November 1995. Naval Station, New Port, Rhode Island. Naval Officer Indoctrination School. Water Survival Training.
For me, this was huge. With the exception of spending 5 weeks at Fort Riley, Kansas, 15 weeks at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, and a few trips to NYC, DC and Chicago, I had NEVER been out of the south for any substantial length of time.
And I had never been to Rhode Island. While there, I, along with a few other officers, went to Boston (my first time). It snowed while I was in training (first time for me in years).
All of these first were not only exciting but also exhilarating. From 1987 to 1995, southwest Florida was my stomping grounds but I had come to a point in my life where I was literally stuck. I didn’t see any progression. I had just received my Master’s Degree but I had no job opportunities.
The opportunity to serve in the military forced me into a WHOLE different world. In the brief month and a half of training, I found new energy, new focus and new perspective because I was forced to leave my old surroundings and see a greater more expansive world.
Enjoy the power of those moments when they come. They are powerful and they are insightful and sometimes, it takes moving you OUT of familiar surroundings to help you see parts of the world you are missing.
#inspiration #motivation #selfworth #selfesteem
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