Happy Birthday America!
Celebrating 4th of July for me is a special time. As a 20+ year retired Captain of the United States Air Force it goes without saying, I love my country and I am proud to be an American; at my house we fly the American flag high!
Proud American
Americans enjoy the opportunity to be whomever we want to be, achieve our goals and debate our beliefs through freedom of speech.
My observation is we could use more positive these days and I believe we should be reminded to respect and be respectful!
The Choice-Negative or Positive
Most of what I hear, see, and read is negative, it feels like there is a disproportionate focus on the negative. As a licensed professional counselor my approach is exactly the opposite, I teach the importance of positive reinforcement, it’s a necessary component in leading a healthy life.
Growing up an abused kid by my alcoholic father, I am proof that you CAN overcome your circumstances and environment. I had to seek out a positive mentor in my life and not settle for the negative influence(s) of my dad. I joined the Air Force and served my country because I chose to; I love and appreciate my freedom. I achieved my goals and became a doctor because I made the choice to work hard and stay focused.
Set Your Goals/Create a Mission
By setting goals and creating my mission: “to create healthy lifestyles by teaching, facilitating, writing, research and example,” I used the pain of my childhood as a lesson, and I developed The Quest Project® where I teach boys to become better men.
As Americans we recite the “Pledge of Allegiance!” It’s a manifesto “a written statement declaring publicly the intentions, motives, or views of its issuer.”
As a graduate of The Quest Project we recite The Quest Project Manifesto©.
Take a minute, pause, and read it aloud!
As a man among many, I will stand for something.
I will be strong when the world asks me to be strong.
And soft when the world needs me to be soft.
I will make progress, not excuses. I will earn the right to manhood. I will re-earn it.
I will respect women. And I will support my brothers.
We will confront our trauma. Deal with it. Move past it. Grow.
We won’t settle for the immaturity of boyhood, nor the toxicity imposed by society.
We will own our shit and strike the drum of manhood with consistency and resolve.
We will be ourselves, then prove ourselves.
This is my journey. This is our Quest.
The common thread is they are a declaration of doing something.
I created the manifesto to reinforce and remind young men I work with of their responsibility and values; just like the Pledge of Allegiance reminds us to respect and love our country!
Happy Birthday America!
For more information, pick a copy of my book(s) HERE.