Viktor Frankl’s “Man’s Search for Meaning” is one of the most insightful, thought-provoking books of our time.  It tells his story of surviving the Holocaust and what he learned about the human condition as a result.  Frankl discovered that those who survived the Nazi concentration camps were able to do so because they adopted an attitude of “tragic optimism”, that is, “an optimism in the face of tragedy”.

A common characteristic of the survivors was the ability to share, give to others:

“We who lived in concentration camps can remember the men who walked through the huts comforting others, giving away their last piece of bread.  They may have been few in number, but they offer sufficient proof that everything can be taken from a man but one thing:  the last of the human freedoms – to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.”

Another quality of the survivors that Frankl identified and discussed was the ability to look forward to the future:  “The prisoner who had lost faith in the future – his future – was doomed…he let himself decline and became subject to mental and physical decay.”

Frankl also said, “Humor was another of the soul’s weapons in the fight for self-preservation…I practically trained a friend of mine who worked next to me on the building site to develop a sense of humor.  I suggested to him that we would promise each other to invent at least one amusing story daily…”

When I was reading “Man’s Search for Meaning”, I was struck by the similarities between Frankl’s observations and the WACKY guidelines:

1) pay it forward through service to others.
2) always have something positive to look forward to.
3) and have fun!

Viktor Frankl endured some of the most horrific circumstances ever recorded in human history.  From those experiences emerged his understanding of life and a way of living that focuses on positive attitude and meaningful action.  In a surprising way, WACKY is a manifestation of that same sense of positive attitude and meaningful action.  WACKY’s guidelines are guidelines for living, rooted in the fundamental human truths that Viktor Frankl discovered and experienced in the Nazi concentration camps.

Originally aired on January 4^th, 2012 (CBS News)

We are making progress in the fight against cancer. The American Cancer
Society said Wednesday that death rates are going down. Between 2004 and 2008,
they dropped 1.8 percent each year for men and 1.6 percent for women. However,
CBS News medical correspondent Dr. Jon LaPook reports there has not been much
improvement for teens or young adults.

When Caroline Hale counsels young people with cancer at Vanderbilt
Children’s Hospital, she speaks from experience.

Ten years ago, at age 13, Hale complained of back pain. Doctors said it was
from her backpack, but she turned out to have non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma wrapping
around her spine.

“They hit you with so much poisonous drugs,” she said, “so
many poisonous drugs, so much chemotherapy, that you just can’t help but feel
lifeless.”

Hale is part of a largely unknown group in the war on cancer. Adolescents
and young adults aged 15-to-39 account for more than 72,000 new cancers every
year — seven times more than pediatric cancers. Unlike other groups, their
mortality rates have not improved.

“Our peers are suffering,” Hale said, “because there’s not
been medical advances that have trickled down to our age group.”

After surviving brain cancer at age 21, Matthew Zachary founded an
organization called Stupid Cancer.

“Young adults don’t get cancers that are easily screened,” said
Zachary. “They get Hodgkin’s, they get sarcomas — usually not detectable
cancers. It’s not going to the doctor and say, ‘Screen me for Hodgkin’s,’
because there is no such test. By the time you realize what you have
symptomatically, it’s probably too late or Stage 4.”

Survivorship at a young age can mean a lifetime of complications from the
treatment. Hale needed hip surgery in high school. Last year, Zachary suffered
a stroke.

“What ‘s your journey been and what have you found out? What has it
told you about the system? LaPook asked Zachary.

“I found out that the system is really broken,” he said.
“That when the doctor says, ‘You’re cured, go home,’ that’s not the end of
the story. You have the rest of your life to get busy living through the
challenges and consequences of not dying from your treatments.”

For Zachary, those consequences included losing his career and infertility.
But after nine years of trying, he and his wife Jessica had twins.

“When you are 60 years old, you don’t care about fertility. When you
are 6, you don’t really care about fertility. When you are 21 or 28, or you
have a child or want to have a child, or your chemotherapy makes you impotent
or infertile — you have the right to live, you have the right to have
children, and that should not be taken away from you. This is a unique issue
that only faces people in their fertile years, which are largely young
adults.”

Both Caroline Hale and Matthew Zachary were initially misdiagnosed.
Researchers are just starting to focus on the special needs of this group. Up
until now, everything has been lumped together with all non-pediatric cancers.

To view the video aired on CBS, please visit the following link: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-18563_162-57352449/gains-in-cancer-fight-but-not-for-young-adults/

Obviously, this is a story close to our family.  Our young adults face additional challenges with cancer.  With many being students, they no longer have proper health insurance.  They lose their confidence in dating, employment, their future.  Their treatment is vague – somewhere between mainstream adult and pediatric protocols – often a tricky balancing game.  And to defend doctors, the young adults don’t usually present issues that are consistent with cancer and often go undiagnosed until their cancer has progressed.  Like with Nick, our oncologist said that unless we were specifically looking for sarcoma, his symptoms didn’t initially warrant extensive testing for an otherwise healthy young man.

So for now, the gratitude for the statistics going down with adult and pediatric cancers is abound.  As well, the gratitude continues for WACKY participating in cancer research and survivor camps for young adults with cancer continues with focus and validation.

One of our favorite family traditions is the signing of the tablecloth. We have a very large white tablecloth for our dining room table that we bring out in December. During our family Christmas party, each family member is asked to trace their hand on the cloth and then write something they are grateful for from the current year, and include their name and date. We have a multitude of Sharpie pens in a variety of colors to use. We also send it to our extended family in southern Utah but we try to make time to take a quick trip between Thanksgiving and New Years Day to capture the hands of four generations.

It’s not easy thinking of something to be grateful for, oddly enough. Our son-in-law tried to pull a fast one by finding his outlined hand from last year and wrote “Ditto – 2011” for this year. I have updated his hand to now read, “I am grateful for Lori’s wonderful cooking and her ability to be a gracious, charming and beautiful hostess.” Pretty sure he’ll think of something on his own next year.

This year we wrapped up three year’s worth of hands as we included our staff members and their spouses; friends that stopped by to check in on us; one of Carly’s best friends that just returned from his 2-year mission in Taiwan; our 4-year old granddaughter that not only drew her hand, but a bracelet, a ring and a flower. But the sweetest part is when I placed my real hand over Nick’s traced hand from last year, reiterating his gratitude for life, laughter, friends and family.

We love our beautiful and colorful tablecloth.

After personally delivering my homemade baked treats to my neighbors with incorrect names written on them, going to the grocery store 3 times in one hour for a ridiculously simple plan for dinner and then sitting in my stairway, succumbing to sobs after visiting Nick’s room, I determined that I shouldn’t be in public. Safely snuggled in at home, I now need to determine what to write about today…

Service – giving back – is what seems to keep me going, bringing me perspective. Last week was busy. I took a couple of goodie bags up to our favorite nurses at Huntsman Cancer Institute, just as I (and Nick) have done for the past four years. It didn’t occur to me that it would be difficult until I was in the parking lot. Denise (one of Nick’s fairy godmothers) was with me and it was indeed difficult (a few nurses were teary just seeing me) but I’m so glad we went.

Then I helped a neighbor with her very large “Sub for Santa” project. Contributing an outfit for a teenage girl didn’t seem like much so I also pitched in helping load two very large trailers with bags and bags of gifts and delivering them to 6 different schools. Later in the evening, the schools combined for a pizza party for the kids while the parents secretly went around in back to pick up the presents Santa will be bringing to their children Sunday morning. My neighbor’s efforts will help 176 children have a nice Christmas this year. Her sister donated 1,000 books, so each child received 3 new books. My takeaway visual was when I noticed 5 or 6 children sitting on the stage, each deeply engrossed reading their new books. They were completely mesmerized, oblivious to the surrounding chaos of cookie decorating, face painting and pizza! I’m certain my neighbor is an angel.

Speaking of visual takeaways, I have a few links I’d like to share. This first one is a TEDxSF Video done by Louie Schwartzberg on “Gratitude”.

http://tedxtalks.ted.com/video/TEDxSF-Louie-Schwartzberg-Grati#.Tus2fD01Sxc.facebook

The second was found on YouTube filmed in Germany.

http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=XVTga6GmbGw&vq=medium#t=74

Both are well worth taking the time to watch without distractions.

My last suggestion is to visit:  www.helpothers.org.  I am set up to receive updates whenever there is a new posting and every single one brings me a smile. The stories of kindness around the world are inspiring. I hope you find one that resonates with you.

Merry Christmas!

In an effort to rejoin the human race in all of its glory, I decided to start by looking at myself. In all aspects – mentally, spiritually, emotionally and physically – I needed some help. I entertained the thought that if I spouted the word “Idiot!” seven times to random individuals within a five-minute time span, that perhaps it could be me. Time to manage my stress, perhaps? The holidays are here – I’d better get a grip and quick!

I soon placed a call to my counselor. I expressed my troubles: “Why does grieving have to be so sad?” Three tissue boxes later, I asked “Am I truly grieving, or going through menopause or am I just bitchy?” Her answer: “Yes.”

Thankfully, my spiritual belief system has not waivered. My faith has actually strengthened during the past four years. So it completely took me by surprise when I burst into tears while attending church last Sunday for truly no apparent reason. The only trigger I can think of is that I was surrounded by those that love me and I was in a safe environment. Well, not thinking it is so safe now, I’ll tell ya!

Ok, let’s try yoga. Ok, let’s laugh myself sick trying to hold a pose. I totally count laughing as strengthening my

 core. I have much to work on with the “mind, body, spirit” thing. Much, much work.

I did start walking with a friend 3 to 4 times a week this past fall. Now with the cold weather upon us, we tentatively went back to our local gym and attend the daily 9:00 a.m. classes (daily for the gym – more like weekly for me). I have concluded Zumba is definitely not for me and you already know how I feel about yoga, which leaves Step Fusion and Muscle Fusion. I can do those. Not well, but I can do it with little crying from me.

During our third Muscle Fusion class, we worked the entire hour on just our bi’s, tri’s and abs. Keep in mind I have now only worked out two times in the past four years. Near the end of the class, I didn’t use any weights, so couldn’t understand how my weak arms could shake so ferociously. In an effort to soothe us, our instructor said – “you know, you can give yourself an audible reward – something like a new cd or….” I looked at my girlfriend, still having no ability to raise either of my arms and stated, “Audible reward, my foot – I am SO getting a cookie for this workout!”

Turns out I justified 3 cookies, a piece of banana cream pie and 2 pieces of fudge. I had to wait until I could raise my arms again, though.

It’s good to be back. Our first holiday season without Nick is enormously difficult, beyond anything I can adequately describe. However, my conscious effort to ask for help has made a direct and positive impact – mentally, emotionally, spiritually and physically.

Enjoy your cookies today!

]]> http://empoweredwealth.com/blog/earn-your-cookies/feed 4 http://empoweredwealth.com/blog/when-angels-are-disguised-as-human-beings?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=when-angels-are-disguised-as-human-beings http://empoweredwealth.com/blog/when-angels-are-disguised-as-human-beings#comments Wed, 07 Dec 2011 16:44:00 +0000 Empowered http://empoweredwealth.com/blog/?p=431 by Lori Brower

Reposted from Nick’s blog (www.nick-raitt.blogspot.com – Nov, 2009)

There are times when I follow other websites in journeys with cancer that I can truly feel my heart ache; times when I learn a significant piece of the cancer puzzle; times when my frustration with the enormity of it all is overwhelming; times when I am amazed beyond words of the strength and internal fortitude of parents describing their joy in the love they embrace through their children; and times when my jaw hits the table.

Here I sat Tuesday night, reading up on the latest updates, specifically Lisa Buechler: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/ihavewhat – and can I say this website cracks me up every single time, because that is exactly what you say when the doctor gives you those words of a cancer diagnosis, “I have what?” Lisa is our new friend up at Huntsman as she is fighting the exact type cancer as Nick, in the same original place – the sinus. She has additional complications of health issues before cancer was ever introduced to her life. I continued to read that a “friend of Nick & Lori” came to help Lisa on Monday. Lisa is confined to a wheelchair and has an aide help her to all of her appointments, except on Mondays. Our friend, Ruth Taillac, had also read Lisa’s updates, and knew she needed some help with transportation. She made arrangements to drive to Lisa’s apartment across town, drive Lisa’s van equipped for a wheelchair, and assisted Lisa to her radiation appointment and back home. Now, I know Ruth as she has kindly invited me to Christmas and neighborhood parties in years past, but she is much closer to fairy godmother, Denise. Denise had just visited with me all afternoon at Huntsman while Nick was getting chemo and she never mentioned Ruth’s act of kindness. Turns out she didn’t know, either.

Denise and I spoke later and we determined that between the fairy godmothers (Denise & Jennie), me and Ruth, we can make sure Lisa gets to her appointments on Mondays. Serendipity played a roll as I saw Lisa yesterday afternoon at Huntsman; I gave her a big hug and kiss and let her know Mondays would be taken care of. Lisa’s relief and gratitude overflowed. Because Lisa is a transplant from Alaska, her support system in Salt Lake City is not as strong as Nick’s. I think we can do something about that. Nick asked me if I’ll get emotionally attached (because he does) and I responded, “I already am!”

Ruth, thank you for your kindness. So many people think about helping, but can talk themselves out of it before the thought is even complete. Do we risk the emotional attachment? Do we compromise the convenience and comfort of our own family to reach out to a stranger? Ruth looked beyond Nick’s story to Lisa’s story and found a need she could fulfill. She has set an amazing example for her husband and children, her community, her church and those that observe from afar, all because she gave someone a ride.

I wanted to repost this story to reinforce how a random act of kindness can grow into something so much more. Denise, Jennie, Ruth and myself became quite close with Lisa. My favorite memory is when we all brought in take-out from the Olive Garden and had a girlfriend Christmas party with Lisa in her little, tiny apartment, lit beautifully with candles and modestly decorated for the season. Lisa had somehow managed to go and get us all gifts – envision her bundled up in winter garb, electric wheelchair in full-gear, motoring towards the local mall. We ate, we told naughty jokes, we exchanged gifts, we ate some more and we laughed for hours.

During the next several weeks, we stood by her side when she got the news her body was so filled with cancer, she could never go home again; when her Catholic Bishop administered the Last Rites; when she was unceremoniously moved into a convalescent center; when she celebrated her 50th birthday; when we gave her massages (we each had either a leg or an arm) while she was in and out of consciousness; when she died.

I am enormously thankful we got emotionally attached, to Lisa and to each other. Our friendships have been strengthened and guided by a powerful spirit – the human spirit.

Where will your next random act of kindness take you?

]]> http://empoweredwealth.com/blog/when-angels-are-disguised-as-human-beings/feed 2 http://empoweredwealth.com/blog/empowered-leadership?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=empowered-leadership http://empoweredwealth.com/blog/empowered-leadership#comments Wed, 30 Nov 2011 16:20:58 +0000 Empowered http://empoweredwealth.com/blog/?p=411 by Lori Brower

 “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.” John Quincy Adams

This quote is found in Lee’s book, “The Brower Quadrant.” Leadership is a cornerstone principle of Empowered Wealth. Lee discusses the differences between leadership and management, which are often confused as being one in the same. He has identified “The Five C’s of True Leadership” as follows:

Clarity

Consciousness

Consistency

Courage

Compassion

The topic of leadership has come up in our family quite often of late and I thought I would put two of our family members to the leadership test.

Obviously, Lee is very conscious of his effort to be a true leader. He is very clear in his vision and deeply grateful for the opportunities that support it. He is “present” in the now and avoids the pitfalls of regret and a vision without action. His systems are consistent and his actions are followed through with courage in a vulnerable society. He allows each individual, whether at home or at work, to find his or her own unique contributions.

On the other side of the spectrum, we have a daughter, now 20 years old. We have always believed Carly will be a superior leader – not because she is so bossy – but because of her solid sense of purpose (ok, being bossy is relevant, too). We have placed her in structured “learning opportunities” hoping to develop her leadership skills: “Motivating the Teen Spirit” with Lisa Nichols and SuperCamp at age 17. She completed both with glimpses of potential peeking through but she was still more concerned about having to go without a cell phone for 10 consecutive days than learning.

We then suggested she apply to be a camp counselor for the for the summer after she graduated from high school. This foundation is committed to educational and recreational programs for youth to children living in two of the nation’s most violent and impoverished cities, Hartford, CT and Philadelphia, PA. Carly chose to work at Hartford on the campus of Trinity College.

Keep in mind Carly knew NO ONE and was the youngest counselor by two years. She packed up all of her earthly belongings and flew across the country on her own. Lee and I are close friends with the founders of ESF (Education, Sports & Fun) and were assured of her safety. She wasn’t so sure, especially once she realized she had a mouse in her dorm room, soon to be nicknamed, “Stuart Little.”

Her learning came quickly. These children had to be nominated by a pastor or teacher to be accepted into the camp – they WANTED to be there, they WANTED to learn. She volunteered to work overtime by riding the bus to pick up and drop off the day campers. ESF has a strict policy of parent-to-counselor-back to parent handoff, never leaving a camper alone. She got to personally observe the environment these children were living in; the same environment she was not allowed to walk around after dark.

Her bonding with her assigned group was instantaneous. She adored her little ones – ages 5 and 6 – and they her. Her heart would melt when being asked a question that began with, “Miss Carly, will you….” Pool time was a favorite activity. And the dance contest? Oh my, she could shake it with the best of them! She was always amazed how they all knew the rap songs verbatim.

She also witnessed how the Board of Education and the State Health Department, in an effort to help, made a terrible decision when strictly enforcing uneaten food to be thrown away. Even apples and untouched half sandwiches were tossed. Carly knew that many of the children were having their only meal when at camp and would have gladly taken the leftover food home.

After seven exhausting weeks, she flew home. In her hands, she kept the file of goodbye letters written from her little ones as her tears dropped on the paper.

It was clear to her that she had taken her education for granted; her home for granted; her family for granted. It was clear she had much to offer.

Her consciousness of how life outside of her comfort zone had expanded tenfold. It was not at all how she had envisioned. She had not even given it any thought, actually.

She learned consistency with little ones was a necessary tool for setting boundaries and earning respect.

She acknowledged the courage in those children for having a vision for a better future. They walked through their fear so they could learn. She realized she had never really known fear at all.

Her compassion for her kids, as she referred to them, was enormous. Maybe behavior did reflect circumstances; maybe things are not always as they seem; maybe opening her heart allowed love to encourage them to succeed – for her to make a difference.

Carly is a leader. And I am very proud of her for taking that leap of faith and embrace the “learning opportunity” that came her way.

During the holiday season, we are inundated with reminders to be grateful, have the attitude of gratitude, appreciate what you have, and so on.  Articles and books on gratitude have saturated readers everywhere.  It became apparent to us that perhaps while the focus has been on “thanks” with limited substance and abundance of fluff, the real meaning or power may come when combined with “giving.”

It is appropriate to thank someone for a gift or kind deed.  In turn, we usually like to have our gifts or kind deeds acknowledged, especially if it involved a sacrifice of some degree.  Hugs are my favorite, to either thank or be thanked.  But then what?  Why does gratitude feel better sometimes more than others?  Intriguing discussions are beginning to emerge.  I have a story that demonstrates how to combine “thanks + giving.”

Nick attended First Descents (a non-profit foundation offering free week-long adventure cam

ps for young adult cancer survivors) after being declared to be in remission for the first time.  He was 19, gaining weight and growing hair after a brutal year of chemo, radiation and surgeries.  He had lost a full year of school, lost his confidence in dating and the dread of his cancer returning was lurking in the corners of his young mind.

The camp was enormously healing for him.  There were other campers near his age having gone through similar situations that he had endured.  They got it.  He enjoyed not having me hovering nearby, asking him how he was feeling and if I could take his temperature; he admired the pure beauty of Glacier National Park; he relished the freedom of his kayak on the river; he thoroughly delighted in being able to complete a “roll”; he embraced the closing ceremonies in bonding his new friendships while releasing his deeply imbedded fears.  He surrendered his identity as a cancer survivor and regained his individuality as a man.  He found his future again.

He appreciated the experience.  He was grateful.  Now what?  He knew.

“MOM!!! We have to raise money so that more kids like me can go!”

At this particular juncture, we were in the midst of the busiest time of the year for softball season.  Both of his sisters played competitive ball, which comprises of about 100 games a year – being at about game 85 when he came home from camp.  As I mentioned, he had also just finished up a year of treatment and we were all exhausted – mentally, physically, and emotion

ally.  Except Nick; He was feeling pretty dang good after returning home from camp.

I said, “Nick, I only know softball right now.”

“So let’s have a charity tournament!” he suggested.

“I’m sorry, what?”

Six weeks later, we kicked off Nick’s Wacky Warriors first charity event (WACKY stands for Warriors Against Cancer in Kids & Young-adults).  Sixteen fast-pitch softball teams played in a round-robin format from sun up to sun down.  With volunteers, umpires and an enthusiastic group of supporters, we all embraced Nick’s vision to help other kids like himself and watched it manifest into reality.

Was this a one-time thing?  Nope, cancer is still attacking children and young adults.  He broadened his vision to include supporting childhood cancer research in hopes to eradicate cancer entirely.  Nick didn’t want to just have one charity tournament; he wanted his vision to be sustainable.  He wanted to make a difference. He did.

Three months after Nick died, we hosted the 4th Annual Charity Softball Tournament last September (the month representing childhood cancer awareness).  Thirty-two teams participated, competing on 11 fields over two full days.  WACKY continues to be embraced enthusiastically with coaches wearing outrageous wigs; players wearing their uniforms backwards with crazy socks; parents, grandparents and siblings dressed in various home-made costumes; posters of our local cancer children displayed throughout both ball fields.  They got it.

We have also expanded to marathons, high endurance mountain bike races, triathlons and so on.  Everyone likes to be WACKY.

To ensure we keep grounded in WACKY’s vision, Lee and I will be camp parents at the next First Descents camp in Moab this summer.  The power of saying thank you, being appreciative and expressing sincere gratitude grew with enormous momentum when combined with “active” giving.

Where has gratitude turned into “thanks” + “giving” for you?

When Nick wanted to give back to other kids going through cancer, we quickly realized there were thousands of reputable charities already established – we didn’t need to reinvent the wheel, but to join forces with an existing charity that mirrored our own vision. We researched which charities we wanted to support. We reviewed public information; i.e. what percentage of donations actually went to research for childhood cancer; which charities had the most direct impact on the quality of life and so on.

We have continued to select CureSearch as the most effective in dedicating research to childhood cancer – 95 cents of every dollar goes directly towards research. After attending the First Descents adventure camp for young adults surviving cancer, Nick personally experienced the enormous impact cancer camps have on cancer survivors.

Since the inception of WACKY – Warriors Against Cancer in Kids & Young-adults in 2008, we have donated over $100,000 to benefit both CureSearch and First Descents through generous donations received by WACKY supporters. We will continue to focus on childhood cancer research and young adult camps for cancer survivors. WACKY (a dba of the Empowered Wealth Foundation, a true 501(3)(c) charity) reserves the right to determine and review annually where donations are to be allocated.

WACKY is just one of many great charities out there. We all have our favorite causes, usually because of a personal connection. What do you know about your favorite charity? Have you done any research lately? Is your charity still in alignment with your vision?

Charity Navigator and Guide Star are excellent charity review websites that can help you find information on most significant charities. CureSearch can be found on both sites; First Descents is registered with Guide Star. The Empowered Wealth Foundation is still pretty small to merit association with either charity review sites; however, we are growing and hope to be affiliated with one soon.

Charity Navigator recently posted a terrific article with guidelines in giving. It is definitely worth the read before making a donation this year – here is the link: http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=content.view&cpid=518.

On a random note, I follow a website called “Help Others” – www.helpothers.org. It is a site where people post stories of random acts of kindness. It is very apparent that many of us are not so much in need of financial assistance, but tenderness, kindness and love, if only with a smile, a kind word, or an anonymous gesture to help. Take a moment, take a breath and look outside your peripheral vision – embrace your innate power to give to others – charity in its purest form. As Lee likes to say, “Be an answer to someone’s prayer today.”

]]> http://empoweredwealth.com/blog/%e2%80%98tis-the-season-of-giving/feed 1 http://empoweredwealth.com/blog/remembering-our-servicemen?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=remembering-our-servicemen http://empoweredwealth.com/blog/remembering-our-servicemen#comments Mon, 14 Nov 2011 19:07:24 +0000 Empowered http://empoweredwealth.com/blog/?p=348 by Lori Brower

Last Friday was Veteran’s Day – I am very grateful for this day, as I need a reminder of just how important our soldiers are to us all.

We live near an Air Force base and it still brings tears to my eyes when I see a table seated with soldiers and I witness random patrons stopping by their table to shake their hands and personally thank them for their service. I underestimate my patriotism until I feel it burst through my heart as an airport security employee – observing the military status of a passenger dressed in civilian clothing – says, “Thank you, sir, for everything you do for our country”, and proudly shakes his hand. I have been on more than one flight where the entire plane applauds with unabashed pride and gratitude as soldiers board the aircraft.

In addition to our gratitude, it is obvious we need to do more for our servicemen. Just as I am struggling to find my way now that Nick is gone, our veterans are trying to find their way, their new “purpose” now that their service is over.

I have read several articles of late and this one seemed to have a meaningful message for me:

www.huffingtonpost.com/spencer-kympton/post_2622_b_1076997.html, highlighting The Mission Continues, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, founded in 2007 after CEO Eric Greitens returned home from service in Iraq as a Navy SEAL. Upon his return, Eric visited with wounded Marines at Bethesda Naval Hospital in Maryland. Without exception, each Marine expressed an unwavering desire to continue serving his country, even if he could no longer do so in the military. One young Marine even said this: “I lost my legs – that is all. I did not lose my desire to serve, or my pride in being an American.” (www.missioncontinues.org)

We are also associated with friends of the Mission Soldier Adoption program, which supports United States military personnel deployed in harms way and veterans by collecting donations from individuals and companies worldwide. These items are sent overseas in care packages, distributed to veteran groups around the state and country, or to military families. In connection, On Purpose Journey Inc. has a mission to physically and emotionally support people in need in our communities, country, and world by restoring hope and providing inspiration through words and acts of kindness. Their focus is supporting and improving the lives of members of the United States Military, veterans, and their families. (www.MissionSoldierAdoption.com and www.OnPurposeJourney.com

Dave, our controller here in our office, is working with his church (one of several churches) to assist our local VA temporary housing facility. Starting last Wednesday, they hosted an introductory barbeque, including donations of fresh fruit, magazines and clothing. Specifically, suits and ties were donated to help our veterans prepare to interview for meaningful employment. The volunteers will continue with their complete support throughout the holiday season and into the new year.

There are thousands of programs set up to help; all it takes is the desire to participate. Intention is very powerful and once released, opportunities will present themselves tenfold. As we prepare for the upcoming holidays, may we all remember and include our servicemen – in uniform or civilian clothes. We need them.