A New Day

So dawns a new day. It’s funny how you can work and work for things, not sure if you will achieve them but willing to risk the time and effort to at least make a gallant effort and give it your all. I’m not talking little tasks – I am speaking of those gigantic leaps of faith we take when the course of our lives completely takes a change of path. We have all had these times, it’s when you decide to go back to school, become engaged, decide to have a baby, or go for an entirely new career – those kinds of big changes.

Then there comes a day (or night) and something happens and you realize that you are there – you have done what you set out to do/achieve. You graduate, you get married, have a child, or get your foot in the door to that new career. After all the work, achieving the goal can be as staggering as setting it. There is that moment of “Oh my God, what have I done, can I REALLY do this?” At the same time you want to jump up and shout and kick your heals and shout, “I DID IT!”

Once you have calmed down a little, you realize that you are like the mountain climber, you’ve reached the first plateau and looking out at the expanse you know that even more is out there. It’s an important time. It’s the time when you will need to look at your accomplishments and go from there – setting new goals and heading into new directions. In many ways, you realize, your work has just begun.

The Internet, the “virtual” world has totally altered our landscape. It is our generations’ big plateau I think. Perhaps those who developed the internet stood on their mountain tops, after all their incredible work, and were able to gaze into the future and see where we are now. I think it is more likely that they too stand in awe – as would Thomas Edison if he could be here now.

For me the most exciting thing about the internet and modern technology is that it gives us so many new ways to communicate, not just with family and friends and the people we see every day, not just in our own communities, or state or nation but with the entire world. I think it has opened floodgates. We are developing real relationships with people we may ever only know “virtually” – we can educate ourselves virtually, we can run businesses on a global level virtually, we can develop deep and personal bonds virtually.

When I look back at what our ancestors accomplished to bring us to this point, sitting here on the mountaintop, and gazing into the future – I feel like a pioneer in a rich new world. What we do with this world is up to us – as individuals, as a community. For I believe the internet/modern technology gives us a whole new level of “community”. Right now this community reminds me a little like the days of the “wild west”
 There are few rules
 There is very little law enforcement
 There is gold and riches to be had, and those willing to go after it for any price
 Some have come to find a new life and are filled with hope, willing to work hard and excited to develop this new land and build a community
 We are in uncharted territory
 We can do tremendous good
 If we are not mindful we can also do tremendous damage
 We are starting fresh and yet we can use all the knowledge, all the work, the mistakes, the successes of our past to help us.
 There are people who want to regulate this new world, to tax it, to own it and yet it has grown to be such a vast realm that no-one is quite sure how (or if they can) “take charge”.
 The internet now also has millions of little branches – little communities unto themselves. Each of these little communities is setting their own standards (for instance banning graphic sex or violence or swearing, etc).

As the sun rises on this new day I feel tremendously grateful to all of the people who have worked so hard to bring us to this point and to those who are working just as hard to take us forward from here.

Welcome to Veterans Portfolios Blog: We are a Nation of Do'ers

Welcome to Veterans Portfolios Blog: We are a Nation of Do'ers

We are a Nation of Do'ers

I get the feeling sometimes that what I see and what the rest of the world may see differs. A matter of perspective.

In an International Business class I had the occasion to come across a website, http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/resources/country-profiles.html. After reading about the customs & culture of Norway and completing my report I was curious to see what the site had to say about Americans. It was really very thought provoking:

“The Family
The family unit is generally considered the nuclear family, and is typically small (with exceptions among certain ethnic groups). Extended family relatives live in their own homes, often at great distances from their children.

Individualism is prized, and this is reflected in the family unit. People are proud of their individual accomplishments, initiative and success, and may, or may not, share those sources of pride with their elders.”

For the majority of us our ancestors (within a few generations) came to America from other countries. In my case, this would be in my grandparents and great-grandparents time. When these ancestors of mine came to America they left their families and struck out on their own – very often with little more than a hope and a prayer.

Once you made such a journey, in those times, you were pretty much on your own. There was no way to get help from family and friends – they were too far away and most likely communication with them would have been cut completely by the distance and limitations of the time. So self-reliance would become essential to survival.

To even undertake such a journey, I would think you would have to have a powerful belief that you could create a new life, a better life for yourself and future generations and that this was worth the cost (of the loss of family and friends in “The Old Country”).

Our ancestors committed their (and our) future to this new country. Coming to a new country, especially at that time, when it was largely uninhabited in so many areas, and creating from the ground up the kind of home, community, government, culture and customs one wanted would give our ancestors a deep appreciation and sense of belonging.
Because family & friends were so far away people came to deeply appreciate and value friendship in such a way that friends and other community members came to be considered “as family”.

Once they had found where they choose to settle our ancestors went about making it their new home. Once basic survival needs were met, they then extended their efforts outward to create a community and a nation from scratch. And in those few generations between me and them we have come a long, long way, as has the world around us. The pioneers of America traveled thousands of miles, survived great hardships and worked hard. From building log houses, schools and communities – building transportation systems – communications – and all manner of marvels.

To create a community and a nation pioneers had to be philosophers, as well. We founded our country on principles that were pondered a great deal and as we have grown we have continued to ponder these concepts. Our ancestors, started with a basically blank canvas and we continue to modify it today. The standards of hard-work, self-reliance, community, service to the community were all key factors to our success and in my opinion remain so today.

When I read the above quote it made me wonder at our sense of family. I have issue with how Americans are represented. While it is true that our ancestors left behind family and friends to start fresh in the “new world” I believe that the generations that have followed have valued, ever more so because of that, our sense of family.

In today’s world even though our children may live at a distance we have the luxury of communication on a level never before known to humankind. With our technology we can have “live-virtual meetings”, send not just letters but pictures and videos nearly instantaneously; we can travel across the world in a matter of hours to visit each other – we are no longer isolated, as our ancestors were, when we make the decision to move to a new place and take root.

Where I really think this review misses the boat is in not realizing that Americans have, in many ways had to re-define “family”. We were raised by people who had to ban together as strangers and build communities. And in some ways that has not changed. One of the differences, between us and some of the other countries, is our sense of patriotism. We live in a country where we have the freedom to make the rules, to speak out against injustice, and work together to make positive changes.

Like our ancestors we are a nation of “do-er’s”. I believe that most Americans are purpose driven to work together to build healthy, safe and happy lifestyles. That is why the majority of us work every day and spend significant time volunteering. We are a people that believe in hard work. We believe in giving time and resources for causes to help not just ourselves but others. And as I age, I ever marvel, at our ability to create, to invent, to expand our horizons.

Compassion, Hope, Optimism and Resilience

Compassion, Hope, Optimism and Resilience

Of the many lessons, I learned in my years as dispatcher, the ones I am most grateful for are the ability to have compassion, bring hope and feel optimism in any situation and the resilience to deal with whatever difficulties that arise. In critical incidents a dispatcher is often the first contact, and remains in contact, until rescue arrives (be it law, medical or fire). The dispatcher is present in someone’s worst moment. I live in the Tahoe National Forest area – so response time for help can be hours, dependant on location, weather and resources. In this situation, a dispatcher often “stays with” (by phone) the situation and provides instructions on how best to deal with the situation until help arrives.

The best dispatchers, in my opinion, are those who practice these traits. They develop a connection that goes far beyond the phone call. Indeed, most of these dispatchers think about (and say a prayer) for some of those involved in critical incidents for the rest of their lives.

I am reflecting on those who trained me this morning, as I do whenever I hear from a new veteran or family that is suffering with AML or some other cancer or serious illness due to chemical exposure. This morning I heard from the mother of a young veteran who was diagnosed on Monday, needless to say, they are devastated.

I have a strong sense of gratitude for the many dispatchers that I worked with over the years who taught me the art of and ability to communicate compassion, hope, optimism and resilience with their fine examples. I can hear in my mind, their loving voices, and it helps. Hugs to you all this morning. 

Going Public

Going Public

As with many of my classmates, I feel that “going public” may be premature. And yet here I am, putting it out there for the world to see, ready or not. Part of me feels quite unready for this. However, I can see that Veterans Portfolios is going to require, as soon as possible, professional web designers (not novices, like me), and the dedication of many other talented individuals to succeed.

“Going public” does provide opportunities, such as being able to invite people to spend some time and think about the concept of Veterans Portfolios, look at some of the links, and then give me their ideas and suggestions and perhaps consider becoming involved. For this concept to become reality it is going to take the assistance and expertise of many.

This week our class assignment in Marketing was to publish an article. For me this seemed a rather gigantic leap. Having stuck my toe in the waters of “social media” I have been already blessed with the support of family and friends, - via Facebook, this Blog and word of mouth. I am pretty sure that the majority of those who have looked at Veterans Portfolios, so far, are those who know and love me (or at least like me well enough to take the time to look). Doing the article bumps this up a notch.

As always your comments and suggestions are welcome!

Auburn Journal (2010). Helping Veterans Stand Out in the Job Market. Article is on-line at http://auburnjournal.com/detail/146996.html .

I am a tool

4-6-10

Sometimes I find that my ego gets in the way of my work. At times, I get too big for my britches or I become insecure, like a frightened child. I try to catch myself when this happens and remind myself that I am a tool, doing the best that I can, dancing as fast as I can. I give myself a kick in the butt or a hug, as needed - sometimes both.

When I undertake a project such as Veterans Portfolios it is important to me to keep mindful of the fact that in this process I am just a tool.

Much like, Gulf War Chemicals (GWC) and other projects that I have over the years given heart and soul to I find that recognizing I am merely a tool is very beneficial. While I may have given birth to the concepts – much like my children – they develop unique identities of their own My role is to do what I can to build the foundation, to the best of my ability, nurturing and loving until it stands on it’s own.

In the case of GWC I realize that if it takes as long for the VA to recognize our issue as they did for Viet Nam Veterans and Agent Orange I will be 90 years old. While I hope to be full of vim and vigor at such an age, should I be so fortunate, I doubt that I would be the best choice to carry on whatever work GWC is doing at the time. So I am building it with the intent to pass it on, if necessary.

In the case of Veterans Portfolios it is even clearer that my role may and probably should be brief as the leader. I recognize that this is a project that would be best served when being run for and by veterans. In the meantime, I will love and nurture it and hopefully lay a healthy and solid foundation for others to expand upon.

It is funny to me that “you’re a tool” is currently an insult in American slang. Although the way slang changes who knows? What are you thoughts? Are you a tool?