the kids would be arriving soon and wasn't sure what the class was going to be like. I offered to be a horse leader the first couple of times just to get used to how classes were run. There are a variety of horses that have been donated to the organization over the years. Some were champion race horses while others were trail horses. Some are old and some are stubborn, but all have something in common. They have an excellent demeanor with children and some you just know were born to be therapy horses. These horses put up with kids pinching them and pulling their hair, all the while keeping their cool. Animals have an amazing impact on people and evidence of this is seen over and over while in class.
The first kid to ride Snickers was a little five year old boy named Elliott. With his helmet on, he hopped up on the horse and couldn't stop giggling. His laugh was contagious and echoed through the barn. About five minutes into the ride, Elliott decided he wanted to get off the horse and without warning jumped off. I was suddenly glad that I was the horse leader and not the side walker but soon realized this was a great reminder that anything can happen with kids.
The second rider went on without a hitch, but it was the third rider that truly touched me. Her name was Kayla. A ten year old girl with no visible disabilities. We all saw the connection she had with her horse right from the beginning. Kayla smiled as her horse sniffed and greeted her, while the rest of us held back tears. It was amazing to me how much of an impact a horse can have on someone. Kayla was talkative and wouldn't stop smiling. She was very knowledgable about horses and had shared with us her history of going to horse camp. To me, she seemed like your average ten year old. Just another girl on a horse. That is what is so great about this program. It doesn't matter if these kids are in a wheelchair or can get around on their own. In class, they are all the same - just a kid on a horse. They are responsible for steering and commanding their horse to go where they need to go. For that hour every week, they are just like every other kid.
The best part of this class for me, was the ability to forget about everything else that was going on in my life. For the first time in longer than I could remember, I didn't think about work. I didn't think about my to do list or what I needed to get done this coming weekend. For those three hours all I thought about was the horse next to me and the kid riding it. It was absolutely fantastic. I wasn't stressed out, I was thrilled. Finding an organization where I get to work with horses and kids is the perfect place for me.
When I got home, I was full of dirt, smelled like manure and was pretty exhausted. But those three hours had more of an impact than anything I have done in longer than I can remember. Eight more weeks of class and I can't wait for next Tuesday!
M
We Can Ride
http://www.wecanride.org/
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