The assigned topic for this blog post: "what are my goals".

In the military we subscribe to the “adapt and overcome mentality”.  It is imperative to assess the situation and determine where course correction is needed.  When it comes to my goals and how I pursue these goals, some course correction is needed as I transition from 20 years of military service into what this next phase of my life will be.  

A priority for me as I navigate through this Learner Blog and internship as part of the DoD Skillbridge is self reflection.    

Self-reflection is a process by which you grow your understanding of who you are, what your values are, and why you think and act the way you do.

Just last week I was driving with my almost 14yr old daughter to our drop off point at the end of our weekend visit. If you are a non custodial parent, you probably can relate to the many hours spent in the car with your child dropping off and picking up.  The plus side to this situation is that we have had many long conversations that helped the two of us bond as parent and child.  Our most recent conversation was about her pursuit of her goals, primarily school and sports. 

If you understand teenagers, you know that most of them are just trying to figure out their place in the world.  My daughter is no different, but she is a driven young woman who attacks her goals with a focus and determination that sets her apart from most people her age. I see myself in her. 

Now, this is where the self-reflection sets in.  Our conversation this day on our drive to the drop off point was about how she feels her drive sometimes creates issues in her relationships with others.  She also feels extreme self induced pressure and anxiety.  She struggles with balance. 

My heart sunk….. I have struggled with all these things in my lifetime. I had to fight back my emotions as we talked through many things on that drive, much of it was uncharted territory for us.  I shared experiences, spoke from the heart. We connected in a way that i'm not sure we have ever connected before.  I believe she helped me more than I helped her through that conversation.  

So, yes, I have goals. I've pursued goals with all of my heart and soul through 20yrs of service. Some of these goals were individual, some were organizational and some were for others.  Some I chased for years before I realized they weren't worth chasing.  

Through self-reflection I now realize that balance, pace, perspective, consistency, faith and most importantly the journey itself are the key takeaways after a lifetime of being goal driven.  I've also learned that individual goals fade quickly while shared/team goals and helping others to achieve their goals last much longer and are much more fulfilling.

My current goals:

Prioritize my faith, family, and overall mental health first.  

Support veterans by partnering with them to find employment post service.

Many things are incorporated into these two goals. Much of which will be explored in the coming blog post.  

Stay tuned.

Chad