I would like to share this story, may help someone...may not..lets see?
Just over a year ago my 19 yr old son came to me and said, dad...I want to be a United States Marine and with that he got my support. So November of last year came around he was called to bootcamp what timing...he will miss Thanksgiving with us, his birthday, Christmas, his first wedding anniversary and my birthday...kind of tough for a 19 yr old, but that is part of it. So now I know he is going to graduate in Feb and I will have to drive to South Carolina from Florida. Traveling in state for me not such a big deal most times but this was a 7 hour trip and I hadn't been out of state in at least 5 years. So, I have roughly 3 months to work myself up about this and at times I did. Now for the inspiration part!
As I received letters he would inform me that they were awaken at 4:30 am and given 60 seconds to be dressed, when they took showers they were given 60 seconds and lots of tough things like this. I found myself complaining a lot less when I had a bad day at work or something at home wasn't just right. My son was inspiring me to look at things differently, I had lots of choices and he did not so I shouldn't complain.
about a month in he mentioned in a letter how much he looked up to me and my dad and it teared me up a bit because he didn't realize just how much of a hero he was becoming to me and my father. I began being a bit tougher and it was because he was inspiring me. As graduation got closer anxiety began to grow...I had a thought once or twice about an excuse not to go. On his final week and final test to become a Marine he had his cruicble which is a 54 hour test of physical and mental achievments. 54 hours, 3 meals and sleep twice, once for 3 hours and once for 4. They covered 48 miles on foot and if that wasn't hard enough on it's own...it rained most of the 54 hours with temps in the high 30's. He was ordered to dive into what looked like a regular mud puddle, but when he dove in it was over his head and he said he almost freaked out and jumped up, but began crawling as fast as he could till he got out. He did well and passed and for that kind of toughness I knew I was making this trip, even if it killed me. I had worried off and on for three months about the trip and with all that worry, I made the trip without a single panick attack...lots of short anxious moments but I can live with that. It was his courage that helped me have courage and what a great memory I have now of being there. The best part is it was one of the big fears I have and because I did it, it gave me something really solid to build from. Much in the way he was pushed to achieve, he indirectly pushed me. So gather strength through others and let it challange you. Take your fear and turn it into a challange....you just might accomplish it and with that comes victory and with victory comes wellness!.....KEEP PUSHING, YOU CAN DO THIS!
Good luck and better health!.......wingman