022: Deep Thoughts
Why is it so hard to be happy, content, and fulfilled? We are really blessed to live in an age and a country where we aren’t struggling for survival every single day. Yet, so many of us are frustrated and discontented with our lives. At least, I know I am. I feel like there must be something more, that I’m missing something. I guess it all goes back to the age old questions about the meaning of life. Today I’ll share a few of my thoughts on the subject and will hopefully give you something to think about this weekend.
2 Comments
Leave a Reply
Hello,
Thank you very much for your time with these podcasts. I found “Deep Thoughts” very inspiring and I, myself am going through with what you described. Committing. I am 25 and working now at a pretty stable job and could lead to high up position with good money. However, everyday I find my mind going somewhere else about what I should be doing.
I have always been interested in healthcare and planned for medical school. I was studying for the mcat, but due to a tough family situation I gave it up for the time being to work. I read a book by a Navy SEAL who mentioned pararescue. I have done a ton of research on the nitty and gritty of what pararescue is all about and it seems like the perfect fit for me. I am actually training now for the PAST and have pretty strong numbers except swimming I need to get down a little more. Moving on though, the only thing stopping me is what the reality of pararescue is. It seems like there are not a lot of missions going on and in some articles pararescueman have said it is a slow time for PJs. Granted, the public still knows very little of the pararescue missions.
I would just hate to go through all this training (which seems incredible) and not carry it out. I am wondering if you can tell me a little more about your life as a pararescueman. Maybe some things you weren’t expecting or what life is generally like. Traveling to all different places and acquiring more adventuous skills for the purpose of saving a life is amazing to me. I plan to go to medical school, but I have had this strong itch for pararescue the past 2 years..
I more than appreciate your time with this email.
All the best,
Lawrence
Lawrence,
Thank you for the comments. Even though I am not active with the podcast at the moment, it is nice to know that it is impacting people.
If you have a serious passion for medicine then you should definitely pursue it. Pararescue is a good way to do that, and I know several PJs who have gone on to become doctors. Check out the Pat Tillman Foundation. Several guys I know got scholarships through them to pay for med school.
In response to your concern about getting operational experience as a PJ, I’ll say that that is out of your control and should not be part of your decision making process. Honestly, the guys today are a bit spoiled by the opportunities. The 80s and 90s were slow times for the Rescue community and no one got the operational experience that the guys today have. That said, there is no shortage of wars, contingencies, and natural disasters, and if you serve long enough you will deploy and get your hands dirty. Just be careful what you wish for, because the stress and strain for multiple deployments each year can be just as bad as never deploying, especially on our families.
Also, don’t underestimate the training program. We started Indoc with over eighty candidates and ten weeks later were down to less than twenty. Ultimately, about ten of them earned their berets. You really have to want it and I can tell you that the thoughts of glory are not going to get you through the training. The reality is weeks and months of blood, sweat, and tears, with no guarantee that you will ever be called upon to do your job in the real world. I don’t say that to discourage you, because the sacrifice is in my view worth it.
Hope this helps. I’ll contact you by email and we can talk more off line.