I was watching the news last night and there was a report on how the military was having a hard time finding new recruits. I thought to myself, once upon a time I was young and reckless and I would enlist just to serve my country. I guess now I’m old and reckless because I went and talked to an Army recruiter today.
After high school I gave serious thought to going into the Navy. My friends even had a going away party for me and everything. At the last minute, a friend asked me if this was really what I wanted to do or whether I would rather go to college. Luckily she helped me from making a bad decision. I went to college and life was good.
I’ve been in consulting for 7 years now and have done pretty well at accomplishing my goals. It’s time for me to move on to something new. I don’t think the Army is for me but I found out that I qualify for the Air Force Officer’s School. I’ll be a pretty old guy compared to the rest of the class, but it would be an adventure. I’m particularly interested in their linguistics training. They provide a year of advanced language classes where you learn everything about a particular language and culture - probably Arabic. Afterwards, the CIA often recruits from this pool of available linguists. I have an appointment to go back next week and find out some more.
One of the things I cherish above all else is free will. I have the freedom to wake up in the morning and change my entire life if it’s not going the way I like. I think as we get older, we forget this. Even if I never wear an Air Force uniform, I have a choice to. It’s important not to lose sight of this fact. Life is too short to stick to a program or agenda that’s been handed to you by someone else. It’s my life and I can do just about anything I want. Now, that’s empowering.
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others. - Marianne Williamson
June 10th, 2005 at 7:49 am
dude - nice use of the mariandude - nice use of the marianne williamson quote.
so how do you balance today’s message of personal power with the message you sent yesterday about the release of desire?
how are they releated for you?
June 18th, 2005 at 9:26 am
I think to volunteer for someI think to volunteer for something is one of the greatest ways to let go of ego and craving. It’s like dropping a boat into a raging river. The river will take you where it will - regardless of what you wish.
June 22nd, 2005 at 8:27 am
That’s crap.
VolunteeringThat’s crap.
Volunteering just feeds the ego.
Why is feeding the ego such a bad thing?
July 14th, 2005 at 2:28 pm
Hmm. I think you may be righHmm. I think you may be right about volunteering, but you must consider what you are volunteering for. Volunteering to be a part of the Crusades or the Hitler Youth is not somehting I would recommend in order to let go of ego and craving. In general, I believe that one should strive for constructive goals. At its best, the military strives to maintain the peace (less constructive than simply maintaining the status quo); at its worst, it actively destroys things. I feel there is no need to assist in the destructive endeavors; entropy will take care of that for me.
-dan
–Be human
February 27th, 2006 at 2:46 pm
Interesting. This is the first time I read this. I thought you and I were the one that had that conversation about going into the Navy in 92-93 when Rocky was looking to do the same. I guess I was wrong. Speaking of ego, I guess it was my own that thought that person you talked to was me. :)