BEING A RESOURCE

Hey, It’s Cory! I was going to do a continuation from last week’s blog, discussing my journey back as I transitioned into the civilian world.  But I had something occur within the past few days that I felt like sharing with you.

I was skimming through the dictionary the other day (yes, I gotta keep myself mentally alert) and I came across the word resource.  There were two definitions for the word that caught my eye:

1. a source of supply, support, or aid, especially one that can be readily drawn upon when needed.
2. capability in dealing with a situation or in meeting difficulties.

After reading this, it made me think of something my friend Boone Cutler had told me, “There are two things that a warfighter needs, a mission and a battle buddy.”  Boone couldn’t be any more clear with that statement.

This past weekend, an individual based out of Charleston, SC, contacted me to see how he could be a resource.  I had never met this person, nor have I had a conversation with him, but I was curious as to how they could help me here in Indianapolis. He was connected with GallantFew and knew Karl, so I felt comfortable talking to him.  As he started telling me the story of his transition, it became clear that he knew exactly what I was going through.  

By the time that we had finished our conversation, he had given me the task of composing an email, listing my short-term and long-term goals.  I said, “Roger That,” and continued with my day.  I began making a list and I realized that I have no clue of my goals or what motivated me anymore.  This whole time, I had been lying to myself, thinking that I knew exactly what I wanted out of life.  Hour after hour went by, and finally the pieces to the puzzle started to fit.  During our follow up conversation the next day, we took the established goals and created objectives to get reach them.  It was hard to think that a year had gone by and I just now felt like I was heading in the right direction.

One of the biggest hurdles that I have maneuvered is personal expectations.  Coming from an environment of high expectations and transferring that mindset into a completely new world has been exhausting.  Over and over again, from one missed opportunity to the next, I have felt like I have failed my daughter.  I feel I have gained five years to my life in the past 12 months.  But, after this conversation, I realized that it is normal to feel this way.  Being able to hear the voice of experience from another party opened the door to the path that I was searching for.  I’m sure this path isn’t always going to be paved, but it sure beats walking circles in a dark room.

Because of this resource, I have adjusted fire on my expectations. Two hours out of his weekend…that’s all it took to open that door for me.  This is what GallantFew is doing to assist many Veterans;  It is creating resources.  I repeat, a warfighter needs two things, a mission and a battle buddy (goals and someone you can radio when you are taking fire).

In closing, I want to give you a task:  This week, ask yourself how you can be a resource to someone that’s walking around in circles and needs that door opened… then act upon it.