Are we positive role models?

It's funny how inspiration for this blog comes to me. It is also very interesting how an idea evolves until I get it down on this "virtual paper".

While at physical therapy today, the corpsman and I were talking about President Kennedy. It seemed appropriate in view of the date. But, as he manipulated my arm and exercised my shoulder, the conversation shifted to being a positive force in life. You see, in the Navy being positive is really very important. You have to put aside petty differences and work as a team, all the time. The reason is simple. On a ship, there's no place to hide. You can't go home. You are already there. If you are a negative person, you don't survive very long.

The Corpsman said something very complimentary to me. He said that since he has known me (something like 9 months) he has noticed that I am usually very positive in my outlook. I perform my exercises with good humor and work hard to improve myself. But, I don't just pay attention to me. He told me that he noticed that I make an effort to encourage other patients. 

Well, I was sort of flattered. We began talking about how we try to live our lives. President Kennedy challenged all of us to "Ask not what our country can do ..." for us. He was talking about us all being a part of society's solutions rather than the problems. 

When I say that we must be positive, I am not talking of the "Politically Correct" vision of only being exposed to positive images and themes. I am talking of real action. I also not talking about "moving the world." I am speaking of the fact that small changes in how we do things can bring big rewards in the future.

What are we doing with our lives? Are we enriching those around us or are we poisoning the well?

When my daughter was up in New Jersey this past summer, she stayed with my sister. My sister and her spouse insisted that only positive images be brought into their home. As a consequence, most of the television stations were blocked on cable. Watching the evening news was not permitted because it contained negative images. I'm sorry. Censorship is never positive.

I think a better way to deal with the negative images and influences is to let children come across them and then discuss them. As parents, we have an obligation to prepare our children for life. One of our primary responsibilities is to teach them how to deal with the less pleasant issues in life. Eventually we will not be there to cover their eyes and ears and they will have to deal with them on their own.

I've said it before, we have to experience life. It's to short to squander. 

I used to go to career days when my children were in elementary school. I would arrive with a friend, both of us in uniform and show pictures of Navy ships as they fired their weapons. The children would be impressed. I would then ask if this image was what they thought the Navy was all about.

After all the children would say yes, we would change the pictures to  those of Sailors and Marines doing civic works in underdeveloped countries. We would be handing out school books in the Philippines or rebuilding an orphanage in Thailand. 

There would be all sorts of pictures. Their favorites were of small children being helped by the Hospital Corpsmen and Doctors. Children, after all, love other children.

I showed these pictures to the children in the class and told them and the teacher that this is what the Navy is all about.  It's called Service for a reason. We serve all the people.

I try to continue being a positive role model today. Even many years after retirement has begun, I try and contribute in some small way. Whether it's helping one of my children or answering a question from a Mom who's child has just left for Recruit training, I try and help.

I hope that I am not a pain to anyone but I will always try and be Positive, not by my words alone but rather by my actions. In the end, it's the example you set that counts. 

As Always...