Blog 560 – 03.01.2017

A Great Lesson

At the beginning of a new month, one that heralds the first day of spring and a multitude of new beginnings, it might be well to consider one of the great lessons of living longer. As I look back on my over sixty seven years I think one of the great lesson that I have learned is to patiently wait. Some have flatteringly said that I do not look sixty seven and whether that is really true or not I do not feel old or worn out as many of my contemporaries seem to act. Worry, anxiety, and impatience take their toll, on a body, a brain, a heart. It is hard to relax, to re-create, when you are carrying such a heavy load. Many even have trouble sleeping at night because they just can’t seem to turn it off and get a little rest.

One of my favorite things that I heard General Colin Powell say in an interview once was his description of a good soldier. He said, “A good soldier never stands when he can sit, sits when he can lie down or stays awake when he can sleep.” Having been a soldier and having received an Army Commendation Medal, the badge of a good soldier, my heart said, “Amen” to General Powell’s words. I credit the United States Army for teaching me patience. Right off the bat to stand in a line for forty-five minutes at parade before each meal teaches patience, if one is paying any attention at all. The Army had several mottos circulating in my day. Fun, Travel, and Adventure (FTA) was the recruiting slogan. Many of the soldiers that I was stationed with in South Vietnam thought F…The Army a more appropriate rendition of the FTA acronym. I enjoyed my adventure in Vietnam and even in spite of terrible homesickness for loved ones and familiar places I had plenty of the fun that I had been promised.

Soldiers work long hours often with little sleep and in addition to regular duty, there is guard duty, alerts, and any number of things that might come up to call the soldier to duty. The smart or good soldier learns to rest and re-create any chance he or she can. They even had a program for soldiers serving in Vietnam where the soldiers got two weeks leave called R & R (Rest and Relaxation) where they could travel to a resort on the South Vietnam coast, or to Bangkok, Thailand, or to Australia, or to even Hawaii. The last two they could even enjoy with their spouse or family. One of the few regrets of my life is that I did not follow through with plans to meet my first wife in Hawaii for R &R during the middle of my tour in Vietnam. I have often wondered if that one thing might have saved that marriage or made it last till I got back home at least. But shouda, woulda, coulda is a silly game to play. Probably had we been patient to wait till after I got back from Nam to marry our marriage might have had better odds for success.

Patience is not the easiest of lessons to learn. Some people never do. Tribulation (trouble) works patience is what the New Testament says. But some of us learn little about patience or much of anything for all our troubles. There is no way in life to avoid all trouble or pain and so many of those who try to with chemicals end up with an additional problem that only creates a lot more trouble not only for them but there friends, loved ones, and society as a whole. A lot of crime, thefts, and murders are addiction related. And for that next high, or relief, people are willing to sell their souls. I am glad and grateful never to have experienced this first hand but I do not think myself better than anyone who has and I am pulling for anyone trying to break free of the cycle of addiction. Don’t give up, keep trying, and please get help. It is available if you really want it.

Some people think that we as a society with our emphasis on immediate gratification and low almost no tolerance for pain or trouble have brought on this epidemic of addiction. There maybe something to that but life has a way of teaching us the important lessons if we pay attention. Learning how to patiently wait is one of those lessons. Often the really good stuff takes a little longer. And for those of my generation, don’t poop out on me now, it is just getting to the good part. Be patient.wait for it, wait for it. And you will find it really was worth the wait.

Your friend and fellow traveler,

David White