Civilians just don't seem normal at times...

The above GIF is an accurate representation of how I tend to view the cosmos most of the time. Deep inside me, I have a warrior spirit and mentality that I bring to almost every scenario. Maybe it's over the top; perhaps it isn't; this depends on who you are speaking with at the moment. There are several others out there like me walking among you, judging each of you on your ability or lack of; it's not right, nor is it fair, but it happens; it's what helps us feel safe and in control of our environment. A Veteran's view of the cosmos is not one from a protected stance. We lost that part of us once we deployed to a combat environment, and to be honest, we probably will not ever get that view back. We know things that are not unknowable.

Once we return home and get that magical DD214, we hoped for our return to life as normal is not so normal. In the military, our mission was, for the most part, was clear. We knew our purpose and were ready to go at a moment's notice. Even those chewed up E-4's like myself and my battle Cheech knew the mission objectives and stood ready to fulfill those objectives. For many of us that return to the workforce, our skills and talents are wasted, and we go from job to job looking for a new mission with clear vision and values. Civilian leaders tend to shy away from conversations that may be confrontational or upsetting and often have expectations that are never voiced. I could go on for days about this, but I digress; bottom line, nothing infuriates us Veterans in the civilian sector more than a lack of true teamwork, selfish junior leaders who are in it to look good, and foggy mission objectives. How does one even deal with this?

I have no answers to the above questions other than starting your own company and make it a unit of complete badasses. I can offer you one practice that will offer a clear mission, trusting teammates, great junior leaders, and give you a taste of the same dopamine you had OVER THERE... This practice is Jiu-Jitsu!

Jiu-Jitsu requires you to be ON at all times during the class. Once the rolling starts, it takes all your focus to make sure you survive the session. Of course, you are in no real danger of dying, and yes, you may risk an injury, but this practice tricks your brain and forces the hyper-vigilance we all suffer from to become vigilance, which is a good thing. Just this week, after some great rolling sessions, a new friend of mine and I had great conversations rooted in centeredness about our PTSD and all the damn triggers that go with it. We were able to have these great conversations after practice because we were tired, and it also stirs something deep inside you as a warrior. It gives you that feeling of earning your seat at the fire with other warriors of the past and reflecting on battles lost and won.