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The Harsh Military Lesson That Transformed My Life
“There is a light at the end of the tunnel”
Finding Inner Peace During Hard Times
“There is a light at the end of the tunnel.”
During my US Naval deployment in 2017, I would encounter the heaviest mental load I have ever lived through. A difficult time where I was cut off society and would be forced to decide how strong I really am.
In the months leading up to this deployment, I suffered a number of personal tragedies.
The grief of dealing with the tragic deaths of two childhood cousins due to gun violence that would hang over me like a dark cloud.
The abrupt, and painful, end of a once-thriving relationship with an ex.
While dealing with the increasingly heavy mantle of carrying the responsibility of defending my country and those around me.
As a US Navy mechanic, I wasn’t on the front lines — my battles came from keeping the war effort going. My job was to keep metal beast alive and well as airstrikes flew against our enemies. It was more than just fixing the machines of war — it was also about fixing the people fighting the war. As a leader figure, and young man coming into his own, I had to figure out how to best keep going…
