Admiral McRaven

Why do I like this Gentleman!?

10/13/2020

(Rough draft)

I was born in a Naval Hospital, semantically a Navy brat, if your implicitly biased to do so, who eventual enlisted and spent 12 years in the military only to be labeled a "Loser" by a despot of the ideologically right oligarchy. I respect the office as disciplined man would, however as Thoreau pointed out in his "Civil Disobedience" essay it is time to speak out and not remain complicit to the wrong he is doing to this great nation. I saw my basic training the same way that the admiral had, as a template for life, as I was indentured through enlistment to serve my country honorably. And, it was an opportunity towards learning good leadership qualities from the bad ones. It was a test of my ability to resist failure and towards keeping my self-esteem intact when there were those attempting crush it. McRaven has succeeded to achieve fame where I have not. He learned how to squelched the internal demons that would cause him to take the path towards ringing the bell of failure. I too work hard not to ring the bell. But, I often suffer on many days where isolation and loneliness are stifling, which I blame on the introverted reflections upon my life's struggle. I am a disciplined man who responds in a disciplined way, but it's knowing this when you are at the precipice of oblivion which will keep you from committing suicide. I am not dead yet, so why shouldn't I live life in a deliberate and meaningful manner?!