Today is Veterans Day Observance. To a lot of us, it means
no school, lots of doorbuster sales and, hopefully, a day off from work. The
meaning of Veterans Day can be of little insight to those who have no family
members or friends who have served time in the service. But, those who do may
see the importance of today a little more clearly.
We have supported our loved ones through their times of
self-sacrifice and loyalty, as well as the most demanding, dangerous,
terrifying and noble times. Their acts of valor trickle into their civilian
lives, and we dedicate this day to them.
In honor of the veterans, here are four valuable lessons
only a strong-willed veteran can teach us civilians about life:
1. Learn from the past
“Those who don’t learn from history are doomed to repeat
it,” said George Santayana, a philosopher. There are historical precedents for
many of the battles that are fought in the military, and the same is true of
medicine. If you study the past objectively and think about how it turned out,
you will have a clearer vision of how you should proceed. Don’t repeat other
people’s mistakes.
2. Make a plan, but don’t be tied to it
“Plans are useless, but planning is indispensable,” said
General Dwight D. Eisenhower. You have to be prepared to accept that your plan
might not work. But, the fact that you went to the trouble of developing the
plan will prepare you to know where to pivot.
3. Anticipate problems
“Every battle is won before it is fought,” said Chinese
military strategist Sun Tzu. If you spend all your energy telling yourself how
great your work is, you will believe it. Instead, put your energy into finding
the weaknesses and anticipate the problems. Then solve them before they happen.
This means realizing your biases and resisting them.
4. Ask for help
Lastly, learn to ask for help when you need it, take care of
the relationships that sustain you, and allow yourself the privilege of taking
care of yourself when you can. Remember that you are human, even when the
situation seems inhuman.
The best thing you can learn from a veteran is to appreciate
where you are at this moment in life. You have the ability to determine where
life takes you. Most of that freedom wouldn’t be ours if it wasn’t for the men
and women who devote their lives to make America what it is. This day is for
you; we salute you for your bravery, your perseverance and your passion for our
country.
Happy Veterans Day!
