Today Is The Day

rainBeau Jangles and I are leaving the island. My PCS orders have come through and today is the day we start our new journey.

 

I have liked and disliked living on island. The location was great, the egos were frustrating. After two and a half years of  a crappy job, I finally got a new one that I was able to stay in for eleven months that was actually fun in which we accomplished great things. Now it is time to move on to the next adventure.

 

rainBeau and I will miss this place and the amazing people we have met.

Farewells

I have never been good at saying goodbye, especially to those that are important to me. The past few days have included so many farewells. I have had the privilege of working with some of the best humans I have ever met during the past eleven months. They have taught me so much and graciously allowed me to learn from my mistakes.

 

Thank you to my teammates for allowing me to be your team captain. For patiently waiting for me to figure out how to best serve you. Anything I do right from here on out is because of you.



I thought I had figured them out. But they got me good on this one.

To my first line, I have learned so much from you. From mentorship, helping me correct a bad decision, or by simply leading by example. I can only hope that I am half of the leader and Officer that you are.

 

An amazing gift that I will treasure.

To my NCOIC Battle Buddy, I echo your words from 28OCT. Our personalities and leadership styles just worked. You have one of the best NCOs I have ever had the privilege to work with. Nothing that was accomplished during the past 6 months would have been possible if you were not here as my teammate. I look forward to the day in which I will get to serve with you again.



 



Passing the torch to my awesome replacement.
He will do good things!

Even One Life is Too Many

This is my final month on island. My next adventure takes me back to mainland. It has been just under three and a half years here and there have been many ups and downs.

 



There are more than twenty-two reasons why.

My high points were fun to share with those around me. I had the privilege of working with and meeting some amazing people. The beauty of the island (well, once away from all the tourist locations) is something that I will always be thankful for.

 

My downs took me to places in my head that scared even me. I was faced with some situations that really challenged me.

 

More than anything from my ups and downs, I have learned that I cannot do life alone. I am like everyone else in that people need people. As expected, this was a difficult lesson to learn but I am thankful for the relationships that developed and those that have becoming some of the most meaningful I have ever known.

 

Things can change so quickly. While we so often think we are indestructible, there is so much we cannot control. What we can do is control how we respond to our surroundings and the events that impact us. This has taken me years to gain back, but am so thankful that I have. And so thankful that I have people to vent to and confide in.

 

photo: mthieli

Even one life is too many to lose.

While we should do this daily, I encourage you on the 22nd of every month to call and check your battle buddy. It takes just a moment. Military or not, we deserve to see each other tomorrow.

 #twloha

 Crisis Text Line 741-741

- a safe place to talk via text with a counselor when you can't or are afraid to use your voice