A collection of posts and podcast focusing on Purpose and Meaning
If you had a choice, after all these years, would you go back? Absolutely. In a heartbeat. This is something I hear from veterans I work with all the time: if they called, I would go back in an instant. This may come as a surprise to those who have Read more…
The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others – Mahatma Ghandi One of the most common impacts of leaving the military is loss of meaning and purpose. Regardless of why we joined, while we were in the military, service members expended energy and effort Read more…
March, 1996. I was the lowest ranking guy in my platoon. My unit pushed south from our base in Hungary to Camp Angela, Bosnia. Being the lowest ranking guy in the platoon this didn’t always mean that much, but this time, it meant I got the crap assignment. I was Read more…
This is the 8th episode of the Veteran Mental Health Boot Camp, a series of podcasts that is looking at all aspects of Veteran Mental Health. Check out the first episode and all episodes as they’re released by going here Summary: Dr. Aaron James Smith is a United States Marine and Read more…
Meaning and Purpose. Purpose and Meaning. It’s the Holy Grail of post-military life: searching for something that will satisfy the need for meaning and purpose that a service member had while they were in the service. It’s more than just something to do, it’s a desire to find something to be. I’ve written Read more…
When I talk about the work that I do with veterans as a mental health counselor, people are often surprised when I tell them that we don’t talk about war all the time. Every conversation isn’t about rehashing old memories, tearing off old scabs, and opening duffel bags that have Read more…
This post was originally posted as part of the American Counseling Association Blog Project. Original post can be located HERE Consider what it was like when you first realized that you were part of something bigger than yourself. Maybe it was a team in school, or arriving for your first day Read more…