Awesome book, great writer, you feel as though you're there -- highly recommended.
And what these guys are going through is torture! Cold, wet, thirsty, hungry, exhausted, harassed, hurting hurting hurting. And sure, there is some complaining, but not a whole lot, and they take responsibility for their own situation, and they keep going.
Then I turn on the news, and there are people in New Orleans in the superdome and convention center. And some are in dire straits. But a lot of them are physically not in jeopardy. They are hot, sweaty, thirsty, hungry, exhausted, harassed, hurting. And they are complaining bitterly, and they are angry that no one is taking care of them. And some are caring for small children but others seem able-bodied and self-sufficient enough to be helping somehow. And either that's not happening much or we're just not being shown that happening.
And I found myself asking, what's the difference? I came up with some thoughts...
- the SEALs and Green Berets signed up for training and knew what they were getting in for (or at least had some clues)
- the Katrina victims were caught by surprise
- the SEALs and GBs are physically fit when they start the training (though by the end of Hell Week sounds as though they are all ready for hospitals!)
- the Katrina victims, on average, are out of shape like most Americans; they have less physical strength, stamina, resilience
- the SEALs and GBs have the security of knowing that when the training exercises are over, they go back to their homes -- they may be miserable but they're not afraid of anything but their own potential for failure
- the Katrina victims have no idea what their future holds and are afraid, very afraid, because it looks pretty grim
- the SEALs and GBs visualize themselves as competent and powerful people who can make things happen
- the Katrina victims see themselves as being at the mercy of forces beyond their control
And then I look at myself and think about how I deal with adversity. And I am not real comfortable with that, because even though I am not a victim, I behave like one more often than I would like to admit.
I end up wondering how one changes those attitudes? How can the Katrina victims reclaim not just their physical lives but their emotional strength and sense of security? And for that matter, how can we all take more responsibility and live up to our potentials? With apologies to Tom, how can we tap into our "inner SEALs"?