Ten Years Out

Ten years out of the military, and I hadn’t even thought of it until just yesterday. Proud to say today that I exist in my own sense of peace. Not carelessly. And certainly not without great thought and intention.

I’ve heard people say that the hard times make us stronger, that the people who harm us make us better versions of ourselves. I disagree. That belief puts credit where no credit is due. We are strong only because we desire to survive, to live, to love, and because others in the world want that with us and for us.

It is love that shapes us into better versions of ourselves, within and without despair.

When others thank me, I 
pretend they’re thanking me 
for taking back who I am and
approaching how I serve with
greater care… and choice. 

Truly, an act deserving of
thanks. 

I like to think they’re
thanking me, and others like
me, for not succumbing to 
the anger and despair, for 
working those feelings 
into something they can 
smile at fondly, or even 
raise a drink to, and not
think too much about. 

The drink goes down
nice and smooth.

I like to think we who 
are thanked hold the keys
to peace, the answers to 
how not to harm our 
brothers and sisters. But 
without the fear of being 
harmed by an Other, who
then would not be our 
brother and sister? Who 
then would we trust with 
our lives to save us, and 
from what?
      
The wars rage on with
and without us. Who are
we to say we know despair
any more than the refugees,
the displaced, so many
forgotten ones?

Who are we to say we 
know peace?

The world goes on with
and without us.  The 
lessons are learned and 
forgotten, learned...
and forgotten. 

Why, then, are we 
thanked? Unless to 
acknowledge our
choice to exist in
our own sense of
peace, hard earned
but no more so
than others, who 
should also be
thanked for 
their service
to mankind,
for their hopes
and dreams 
of a better
life

for it is those
hopes and dreams
and the actions
they inspire 
that make life
worth living
for any of us.

We who are 
thanked and 
forgotten
as the wars 
rage on
with and 
without us,

we who exist in
our own sense
of peace

today we smile
and quietly say,
"you're welcome."