"Making It Make Sense" (SM) with Dr. Pamela Brewer
VETERAN'S DAY 2010
Veteran's Day is a time to celebrate those who have
contributed to our lives via military service, and whether you are a proponent
or opponent of armed conflict. it is a time to acknowledge those among us who
have been available to lay their lives on the line for the American people. So much more important than
the sales flyers that crowd our mailboxes is the fact that there are those
among us who have, and may be still, experiencing emotionally large moments in
their lives that they may or may not feel able to talk about. For many
veterans, living or deceased, their service became a defining moment in their
lives. A moment when they were challenged to consider events in ways they
had not considered before.
REMEMBER:
If you already
believe in the honor of military service, Veteran's Day will be an easy time to
celebrate the contributions of those who have served. Be sure to include their
family members who often made the service more possible.
If you believe
there is no value to the possibility of armed conflict, Veteran's Day can and
should still be a day of acknowledgment of those who have been willing to
defend our country and our freedoms. even in ways that you might not
personally wish to replicate.
America is said
to be a country in which diverse views and behaviors are celebrated - Veteran's
Day is a wonderful day to prove that true. Think about what you can
do to grow the greatness of this country.
IF
YOU ARE A VETERAN:
It is important
that you acknowledge your own contributions. Do not rely on others for your
self-worth.
Talk about your
beliefs and what you did to honor your beliefs.
If someone is
making light of what is important to you, in a respectful way, offer your
different view. Be willing to hear theirs.
If you are
having trouble, reach out. There are those who want to help.
make this day
about you.
MAKING VETERANS DAY
MEANINGFUL:
Take a moment to acknowledge
the contribution of time and energy, wisdom and passion and in some cases
lives of those who have served in all military arenas.
Expand your acknowledgment
to those who are not in military arenas. include those whose lives have
contributed to your personal well-being and safety. let them know.
This person could be a
veteran you know/ do not know, a neighbor or a first grade teacher who touched
your life in a particularly powerful way.
Think about things that
you can do, great or small, to add to the sense of safety or personal well
being for those around you. this can be a commitment to volunteer at a
local school or veteran's hospital or library, etc., etc.
too often we
lose sight of those who have helped in the past, and look only for those who
can help today or tomorrow. this only dishonors your past, your present and your
future.