- Feb 23, 2005
- 3,100
- 149
- 116
Or, 2011: A Summary.
_______________________________
75*F is downright chilly compared to 130*F.
Never assume you know everything, you can be proven wrong regardless of what you thought you knew.
Always remember that no matter how bad it may seem, there is most likely someone out there that would gladly trade their best day for your worse.
That hand sanitizer crap isn’t worth a damn, so wash your hands with soap before you eat anything; otherwise, you will walk around with parasites in your gut for months. (Still trying to get rid of the little f***ers)
Remember your parents were once like you; young, unsure and learning as they went along. The only thing that’s changed is they are no longer young.
Let go of your grudges, regardless of who they are with or why. Learn from the past and accept that what happened has happened, and that it no longer can affect you unless you let it. Keeping that hate balled up inside will eat you like a cancer, and probably turn you into what you hated to begin with; or worse.
Sometimes, you need to remember to follow your own advice.
Keep your mouth shut about what you think of people, even if others agree; at best you’re being immature, at worst you were wrong about them.
Incoming and outgoing sounds completely different; but until you’ve heard both, always assume incoming.
Never take for granted the people in your life, they can be gone without you ever getting the chance to say goodbye. Hug your loved ones daily, tell your friends thanks for sticking by you, and buy your work buddy a beer.
A lifetime isn’t set in stone; it can be longer, or shorter than you think. Make every day count for something, even if that’s just taking the time to enjoy a coffee in the park.
Never be afraid to embrace an opportunity that presents itself to you, you may not get another chance and not taking it could be one of your biggest regrets ten years from now. Change is worth the risk, as it will show you a part of yourself you never knew before and take you places you never thought possible.
Tanks always have the right-of-way. Always.
When you want to do something to better yourself, make the mental change right there so it’s part of your life from then on. Don’t sit there and say that you will get around to it later; because, If not now, when?
When someone says to you, “at least you got your health.” understand that isn’t something to scoff at. All the money in the world can’t buy good health for some unlucky people.
Learn to not confuse wants and needs, it's not until you've lost everything do you realize something's true value.
Don't ever make a comment on how there hasn't been a rocket attack lately, or there will be no shortage of dirty looks when you're all huddled in a bunker later that day.
Ignorance could be considered the single greatest blight of humanity.
Embrace who you are, you will never be happy with anything in life if you aren’t even happy with yourself. It’s not until you learn and accept who you are, can you figure out if you really need to change and how.
Never be afraid to speak up, no one will do it for you; and if someone does, they may not have your best intentions in mind.
Learn to think for yourself; even your best friend can give you bad advice. Listen to what people have to say, but know that all they are doing is taking what they’ve experienced in their past and telling you what they did. Every situation is unique, and it’s up to you to figure out how the best handle it.
Document everything. There is nothing more annoying than someone getting out of a commitment or you getting put in a bad spot because you didn’t get things in writing.
Don’t be selfish.
Stay humble, regardless of your skill level.
Get out of your comfort zone, trust me, it's worth it.
_________________
I took these photos while I spent time working in Iraq and Afghanistan as a Civilian, the pointless banter are lessons I had to learn the hard way earlier this year before I left and during my deployment.
It's been a very hard and eye opening experience for me, seeing what our troops do every day and how the locals live is exceedingly humbling. I've been working 12 hrs a day, every day, for six months straight (while trying to shake off a parasitic infection); and even then, I'm living the good life out here compared to others. I was planing on staying out here for a year, but I hit a goal that I had set for myself sooner than I thought.
I'm getting ready to ship on home soon, and while it sucks I didn't get to spend the holiday season with my friends and family, I'm glad that I chose to do this; it's a point in my life I will never forget.
Happy Holidays, everyone.
And to anyone who has friends or family deployed, I hope they make it home safely.
Play me off, Destorm.
********
More Photos:
Redeye C-130 all to myself
Golf off of Saddam's palace
Chopper ride
No idea why this was in Afghanistan
You never want to be near a landing chopper in Iraq
_______________________________
75*F is downright chilly compared to 130*F.
Never assume you know everything, you can be proven wrong regardless of what you thought you knew.
Always remember that no matter how bad it may seem, there is most likely someone out there that would gladly trade their best day for your worse.
That hand sanitizer crap isn’t worth a damn, so wash your hands with soap before you eat anything; otherwise, you will walk around with parasites in your gut for months. (Still trying to get rid of the little f***ers)
Remember your parents were once like you; young, unsure and learning as they went along. The only thing that’s changed is they are no longer young.
Let go of your grudges, regardless of who they are with or why. Learn from the past and accept that what happened has happened, and that it no longer can affect you unless you let it. Keeping that hate balled up inside will eat you like a cancer, and probably turn you into what you hated to begin with; or worse.
Sometimes, you need to remember to follow your own advice.
Keep your mouth shut about what you think of people, even if others agree; at best you’re being immature, at worst you were wrong about them.
Incoming and outgoing sounds completely different; but until you’ve heard both, always assume incoming.
Never take for granted the people in your life, they can be gone without you ever getting the chance to say goodbye. Hug your loved ones daily, tell your friends thanks for sticking by you, and buy your work buddy a beer.
A lifetime isn’t set in stone; it can be longer, or shorter than you think. Make every day count for something, even if that’s just taking the time to enjoy a coffee in the park.
Never be afraid to embrace an opportunity that presents itself to you, you may not get another chance and not taking it could be one of your biggest regrets ten years from now. Change is worth the risk, as it will show you a part of yourself you never knew before and take you places you never thought possible.
Tanks always have the right-of-way. Always.
When you want to do something to better yourself, make the mental change right there so it’s part of your life from then on. Don’t sit there and say that you will get around to it later; because, If not now, when?
When someone says to you, “at least you got your health.” understand that isn’t something to scoff at. All the money in the world can’t buy good health for some unlucky people.
Learn to not confuse wants and needs, it's not until you've lost everything do you realize something's true value.
Don't ever make a comment on how there hasn't been a rocket attack lately, or there will be no shortage of dirty looks when you're all huddled in a bunker later that day.
Ignorance could be considered the single greatest blight of humanity.
Embrace who you are, you will never be happy with anything in life if you aren’t even happy with yourself. It’s not until you learn and accept who you are, can you figure out if you really need to change and how.
Never be afraid to speak up, no one will do it for you; and if someone does, they may not have your best intentions in mind.
Learn to think for yourself; even your best friend can give you bad advice. Listen to what people have to say, but know that all they are doing is taking what they’ve experienced in their past and telling you what they did. Every situation is unique, and it’s up to you to figure out how the best handle it.
Document everything. There is nothing more annoying than someone getting out of a commitment or you getting put in a bad spot because you didn’t get things in writing.
Don’t be selfish.
Stay humble, regardless of your skill level.
Get out of your comfort zone, trust me, it's worth it.
_________________
I took these photos while I spent time working in Iraq and Afghanistan as a Civilian, the pointless banter are lessons I had to learn the hard way earlier this year before I left and during my deployment.
It's been a very hard and eye opening experience for me, seeing what our troops do every day and how the locals live is exceedingly humbling. I've been working 12 hrs a day, every day, for six months straight (while trying to shake off a parasitic infection); and even then, I'm living the good life out here compared to others. I was planing on staying out here for a year, but I hit a goal that I had set for myself sooner than I thought.
I'm getting ready to ship on home soon, and while it sucks I didn't get to spend the holiday season with my friends and family, I'm glad that I chose to do this; it's a point in my life I will never forget.
Happy Holidays, everyone.
And to anyone who has friends or family deployed, I hope they make it home safely.
Play me off, Destorm.
********
More Photos:
Redeye C-130 all to myself
Golf off of Saddam's palace
Chopper ride
No idea why this was in Afghanistan
You never want to be near a landing chopper in Iraq
Last edited:
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