[Applause] so I moved here to Colorado Springs from
so I moved here to Colorado Springs from
so I moved here to Colorado Springs from Phoenix Arizona three months ago and
Phoenix Arizona three months ago and
Phoenix Arizona three months ago and while I was unpacking my household goods
while I was unpacking my household goods
while I was unpacking my household goods I came across a box that I’ve been
I came across a box that I’ve been
I came across a box that I’ve been hauling around with me for the last 24
hauling around with me for the last 24
hauling around with me for the last 24 years and then this box have a bunch of
years and then this box have a bunch of
years and then this box have a bunch of keepsakes and mementos that I’ve
keepsakes and mementos that I’ve
keepsakes and mementos that I’ve accumulated throughout my career in the
accumulated throughout my career in the
accumulated throughout my career in the Air Force and for whatever reason that
Air Force and for whatever reason that
Air Force and for whatever reason that afternoon I decided to take the
afternoon I decided to take the
afternoon I decided to take the proverbial trek down memory lane and as
proverbial trek down memory lane and as
proverbial trek down memory lane and as I was going through all of this stuff
I was going through all of this stuff
I was going through all of this stuff and reminiscing a little bit I came
and reminiscing a little bit I came
and reminiscing a little bit I came across a newspaper article specifically
across a newspaper article specifically
across a newspaper article specifically it was a commentary written in 1997 by
it was a commentary written in 1997 by
it was a commentary written in 1997 by Colonel mark moon and in the article
Colonel mark moon and in the article
Colonel mark moon and in the article comes Lou who at that time was just
comes Lou who at that time was just
comes Lou who at that time was just wrapping up a long and distinguished a
wrapping up a long and distinguished a
wrapping up a long and distinguished a career in the army
career in the army
career in the army he reflected back on his career and he
he reflected back on his career and he
he reflected back on his career and he came up with a with a list of things
came up with a with a list of things
came up with a with a list of things that he would do differently if he could
that he would do differently if he could
that he would do differently if he could go back to the very beginning and do it
go back to the very beginning and do it
go back to the very beginning and do it all over again and in doing so he
all over again and in doing so he
all over again and in doing so he recounted some advice given to him by
recounted some advice given to him by
recounted some advice given to him by one of his mentor’s earlier in his
one of his mentor’s earlier in his
one of his mentor’s earlier in his career and this advice dealt with
career and this advice dealt with
career and this advice dealt with something and I suspect each and every
something and I suspect each and every
something and I suspect each and every one of us at one time or another has had
one of us at one time or another has had
one of us at one time or another has had to deal with and that is maintaining a
to deal with and that is maintaining a
to deal with and that is maintaining a healthy balance between our work life
healthy balance between our work life
healthy balance between our work life and our family life and at the heart of
and our family life and at the heart of
and our family life and at the heart of this advice was the notion that if you
this advice was the notion that if you
this advice was the notion that if you can understand and appreciate and apply
can understand and appreciate and apply
can understand and appreciate and apply the difference between that which is
the difference between that which is
the difference between that which is important and that which is urgent you
important and that which is urgent you
important and that which is urgent you will be better able to make healthy
will be better able to make healthy
will be better able to make healthy decisions as you get with the competing
decisions as you get with the competing
decisions as you get with the competing priorities in the jewfro from day to day
priorities in the jewfro from day to day
priorities in the jewfro from day to day so while I was reading the article again
so while I was reading the article again
so while I was reading the article again it struck a chord with me much like I
it struck a chord with me much like I
it struck a chord with me much like I did the first time I read it however now
did the first time I read it however now
did the first time I read it however now some 20 years later as someone who is
some 20 years later as someone who is
some 20 years later as someone who is very close to retiring myself I was
very close to retiring myself I was
very close to retiring myself I was inspired in a different way I was
inspired in a different way I was
inspired in a different way I was inspired they come up with my own list
inspired they come up with my own list
inspired they come up with my own list of things I would be differently if I
of things I would be differently if I
of things I would be differently if I could go back to Jane
could go back to Jane
could go back to Jane 1994 and relived my entire career all
1994 and relived my entire career all
1994 and relived my entire career all over again and unfortunately and despite
over again and unfortunately and despite
over again and unfortunately and despite having credible UN’s words on my
having credible UN’s words on my
having credible UN’s words on my fingertips for the better part of two
fingertips for the better part of two
fingertips for the better part of two decades I’m a little embarrassed to say
decades I’m a little embarrassed to say
decades I’m a little embarrassed to say – far too much resembles his for I too
– far too much resembles his for I too
– far too much resembles his for I too would have tried a lot harder to get
would have tried a lot harder to get
would have tried a lot harder to get home from work every day at a reasonable
home from work every day at a reasonable
home from work every day at a reasonable hour so as not to miss as many important
hour so as not to miss as many important
hour so as not to miss as many important family events as I did baseball games
family events as I did baseball games
family events as I did baseball games after school plays parent-teacher
after school plays parent-teacher
after school plays parent-teacher conferences birthday celebrations even
conferences birthday celebrations even
conferences birthday celebrations even family vacations I had one point or
family vacations I had one point or
family vacations I had one point or another in my career I had missed them
another in my career I had missed them
another in my career I had missed them all and sometimes I was unavoidable and
all and sometimes I was unavoidable and
all and sometimes I was unavoidable and I’m certainly not saying everyone should
I’m certainly not saying everyone should
I’m certainly not saying everyone should blow off work at every opportunity but I
blow off work at every opportunity but I
blow off work at every opportunity but I will tell you the assurance I’m stating
will tell you the assurance I’m stating
will tell you the assurance I’m stating here more often than not I simply
here more often than not I simply
here more often than not I simply thought I was doing what was expected of
thought I was doing what was expected of
thought I was doing what was expected of me I thought I was exhibiting service
me I thought I was exhibiting service
me I thought I was exhibiting service before self when the fact is I was
before self when the fact is I was
before self when the fact is I was failing time and time again to
failing time and time again to
failing time and time again to understand appreciate and apply the
understand appreciate and apply the
understand appreciate and apply the difference between that which is
difference between that which is
difference between that which is important and that which is urgently
important and that which is urgently
important and that which is urgently around the same time that I rediscovered
around the same time that I rediscovered
around the same time that I rediscovered this article my family and I created a
this article my family and I created a
this article my family and I created a memory that I will never forget our
memory that I will never forget our
memory that I will never forget our youngest child my daughter started
youngest child my daughter started
youngest child my daughter started college not far from here and in the
college not far from here and in the
college not far from here and in the days leading up to her first day of
days leading up to her first day of
days leading up to her first day of school she became increasingly nervous
school she became increasingly nervous
school she became increasingly nervous and that’s understandable this is a big
and that’s understandable this is a big
and that’s understandable this is a big change in her life and we were all very
change in her life and we were all very
change in her life and we were all very excited when we found out she bring two
excited when we found out she bring two
excited when we found out she bring two guests with her to her orientation that
guests with her to her orientation that
guests with her to her orientation that first week my wife and I were
first week my wife and I were
first week my wife and I were particularly excited to be there to
particularly excited to be there to
particularly excited to be there to support her and help her get registered
support her and help her get registered
support her and help her get registered for classes learning her way around the
for classes learning her way around the
for classes learning her way around the campus and kind of get set
campus and kind of get set
campus and kind of get set into a routine we all had our matching
into a routine we all had our matching
into a routine we all had our matching sweatshirts it was perfect so here’s my
sweatshirts it was perfect so here’s my
sweatshirts it was perfect so here’s my memories from that day I received it via
memories from that day I received it via
memories from that day I received it via text message while sitting in a staff
text message while sitting in a staff
text message while sitting in a staff meeting with the caption I love you dad
meeting with the caption I love you dad
meeting with the caption I love you dad wish you were here now with that staff
wish you were here now with that staff
wish you were here now with that staff meeting important sure it was it my
meeting important sure it was it my
meeting important sure it was it my presence there change the outcome or
presence there change the outcome or
presence there change the outcome or inform any major decision that was made
inform any major decision that was made
inform any major decision that was made I’m equally certain that within the case
if I could go back to the beginning to
if I could go back to the beginning to do things differently I would also on
do things differently I would also on
do things differently I would also on those days where I did tear myself away
those days where I did tear myself away
those days where I did tear myself away from the office I would have left work
from the office I would have left work
from the office I would have left work at work I can’t tell you how many times
at work I can’t tell you how many times
at work I can’t tell you how many times I allow built up frustrations distract
I allow built up frustrations distract
I allow built up frustrations distract from our otherwise room which should
from our otherwise room which should
from our otherwise room which should have been enjoyable times with my family
if I could do it all over again I would
if I could do it all over again I would be more forgiving and understanding of
be more forgiving and understanding of
be more forgiving and understanding of those closest to me it is equally
those closest to me it is equally
those closest to me it is equally incomprehensible and indefensible that I
incomprehensible and indefensible that I
incomprehensible and indefensible that I could so easily and so regularly except
could so easily and so regularly except
could so easily and so regularly except minor mistakes inconveniences
minor mistakes inconveniences
minor mistakes inconveniences last-minute changes and perceived
last-minute changes and perceived
last-minute changes and perceived slights from those who work for me and
slights from those who work for me and
slights from those who work for me and those who work with me the time and time
those who work with me the time and time
those who work with me the time and time again failed so miserably to do it when
again failed so miserably to do it when
again failed so miserably to do it when it applied to those who loved and
it applied to those who loved and
it applied to those who loved and supported me the most if I could go back
supported me the most if I could go back
supported me the most if I could go back and do it all over again I would make
and do it all over again I would make
and do it all over again I would make better use of the leave afforded me and
better use of the leave afforded me and
better use of the leave afforded me and take my family back home to visit the
take my family back home to visit the
take my family back home to visit the grandparents aunts and uncles and
grandparents aunts and uncles and
grandparents aunts and uncles and cousins way more often I’ve been in the
cousins way more often I’ve been in the
cousins way more often I’ve been in the Air Force for 24 years and for 21 of
Air Force for 24 years and for 21 of
Air Force for 24 years and for 21 of those years I’ve been in a user loose
those years I’ve been in a user loose
those years I’ve been in a user loose status as pertains to lead
status as pertains to lead
status as pertains to lead from my fourth year to my tenth year I
from my fourth year to my tenth year I
from my fourth year to my tenth year I lost believe almost every single year
lost believe almost every single year
lost believe almost every single year and on the right around that time that
and on the right around that time that
and on the right around that time that the air force started cracking down on
the air force started cracking down on
the air force started cracking down on folks losing lead and then from that
folks losing lead and then from that
folks losing lead and then from that point on I would wait until every
point on I would wait until every
point on I would wait until every September rolls around hastily schedule
September rolls around hastily schedule
September rolls around hastily schedule leaves often at the most inconvenient
leaves often at the most inconvenient
leaves often at the most inconvenient times just to avoid losing it and more
times just to avoid losing it and more
times just to avoid losing it and more often than not I would come in on those
often than not I would come in on those
often than not I would come in on those days to leave anyway or I’d simply burn
days to leave anyway or I’d simply burn
days to leave anyway or I’d simply burn the leave on weekends or holidays days
the leave on weekends or holidays days
the leave on weekends or holidays days or that would have been off anyway if I
or that would have been off anyway if I
or that would have been off anyway if I could go back and do it all over again
could go back and do it all over again
could go back and do it all over again I wouldn’t have made my wife wait 20
I wouldn’t have made my wife wait 20
I wouldn’t have made my wife wait 20 years for me to take her to ballroom
years for me to take her to ballroom
years for me to take her to ballroom dance lessons quite literally for 20
dance lessons quite literally for 20
dance lessons quite literally for 20 years she asked me each and every year
years she asked me each and every year
years she asked me each and every year to take their ballroom dance lessons and
to take their ballroom dance lessons and
to take their ballroom dance lessons and for 20 years I’ve a tendencies and for
for 20 years I’ve a tendencies and for
for 20 years I’ve a tendencies and for 20 years she pretended to understand so
20 years she pretended to understand so
20 years she pretended to understand so this is the same woman who for a quarter
this is the same woman who for a quarter
this is the same woman who for a quarter century has followed me around the world
century has followed me around the world
century has followed me around the world left jobs that she loved left behind
left jobs that she loved left behind
left jobs that she loved left behind friends that she’ll likely never see
friends that she’ll likely never see
friends that she’ll likely never see again and home said she poured her heart
again and home said she poured her heart
again and home said she poured her heart and soul into great for us and all she
and soul into great for us and all she
and soul into great for us and all she wanted to do is go dancing eventually I
wanted to do is go dancing eventually I
wanted to do is go dancing eventually I relented who knew I would have liked
relented who knew I would have liked
relented who knew I would have liked this so much little gnome be so darn
this so much little gnome be so darn
this so much little gnome be so darn good at it
nowadays I actually have to drag her out
nowadays I actually have to drag her out on weekends to go dancing the last thing
on weekends to go dancing the last thing
on weekends to go dancing the last thing I would do if I could go back if you all
I would do if I could go back if you all
I would do if I could go back if you all do it all over again is I would ask for
do it all over again is I would ask for
do it all over again is I would ask for help when I needed it our middle child
help when I needed it our middle child
help when I needed it our middle child my son has been dealing with severe
my son has been dealing with severe
my son has been dealing with severe mental health illness most of his life
mental health illness most of his life
mental health illness most of his life from the time he was 12 to this very day
from the time he was 12 to this very day
from the time he was 12 to this very day he’s 24 now he’s been in and out of
he’s 24 now he’s been in and out of
he’s 24 now he’s been in and out of mental health treatment facilities often
mental health treatment facilities often
mental health treatment facilities often for months if not years at a time
his condition manifested itself in many
his condition manifested itself in many ways to include self-harm and mutilation
ways to include self-harm and mutilation
ways to include self-harm and mutilation multiple suicide attempts self
multiple suicide attempts self
multiple suicide attempts self medication with alcohol and even drugs
medication with alcohol and even drugs
medication with alcohol and even drugs at its worst what he was going through
at its worst what he was going through
at its worst what he was going through jeopardized my marriage our family and
jeopardized my marriage our family and
jeopardized my marriage our family and most certainly his life now those are
most certainly his life now those are
most certainly his life now those are words said until this very day I’ve
words said until this very day I’ve
words said until this very day I’ve never spoken out loud before never told
never spoken out loud before never told
never spoken out loud before never told a boss never a friend or wingman never a
a boss never a friend or wingman never a
a boss never a friend or wingman never a chaplain or a counselor like others who
chaplain or a counselor like others who
chaplain or a counselor like others who are self-absorbed
are self-absorbed
are self-absorbed I made this situation about meaning I
I made this situation about meaning I
I made this situation about meaning I eternal eyes how of me how it would make
eternal eyes how of me how it would make
eternal eyes how of me how it would make me look as a parent or god forbid as an
me look as a parent or god forbid as an
me look as a parent or god forbid as an officer or a commander we talk a lot in
officer or a commander we talk a lot in
officer or a commander we talk a lot in the Air Force about comprehensive airman
the Air Force about comprehensive airman
the Air Force about comprehensive airman fitness about taking care of ourselves
fitness about taking care of ourselves
fitness about taking care of ourselves physically mentally spiritually
physically mentally spiritually
physically mentally spiritually emotionally if I could go back and do it
emotionally if I could go back and do it
emotionally if I could go back and do it all over again I would practice what
all over again I would practice what
all over again I would practice what I’ve so often preached the sacrifices
I’ve so often preached the sacrifices
I’ve so often preached the sacrifices had come with military service are many
had come with military service are many
had come with military service are many and they are great and they are shared
and they are great and they are shared
and they are great and they are shared equally by all members of the military
equally by all members of the military
equally by all members of the military family unfortunately for my family they
family unfortunately for my family they
family unfortunately for my family they kind of show they’re much more that
kind of show they’re much more that
kind of show they’re much more that burdened than they otherwise should have
service before self is one of our core
service before self is one of our core values and it means a great deal to me
values and it means a great deal to me
values and it means a great deal to me it means never allowing personal desires
it means never allowing personal desires
it means never allowing personal desires or wants or conveniences to come before
or wants or conveniences to come before
or wants or conveniences to come before the needs of the mission or to come
the needs of the mission or to come
the needs of the mission or to come before the needs of those who are under
before the needs of those who are under
before the needs of those who are under our charge but it does not mean for
our charge but it does not mean for
our charge but it does not mean for safety our responsibilities as parents
safety our responsibilities as parents
safety our responsibilities as parents as sons and daughters as brothers and
as sons and daughters as brothers and
as sons and daughters as brothers and sisters as friends and as contributing
sisters as friends and as contributing
sisters as friends and as contributing members of society
Colonel bloom said it should be each and
Colonel bloom said it should be each and every one of our goals to run out of
every one of our goals to run out of
every one of our goals to run out of career before we run out of family and
career before we run out of family and
career before we run out of family and based on where I’m at today
based on where I’m at today
based on where I’m at today I just might achieve that goal though it
I just might achieve that goal though it
I just might achieve that goal though it will be despite my best efforts to the
will be despite my best efforts to the
will be despite my best efforts to the contrary so I will leave you with this
go put in your leave request leave your
go put in your leave request leave your work at work surround yourself with
work at work surround yourself with
work at work surround yourself with friends and family maybe take a trip
friends and family maybe take a trip
friends and family maybe take a trip back home or just go dancing whatever
back home or just go dancing whatever
back home or just go dancing whatever you do don’t wait until September to do
you do don’t wait until September to do
you do don’t wait until September to do it thank you very much
it thank you very much
it thank you very much [Applause]
”
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