It Is All About Perspective

I don't think I'm the only human that is both has high standards for themselves and is also their harshest critic. Being the last of 9 kids probably had something to do with it - achieving things might have been a way to stand out. I'm not sure where this comes from, but my junior high and high school years were filled striving - football quarterback, junior high valedictorian, high school band and choir, state vocal competition, class and student council president, basketball, state competition in track, National Honor Society, finishing high in my class and finally applying and acceptance to West Point. Outside of school I had jobs in the summer - starting at around 10-12 years old with traveling around Lubbock filling an ice truck and replenishing store freezers with ice bags. At 14 I started as a dishwasher, busboy and then cook at a burger and fish restaurant in town. all of this kept me busy, out of trouble and with spending money and over time a car.

The years at West Point were challenging but the preceding years had set me up to keep my head down and continue to forge a path forward. Academics were challenging and I was a manager for the football team, which had much of my free time accounted for.

For all of these reasons, it was not until half way through senior year that I lifted my head and thoughts and wondered about the future - what branch would I get, where would I be stationed, what would my first job be and would I stay in the Army after five years? All of this came to a head about 10pm, and I placed a call to my mom laying all of this at her feet.

She listened and acknowledge that she heard, without stopping my barrage of worry and anxiety. When I finished she said she understood what I was saying and that my concerns were valid. She said to give her some time to think about what I had shared before responding. Just expressing all of this allowed me to again put my head down and focus on my daily academic, company duties and team activities.

Within the next two weeks I received a box from my mom, with a couple of books and a note. The note said that "Many times to the key to success is keeping perspective. Some times in life you have to be happy with where you are. You have to acknowledge the accomplishments that got you to that point and be OK with it. That is the only thing that will allow you to take a breath and maintain the energy and focus to keep going." She said the the books she sent would allow me to do that. The books turned out to be comic strip books, "Calvin and Hobbes" and "The Farside." She said that throughout her life laughter had been the key to always gaining perspective no matter how dire she felt the situation was. It was not what I expected, but it definitely worked. 

I attribute this approach to much of my success in my personal, military and Boeing careers - laughter and perspective have allowed me to keep focus and weather stressful situations. A perfect compliment to my prayers and faith in God.