Posted on Nov 10, 2021
COL Doctoral Candidate In Emergency Management
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Every single human being is experiencing or has experienced an Earth Shattering, dream killing, soul wrenching, heart-breaking event. Know and embrace that you are not alone.

Everyone goes through a hard time, some harder than others, everyone struggles with understanding emotions, saying the right thing at the right time....our country has become used to instant gratification, perfect images of perfect people on entertainment and sports media... but these are not real only projected/created images. Be sure to take time for yourself (meditate, pray or just sit still), be patient with yourself and be kind and forgiving to yourself. What do you do when you are going through a hard time?

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/violets-me-what-god-taught-through-little-plant-alicia-gb-smith-pds
Posted in these groups: 0845aaaa Mental HealthHebrews 11.1 FaithFdb6b1bc Spirituality
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Lt Col Timothy Cassidy-Curtis
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I am going through a hard time, right now; nobody knows (except y'all, right now).
How am I getting through it? Here's a few tips that I'm doing these days.
1) Focus on what's important: At work, that's what's important, so I focus on that. I focus on what it takes to get my job done, then I figure out how to do it, then I do it.
2) When not at work, your focus should be what is happening at home; are you getting enough rest? Are you eating right? Are you getting enough exercise? If anything seems to be out of balance, look into making an adjustment, if that's possible. Sometimes it's not, but make sure it's not for lack of trying.
3) I ask myself about options that might be available; anything that looks feasible and workable in my life is something I will examine. Note, however, that none of this is to interfere with what's happening at work or at home. I'm one of the lucky ones in that my life (right now) has certain efficiencies that are happening, for which I give thanks. I have no idea how long they will last, but I am determined to work all of them to their maximum benefit to me.
4) Stay away from drugs and alcohol. The diameter of the Earth might be suitable (seriously, give them the heave-ho if any of that is in your life and a lot of distance if they are not).
5) Find support groups. It could be anything: Church, your family, close friends, folks who share interests with you (I do Dungeons & Dragons...yes "D&D", you can do bridge, chess, movies, etc.).

In the end, I find that asking "Am I done, yet?" is always answered "No. There's more that I can do."

One last thing: Attitude is not only important, it's a freaking Super Power! It's amazing what you can do with a positive one. Try it out. You will find it amazing!
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Cpl Raymond Hottinger
Cpl Raymond Hottinger
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Looking back on my D&D gaming group (yes my core group has been the same for over 30 years) I can see that they helped me through a lot of situations in ways I did not realize at the time. An honest change of perspective can make all the difference in the world. But we have to be willing to listen. Good luck sir!
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Lt Col Timothy Cassidy-Curtis
Lt Col Timothy Cassidy-Curtis
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Cpl Raymond Hottinger - Ray, D&D here, too. Currently running a Tiefling Bard, with an 18 CHA. Seventh level. Looking forward to leveling up, where I could get a 20 CHA. Also found a potion that increases CHA by +2. Think about it, a Bard with 22 CHA.
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Cpl Raymond Hottinger
Cpl Raymond Hottinger
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Sir I am currently playing a half dragon (copper) rogue. But a bard with a 22 cha is truly a scary concept!
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Lt Col Timothy Cassidy-Curtis
Lt Col Timothy Cassidy-Curtis
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Cpl Raymond Hottinger - Heh, heh. That's kinda' the point.
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SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth
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I concentrate on the good things in my life, and let the bad take a back seat in my dark chamber set up in my mind to keep them from bothering again COL (Join to see)
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COL Doctoral Candidate In Emergency Management
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SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth
SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth
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COL (Join to see) - You're very welcome ma'am, have a Happy Veterans Day ma'am.
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Cpl Vic Burk
Cpl Vic Burk
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SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth - Good advice Cowboy but much easier said than done Brother!
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SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth
SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth
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Cpl Vic Burk - Very true brother
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CWO3 Us Marine
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Calm down before all else, and think. It helps to understand one's locus of control and how to mutually benefit with others. Life calls for an occasional reboot.
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COL Doctoral Candidate In Emergency Management
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Thank you CWO3 (Join to see) I learned at one point that anger reduces one's IQ to 50 or below so I appreciate your advice...
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CWO3 Us Marine
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We are wired for fight vs. flight.
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COL Doctoral Candidate In Emergency Management
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LTC John Shaw
LTC John Shaw
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Following you on LinkedIn as well. Love your article.
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COL Doctoral Candidate In Emergency Management
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Thank you so much! Appreciate that LTC John Shaw
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MAJ Byron Oyler
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As an active ICU, ER, and pre-hospital provider, it is not a question if I will have another horrible day but when. I have a playlist with Three Doors Down Kryptonite, Five For Fighting's Superman, The Show Goes On by Bruce Hornsby and some others. What has really saved me is five minutes after the last call tones could drop for another person having a worse day than me and I must be on my A game for them. They don't care how bad my day has been, they expect me to make it happen for them. No exceptions and I truly believe our increased mental health issues and PTSD is no body expects you to recover, hell the government will compensate you forever, why get better?
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COL Doctoral Candidate In Emergency Management
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MAJ Byron Oyler I am glad you are there to support people in their last moments with compassion and strength and to be there for those who are able to recover and move forward with their lives. When my daughter was in the ICU I asked her nurse how she could do it and she said I love my patients....God bless all that you do.
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SSG Bill McCoy
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For DECADES, I've started every single day, literally thinking, "No one ... NO one, and NOTHING, will screw up my day." It's a matter of attitude. Of course, some things (family tragedy, casualties in one's unit, etc) will definitely nullify that, but the idea is to start each day fresh with POSITIVE thoughts and positive attitude.
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COL Doctoral Candidate In Emergency Management
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I really like that SSG Bill McCoy that is something that can easily be adapted like Mel Robbins' "high five yourself in the mirror" every day when you wake up
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SFC Jim Ruether
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I watched my dad lose his battle with Dementia and Alzheimers one day at a time. Here is a man who could disassemble an engine and put it back together again and it ran like a top. An excellent pilot who flew every chance he got especially if his grandsons went with. Here was a Godly man who was so afraid to die. A man who held us to a strict abiding of his creators laws and yet he prayed every night for his kids that God would find a room for us in his house in Heaven when we die. I watched him take is last breath as he squeezed my hand. He couldn't talk by that time but there was so much he told me in his handshake. Man I love you Dad and it will be a whole year on Dec. 2nd since you left us here on earth. I have asked good friends if it ever gets easier losing a loved one and they say ..........................
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COL Doctoral Candidate In Emergency Management
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SFC Jim Ruether I am sorry for your loss and I thank you so much for sharing such a wonderful commendation of your father and his Positive strong influence in your life and those of your siblings. I was recently told myself that grief is not something to get rid of but to find the right way to live with it forever. Working on that myself with a professional.
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SFC Jim Ruether
SFC Jim Ruether
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Thanks for your kind words. My dad's handshakke with me seemed as strong as it had been when he had his health and I can't help but think that he was trying to tell me that you lead with compassion, kindness and love and do so with strength My dad was a simple farm boy, honest to a fault, generous in his business dealings and if I wanted to emulate someone in my life it would be my dad.
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Lt Col Timothy Cassidy-Curtis
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I would not pretend to compare my misfortunes to anybody else's. There is a story about a group of people who put their lives into a bag (they wrote what their lives were about, good, bad, and ugly). Then they were asked to randomly pull a live out of the bag; that would be your life now. By the end of the session, everybody was hoping to get their own lives pulled from the bag.
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Lt Col Timothy Cassidy-Curtis
Lt Col Timothy Cassidy-Curtis
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With that having been said: One technique I have found useful is to ask "Have I exhausted all possibilities?" Once I dig into the situation, I find more possibilities to try. That's how I've gotten through the bad times.
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COL Doctoral Candidate In Emergency Management
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Thank you Lt Col Timothy Cassidy-Curtis I agree no one should compare their lives to another. Each of the trials, temptations, and challenges we face our ours alone, but I do believe we can encourage and inspire one another; especially if we go through something similar to what someone is struggling with to give them hope for a brighter and or stronger future. Blessings
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MAJ Roland McDonald
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I practice deep breathing and meditate on God's word to refocus my mind from bad to good. Usually just drop open the bible and read. Allowing him to choose the passages I need to draw from.
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COL Doctoral Candidate In Emergency Management
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Thank you MAJ Roland McDonald I find comfort in God's Word also.
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SGT Lorenzo Nieto
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I give it to GOD it works for me look at it this way if he feels you need it you’ll get it.
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