Miltary Blessings

After nearly four months of working intently with military folks, their families, and those who support them, I am again overwhelmed by how dedicated they are. Time does not matter, lack of sleep does not matter, being hungry does not matter, the mission matters. Even for those who support our military folks, they will let nothing get in the way of delivering their support to the folks who need it. Applaud them, please. Heroes is an over used word, but dedicated, hardworking, committed folks they are and are due honor. Sometimes they thank me, but I always return that thanks with greater thanks. Moody Air Force Base is a marvelous place, even though at least one third of them are deployed and in harms way. Folks hold their breaths praying that everyone returns home safely. Sadly they don't all. But every one of them should have our appreciation for it takes a special kind of person to do this work. I've met a whole lot of them. Dr. D.

Not all Wonderful

I don't suppose that anyone's life is all wonderful. There are those who can see the good in every day or ignor the things that are difficult. It is the same in traveling our country serving our fine women and men in uniform. There are those days. You know what I'm talking about. They are long, they are busy or they are slow. You miss the people at home. Geez I can even miss mowing the lawn and taking out the trash! So, you remember me while you remember our uniformed citizens, because not every day is all wonderful. I'm sure that is true of you. Together we'll find the things to celebrate each day, love, children, family, planning a vacation (I didn't say taking one!), spouse - - all the people we actually do live for each day. In fact, focusing on the people we love makes whatever we do more wonderful than the difficult things we do can erase. Dr. D.

What is Moody AFB Like?

It's like a small city within a city. It's like a community college campus with a fence around it and a very big airport attached to it -- where really big planes fly in and out. It's full of hard working people dedicated to one another and dedicated to their country, the cause of freedom, and defending the defenseless. Tbere are no speed limit signs, it is posted when you drive on base. There is not one traffic signal on Moody. Every driver is courteous and obeys the speed limit. They are very young it seems to me - but maybe I'm just pretty old! They are always friendly and call me "sir" all the time. They won't go through a doorway first, unless I tell them they are the dedicated active duty airman and they must let me hold the door for them. The civilians who support them are equally selfless and dedicated. Even though I've had a long and wonderful military career, these fine folks simply amaze me and I am thankful for them. When they ask for help they do so humbly. It's warm, pleasant and disciplined. You would like it here. Dr. D.

Getting Ready for Deployment

I still stirs me when I give a briefing to airmen here at Moody Air Force Base about getting ready to deploy. My work is with their emotional response. Most are ready to "serve their country" and therefore often are not aware until some negative affect that there is an emotional price to pay for deploying. Leaving and returning. Leaving friends making new ones. Changing support systems. Disconnecting and reconnecting with family. If they know what can go wrong they can ready themselves to prevent emotional difficulties when deployed. Most just tough it out. Maybe that's what we all do in life. Instead of clearly communicating about what is happening to us and being available to listen to what is happening to others, we just tough it out. Much to the detriment of our selves, our families, and our friends. On the up side, we can clearly ready ourselves for the tasks that are ahead of us and the outcome is much better. Dr. D.

Coffee with Friends

Most days I stop at the Starbucks on the way to work because the drive is about 30 minutes from the hotel. I stop there because I have coffee with friends when I do. Well, I am still using a gift card given me by friends. When I order the coffee, give the gift card, and accept the coffee I think of those friends. I miss them because keeping friends is an important element in life. Having been career military I learned how to let go of friends and make new ones on the short term. Now I feel like I've missed something. So, all you friends out there, I think of you often -- especially when I drink that great coffee. Maybe there is something important here. Whether it is "FaceBook" or "My Space" technology has given us a way to stay connected like never before. Stay connected. And, hey, a phone call would be cool once in awhile, I'm sure those friends would like to hear your voice not only read your notes. Just a little friendly advice. Oh, send me your phone number and we can actually hear one another's voices. Oh, man, the memories of friends are flooding back. Dr. D.

Marriages Under Attack

I know that I am posted at Moody Air Force Base to focus on relational challenges. But airmen are able to come to me "off the record" for any distressors in their lives. However, I must tell you that married military members (Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines, and National Guard) are being challenged at the hearts of their relationships. Constant absences, poor money management, too little income for growing families, shifting marital roles, dual working parents; ALL of these often bombard military families at the same time. One of the negative results is the end of these families. Which does not heal the suffering, only increases it. SOLVING the distress does decrease the stress while running from it does not. Even though (y)our marriages and families may not be bombarded like military families, there is something here to learn. Solving distresses resolves them without destroying the relationships. Try it. Dr. D.

Crisis

A crisis is not just "in the eye of the beholder." That is, it is only a crisis for the one having the crisis. A personal crisis often involves others whether in support of that person or to avoid that person or maybe to have created the crisis FOR that person. It is humbling to me to know that the airmen whom I serve will come to me with their personal crisis even though they do not know me and I will be gone in 45 days. I think you would be awed by the experience. When we are asking our military to serve at great danger to themselves and their families, I believe it is important that we support them with the personal crises that often accompany living. The young man, married ten years, feeling his marriage fall apart, longs for the assistance that will prevent that. I pray that the preservation he wants will be found in my office. It's okay if he finds it somewhere else also. But if he makes his way to me, I want him to find what he needs. If I ask him to go into combat I must be there for him when he needs me. Dr. D.