Do you believe that fighting through the bad days will earn you some of the best days of your life?

2016-11-18T17:54:05-05:00

RP Members and Connections do you agree or disagree with the message

"Do you believe that fighting through the bad days will earn you some of the best days of your life?"

I believe and I will always practice this until my days are done!

Here's a little motivational message for those individuals that are having a bad day, week, month, year, or even several years. Check this out!

"Sometimes you wake up in the morning ready to take on the day. You have your batteries charged, your motor is revved up and ready to go. Then without warning, a rough wind blows misfortune your way and all the sudden you feel like you just want to crawl back into bed and escape the world for the rest of the day.

It’s easy to find yourself down with a sudden change. It’s easy to long this day to end and a new one to begin. Nevertheless, your perfect morning will one day return. You just have to weather the storm until then. For in order to enjoy a beautiful day, you have to know what it’s like to live through a terrible one. That is how appreciation is built. Without appreciation, we can never truly enjoy the wonderful things life has to offer.

Don’t take a dark day as a c completely negative experience. That darkness will show you so much. I t will show you how to preserve, how to hope and how to get through difficult situations. It takes some dark days to build a bright future.

Not every day is going to be perfect nor will it be easy. That’s’ okay. Those tough days are part of life. Without them, life would be boring and dull. The World would be one predictable re-run that’s repeated day after day. But you don’t have to repeat the darkest days of your life. You just have to learn from the and use each one to build, enjoy and appreciate all the bright days that await you."

365 Daily PEP Talks by Neil Coffman

Response by SFC George Smith made Nov 18 at 2016 5:58 PM

2016-11-18T17:58:22-05:00

sounds like wise words...

Response by MSgt James Mullis made Nov 18 at 2016 6:06 PM

2016-11-18T18:06:52-05:00

I'm not that religious, but this psalm presents good advice for everyone: “This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 18 at 2016 6:23 PM

2016-11-18T18:23:52-05:00

Success is not a straight line. To get to the next peak you must walk through the valley! What I have found is that the best days are not always those days I get to the next peak. Rather, the best days are those days I allow myself to EXPERIENCE the route I am taking knowing I am following a compass and on purpose.

"It is not who we are at the end of the journey, it is who we became that counts."

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Nov 18 at 2016 6:37 PM

2016-11-18T18:37:09-05:00

Indeed you do, life isn't a bed of roses all the time.

Response by LTC Stephen C. made Nov 18 at 2016 6:53 PM

2016-11-18T18:53:22-05:00

It sounds juvenile, COL Mikel J. Burroughs, but the lyrics to the 1936 song by Kern-Fields provide an upbeat way to view the bad days:
"Pick yourself up,
Take a deep breath,
Dust yourself off
And start all over again."

Response by SPC Phil Norton made Nov 18 at 2016 9:14 PM

2016-11-18T21:14:35-05:00

One has to believe. I know from experience. Better days are on the way.

Response by Maj John Bell made Nov 18 at 2016 10:18 PM

2016-11-18T22:18:01-05:00

Most of my fondest memories are not from the good days, but from the hour when I figured out I had prevailed in the bad days.

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Nov 18 at 2016 10:54 PM

2016-11-18T22:54:12-05:00

@COL Mikel Burroughs Learning to PAY, (reward), yourself for having suffered thru the bad days is an art!

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 18 at 2016 11:51 PM

2016-11-18T23:51:51-05:00

COL Mikel J. Burroughs Life is a constant cycle of up's and down's. Some of our best memories are of overcoming obstacles and challenges. The dark days also helps us appreciate the bright sunny days.

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Nov 18 at 2016 11:52 PM

2016-11-18T23:52:26-05:00

Don't know that the good days will be earned that way, but you will survive to see them.

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Nov 19 at 2016 12:07 AM

2016-11-19T00:07:31-05:00

I would say enduring through the bad days is one of the better ways to enjoy the good days COL Mikel J. Burroughs. Those of us who know the Lord realize that trails and testing improves us albeit painfully. We are not generally responsible for what happens to us; but we are responsible for how we respond.

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Nov 19 at 2016 12:14 AM

2016-11-19T00:14:15-05:00

Don't know that the good days are "earned", but by fighting through the bad days you survive to experience the good days.

Response by SGT Philip Roncari made Nov 19 at 2016 6:32 AM

2016-11-19T06:32:22-05:00

"They can kill ya,but they can't eat ya,because you are too Goddamn tough"wise words from an old SFC in my past,got me through some " bad days" both in the Military and civilian life.

Response by SSgt Terry P. made Nov 19 at 2016 8:48 AM

2016-11-19T08:48:50-05:00

COL Mikel J. Burroughs Sir,without the bad days --How would you know when you had good days?

Response by CPT Joseph K Murdock made Nov 19 at 2016 9:33 AM

2016-11-19T09:33:05-05:00

Sometime that is the only way.

Response by TSgt Thomas Monaghan made Nov 19 at 2016 11:32 AM

2016-11-19T11:32:46-05:00

Absolutely

Response by Cpl Dennis F. made Nov 19 at 2016 6:12 PM

2016-11-19T18:12:13-05:00

No. I don't believe that there is a balance sheet to our lives.
Life is neutral, and what you make of it , is what you get.

Response by SP5 Mark Kuzinski made Nov 20 at 2016 8:04 AM

2016-11-20T08:04:54-05:00

Thanks for the post and I could write a book on this question so for now I just leave it at "Yes".

Response by Cpl Justin Goolsby made Nov 21 at 2016 7:36 AM

2016-11-21T07:36:15-05:00

I do. Whether it's just a little good karma down the road or the salvation of everlasting life in Heaven, I do believe suffering is needed in order to be rewarded. I've gone through some pretty dark times. Some times I didn't know where my next meal was coming from. Now I've got a roof over my head and 2 beautiful girls to remind me how good life can get.

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 21 at 2016 8:03 AM

2016-11-21T08:03:47-05:00

I think so. because it proves you can do something if you just fight for it.

Response by SFC Randy Purham made Nov 28 at 2016 9:46 AM

2016-11-28T09:46:01-05:00

I have mixed feelings on this one. I would lean towards yes; but its all dependent on how and what I am fighting through. There are days of fighting that pushes me to the point of not wanting to look forward to the benefits or another day of similar experience(s). Overall, I will say there is a lot of good in it.

Response by SFC William Stephens A. Jr., 3 MSM, JSCM made Nov 28 at 2016 12:12 PM

2016-11-28T12:12:44-05:00

Mike, I think you wrote this question so I could post the coolest picture are dad could ever get from his daughter, Sometimes you have to go through tough times to earn something you really want just like this weekend when my daughter was ask to go to Disney in Hollywood to be in a National Pageant to be up again 150 other girls, dad could go because he had to hold down the fort and keep everyone up to date on FB and work and answer questions on Rally Point. MY kid is only 9 but she been to a few pageants in state competition and she knows what is to win and lose the big one, she know you have to have bad days to have good days to be winner, We didn't do so well out in Hollywood this year but a lot girls are not asked to come to National pageants either. She did come home with National Ambassador title and that says a lot for a little girls who is 9 years old learning how to develop a short resume and bio about herself and introduction as well, why on Rally Point you ask, I just want to show a part of me that I don't show and Mike hit to today when he said GOOD and Bad days my kid has these all the time and through her little pageant life she working to be miss Pennsylvania when she gets older. I told my kid even through she did not bring the bring prize home. she still a winner in my book and waiting three hours to get this picture for her dad says something, she a winner in my book.

STEPHENS'

Response by SGT Robert George made Nov 29 at 2016 2:43 PM

2016-11-29T14:43:21-05:00

I feel there is a lesson to learn from all of it good or bad it makes you a better person !!!! I like that saying : Tough times dont last , But tough people do !!!

Response by Sgt David G Duchesneau made Dec 4 at 2016 11:21 AM

2016-12-04T11:21:40-05:00

Absolutely Colonel! I really had a bad end of the week. My best friend was diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer, my neighbors daughter who is four months pregnant found out Friday that her unborn baby is deceased inside of her and another neighbor just loss their daughter to breast cancer. My mom told me that there would be days like this when everything you try to do turns to shit, but she didn't say that they would come all at once! I need to be positive. Yes colonel, I believe! Have a good week everyone!

Response by SPC Thomas Schmidt made Dec 7 at 2016 3:39 AM

2016-12-07T03:39:00-05:00

Making it through the bad days makes one stronger and appreciate the good, no matter how small, and making them seem like excellent days. That's what I believe.

Response by SPC Jill Drushal, RN, MA made Dec 9 at 2016 12:21 PM

2016-12-09T12:21:13-05:00

I don't believe in good days and bad days per se or that good days can be "earned." I believe that I learn something (good or bad) from every experience, every interaction, every day. The day I stop learning is the day I die. . . A famous quote from St. Teresa of Calcutta concisely sums up my beliefs. "Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin."

Response by CPT Joseph K Murdock made Dec 21 at 2016 2:47 PM

2016-12-21T14:47:28-05:00

Sometimes you have to fight and survive today for a viable tomorrow.

Response by SPC Douglas Bolton made Dec 22 at 2016 11:46 AM

2016-12-22T11:46:28-05:00

Some of my best days were after the days I was knocked to the ground, and got back up. Victory over failure always gives you hope. Adversity can cause greatness.

Response by SGT James Colwell made Dec 23 at 2016 12:06 PM

2016-12-23T12:06:51-05:00

If we don't fight through the bad days, eventually there will be no good days or bad days. Each day is a day in our life, whether good or bad. If we don't fight through the bad days, and conversely, rejoice in the good days, then we in effect are not living life. There is a difference between simply getting up in the morning and actually living life to its fullest.

Response by GySgt Melissa Gravila made Dec 23 at 2016 3:51 PM

2016-12-23T15:51:01-05:00

I always told my kids this " when you are faced with adversity you have a choice: you can either wallow in it, pity yourself for it- or pick yourself up by the bootstraps, learn from it and move on.
Life is a series of choices- it is what you make it, if you choose to have a crappie day- that's what you get. If you choose to have a great day, you get a great day- it ain't rocket science, it's common sense" Hope this helps!

Response by Sgt Joseph Baker made Dec 23 at 2016 5:12 PM

2016-12-23T17:12:55-05:00

Thanks Colonel for the reminder. This last year for me has been a turd sandwich. I was injured in a serious car accident which cause me to miss a lot of work and run up some major medical bills, and the at-fault party had no insurance. I will be paying it off for years as a result. I had a set back in my career, I was demoted due to downsizing and consolidation of team lead positions, and ironically the guy I mentored is now my lead. Though he is a great guy that I have faith in so working for him is better than some of the other options. I have a couple dreams I had hoped to fulfill finally this year, but due to the previous items in this list of woes didn't happen. I am not accustomed to losing. Losing is hard for me. But I try to keep looking forward to the accomplishment of those goals, and try to remember that when I think that nothing good will happen for me, that there are great things that have happened in the last couple years such as two grand daughters added to the family who I love very much as I do my daughter and I get to relive those early years when affection was very simple. I have taken alot of the spare time this year to spend with my grand children increasing our bond and trying to be the best grandfather I can be. We have 8 so far, and another to be born this spring. Who would of thought I would be so rich when I first was married when I was just a 19-year-old PFC?

Response by MAJ David Vermillion made Dec 23 at 2016 5:42 PM

2016-12-23T17:42:22-05:00

You have to see the clouds to appreciate the sun.

Response by SP5 Robert Ruck made Dec 27 at 2016 10:59 AM

2016-12-27T10:59:29-05:00

Absolutely. The positive attitude acquired by navigating successfully through the bad times sets the stage for recognizing and enjoying the good times to the fullest extent possible. One learns not to take the good times for granted.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 28 at 2016 11:28 AM

2016-12-28T11:28:57-05:00

I believe in the statement somewhat but not 100% I worked very hard in the military for a lot of years, deployed, moved
My family every 2-3 years and worked for some very toxic leaders at times. I did this so that I would have the good retired years but now that I have been retired for a year I am finding that I am not the same person I was. That toxicity for years changes a person. It changes your outlook and you aren't as happy and mentally healthy as you were.

So my stress level didn't automatically go to zero the day I retired. I am much better now due to Electro convulsive therapy and some meds from the VA, but I wish I could have been happy and enjoyed life without that.

The real question should be is the reward at the end worth it if the stress and toxicity changes you?

Response by Pat McCracken made Dec 28 at 2016 12:07 PM

2016-12-28T12:07:54-05:00

Personally speaking, fighting through the bad days makes me stronger, which makes it easier to fight through the next one and the next one. I have more "best days" now than bad days, and it feels oh so good.

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 28 at 2016 5:52 PM

2016-12-28T17:52:34-05:00

Mike, if we use history as a guide there are certainly numerous examples that support your message. The winter at Valley Forge during the American Revolution and the aftermath is a great example. The results we achieved by individuals coming together that resulted in 'the best days of our lives' for so many. Where would we be today without those individual and collective efforts at Valley Forge? I submit that Valley Forge, in and of itself validates the message of Neil Coffman and yourself in your post.

Response by SSG Steve Jackson made Dec 29 at 2016 12:00 PM

2016-12-29T12:00:10-05:00

Yes it Does

Response by 1SG Michael Farrell made Dec 29 at 2016 6:26 PM

2016-12-29T18:26:17-05:00

Lying on you ass, bleeding into the mud doesn't really make anything better; if you lay there with your mouth open, a low-flying bird may well shit in it. Get up and get moving; that's the way we've all been trained and hopefully led and mentored. If nothing else, you'll get a change in scenery and something different to do. Lying there, you might be lucky to see the stars; but, if you don't get up and get going, no hope of being one. Deep breath, mutter something for motivation, and get going. Don't stop until you're done or dead. That's where the fun is.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 3 at 2017 10:09 AM

2017-01-03T10:09:42-05:00

Not everyday is going to be perfect. I get beat up everyday at work while breaking up fights and taking punches. These days toughen me up and make me stronger. Don't know what a perfect day is. But I go the distance

Response by CH (LTC) Robert Leroe made Jan 11 at 2017 9:59 AM

2017-01-11T09:59:31-05:00

I've heard soldiers say, "This is the worst unit/branch ever!" With my experience I was usually able to say that I'd seen worse. That being said, soldiers can be glad they're not in a civilian job where they may be stuck with their boss and co-workers for decades. Toxic units take some recovery time, but they do make us appreciate healthier ones. Another thing I often heard was, "It's not the Army; it's the people in the Army!" True, and again--that will change; either they or you will be gone in a little while. And maybe you'll learn some character lessons from the experience.

Response by SFC Louis Willhauck, MSM, JSCM, and ARCOM made Jan 18 at 2017 10:57 AM

2017-01-18T10:57:27-05:00

I think it depends on just what type "bad days" we are talking about. I lived that creed in EVERY aspect of my life and while in many ways it was a good creed to follow, it also ultimately ruined my life! I was married 40+ years and it was 30+ years TOO LONG! But... I kept in there trying to turn things around and all that other nonsense advice about if it isn't working you work at it until it does crap! Well, I wish I would have bailed after a year of trying... I know my life would have maybe not been better (one can never tell that part) but at least it would have been different!

Response by PFC James Craft made Jan 27 at 2017 9:21 AM

2017-01-27T09:21:30-05:00

I will fight through sue days in hope for one good day in a week, that is how wonderful a good day is to me.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 27 at 2017 12:11 PM

2017-01-27T12:11:20-05:00

You have to take your licks and keep on trucking, resilience is key to happiness in any situation

Response by GySgt Melissa Gravila made Jan 27 at 2017 8:22 PM

2017-01-27T20:22:10-05:00

The bad makes the good shine brighter

Response by Jenn Moynihan made Jan 27 at 2017 11:15 PM

2017-01-27T23:15:44-05:00

Most definitely! Without the dark, we cannot see or appreciate the light.

Response by COL Charles Williams made Jan 29 at 2017 12:21 AM

2017-01-29T00:21:24-05:00

Yes...
Not only that, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us.…

Response by SSgt Boyd Herrst made Jan 31 at 2017 12:48 PM

2017-01-31T12:48:23-05:00

I've had a bad day that may have saved my life.. and or time .. I had my truck already to go
and I go out and find my truck wouldn't turn over.. hmm, I'd made sure my radio
Was off, my lights switch all the way down..
E'thing powered down.. just by chance I
Checked that one switch again.. it was all the way up ! I looked at my list I checked off on, So I called my friend at his tow
Svc for a jump.. meanwhile Mom said she went to my truck to get her magazine and
Said she had turned my switch because the inside light didn't come on.. "I must have
Just shut snd locked the door but not checked the light was still on, I'm sorry!"
The guy got there quick enough gave mf my jump and got my AAA info for the bill. And I took off.. if that had not happened I would have been stuck waiting in a big back-up on the freeway.. I checked my radio and they suggested an alternate rte
So I did that. .. I often take off and don't play the radio for a while . change of circumstances got me to want to check that radio..

Response by CAPT Don Bosch, EdD made Feb 8 at 2017 6:08 AM

2017-02-08T06:08:23-05:00

Ask Tom Brady.

Response by SMSgt Lawrence McCarter made Feb 25 at 2017 12:28 AM

2017-02-25T00:28:40-05:00

Every persons life is a series of ups and downs, We hope at least the ups outnumber the downs. but thats life ! I can't worry too much about the downs, most days are ok and if I don't dwell on it I can salvage something out of a bad day and make it better.

Response by SSG Bob Takahashi made Feb 25 at 2017 11:10 AM

2017-02-25T11:10:49-05:00

He just earned himself extra duty

Response by COL Charles Williams made Mar 1 at 2017 11:28 PM

2017-03-01T23:28:16-05:00

Yes.... COL Mikel J. Burroughs “ Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. ”- Romans 5:3-4