Daily Gratitude: This follows nicely on yesterday’s post. I think we spend too much time trying to be what we think others want us to be. In the 80s I had a horrible experience at work which forced me to realize this. I’m sure I had been doing it for years but this was the first time I’d recognized it. It was like an out of body experience where I saw myself responding (maybe reacting is a better word) in one way to LCDR so and so and then moving to the next desk where CPT x was sitting and responding in a completely different manner. And so on. There was no Terrie in there. It was all about doing what the other person wanted me to do or be. Thank goodness I realized it and was able to make some changes to begin the process of being me. I’m still not there and it’s been 40 years but I’m a lot closer. So my advice to you is determine who you are and who you want to be and set out on that path. Do not be deterred. It’s your choice.

Daily Gratitude: What great advice that we all can use (if we’re honest). How often do we compare ourselves to others? Why? What do they say – something about you would be surprised at how little others think of us or about us for they are too worried about themselves. It seems to me that if we just put forth the effort to do the best we can, the other results will simply fall in place. Why put the extra anxiety on ourselves. I tried to be better than my idea of myself in this year’s vol state and that brought out so much good in me. It wasn’t about not being last or being better than anyone because I know that’s not in the cards. But I had a strategy and that was what I was aiming for. That made me a better person and I’m grateful for the opportunity!

Daily Gratitude: This follows nicely on yesterday’s post. When you have received those blows we talked about, you’ll feel down and out and as if you can’t possibly succeed. Just know that you can (and will) succeed. You simply have to put your head down against that strong wind trying to blow you down and keep going. Remember this when it seems especially hard. Review all those quotes and poems about not quitting when things are feeling tough. You can do this. Think back on the times when it’s felt like you couldn’t go any further and what happened if you kept marching forward. I bet you’ll find at least one situation where you kept going when you didn’t think you could. Do it again!