Day 7: Today I'm Grateful for...Power

Many thanks to Anthony Ball & Sara Correll for calling me into the #projectrefitgratefulchallenge!

You may (or may not) know that I went missing on LinkedIn for a bit. When Hurricane Sally hit nearby Pensacola, we became part of the many who lost power. Recognizably, we were fortunate in that we only lost power for a few days. Others in our area experienced greater loss and there are many in our nation who face challenges well beyond our short-lived inconvenience. While being without power was a family discomfort, we remained mindful of what we had and kept prayerful for others.

While “off the grid”, I found much time to reflect, gather thoughts, and think deeply. I quickly developed an appreciation for this mental time. However, when the lights flickered on and the electronics hummed to life, reality set in with the knowledge that work (and all its responsibilities) was waiting. Back online, it took a bit to catch up to client needs and open projects. Fortunately, our clients are amazing professionals who understood. It made me work harder for them so not to keep them behind in pursuing their goals. Looking back, as frustrating as it was being without power, I’m reminded of the importance of this challenge…to influence behaviors toward positive thinking and being grateful.

Day 7: Grateful for…Power.

So easy to overlook…Power. Power that fuels our homes, our vehicles, our communications…But then there is our personal power. The energy we have that can influence change. For many, it can be a struggle to leverage personal power to influence others, influence situations, and influence our environment. For others, it can be a challenge to learn its limits. It took many years, but I learned gradually that we have the personal power to influence change, but we cannot change everything. Therefore, we should focus our efforts smartly…Put forward more energy and more of our personal power to influencing what we can control. Trying to change things outside of our control can bleed our energy to the point where we can find ourselves without power. And that kind of power loss can be much more than just a 3-day discomfort.

The Real Challenge...Nearly 20 Veterans lose their lives every day to suicide (VA.gov). Countless Veterans battle suicidal ideations and struggle with the challenges of mental wellness. Your support can make a difference. Help #spreadtheword. Check out these amazing orgs in our network who are devoted to those who serve(d)…Project Refit, Second Chance Rehabilitation Ranch, Honoring the Heroes, and First Responder Support Network

-Bo / CollabWritingNetwork.com/resume

Need immediate assistance? Veterans Crisis Line at 1-800-273-8255 and Press 1

Or visit: mentalhealth.va.gov/MENTALHEALTH/get-help/index.asp

Know of other organizations??? Share in comments.