Honoring Military Service to Civilian Triumphs: Navigating the Veteran's Path with Eddie Zamora

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<v Speaker 1>Welcome to your Thoughts, your Reality with Michael Cole, the podcast that shines a compassionate light on the journey of veterans battling through life's challenges.

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<v Speaker 1>Michael is a dual elite certified neuro encoding specialist in coaching and keynote training presentations dedicated to guiding military veterans as they navigate the intricate pathways post-deployment life.

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<v Speaker 1>Join him as we delve into the profound realm of neuro-encoding science, empowering these brave individuals to conquer universal battles procrastination, self-doubt, fear and more.

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<v Speaker 1>Together, let's uncover the strength within you to re-engage with families and society, forging a new path forward.

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<v Speaker 2>Hello, hello, hello, welcome everybody.

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<v Speaker 2>Hey, I am on with my friend, eddie Zamora.

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<v Speaker 2>Eddie, you know we've spent man, hours, days, months in wrestling wrestling stands with our kids for multiple years, so we got a lot of time to get to know each other, catch up and so on.

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<v Speaker 2>And proud Eddie's on here.

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<v Speaker 2>He's a great man, great family man, a Marine, and I'm just honored.

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<v Speaker 2>So thank you for being here, eddie.

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<v Speaker 2>Appreciate it, man.

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<v Speaker 3>I appreciate it, mike.

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<v Speaker 3>It's been a long time we've been trying to link up.

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<v Speaker 3>Yeah, just thinking back one when the kids were all little and uh, well, eddie wasn't so little back then anyway, so, um, but yeah, uh, it was uh many, many sweaty, smelly weekends.

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<v Speaker 3>Oh, man yeah man the knee pads, the knee pads yeah, um, probably have thousands of hours worth of camera footage.

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<v Speaker 3>You know of all the wins and pins and losses and tears and yeah, but it was good times, it was fun, good times.

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<v Speaker 2>Absolutely, it was man and it really was an honor to get stuff in perspective for me years ago.

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<v Speaker 2>You know it really helped me, man.

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<v Speaker 2>So thank you.

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<v Speaker 2>So a little bit about Eddie here.

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<v Speaker 2>So I served with the 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines, from 2001, 2004.

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<v Speaker 2>And we know that time frame and what was going on in the world.

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<v Speaker 2>So you know, eddie, I'm not afraid to say it right now, but you're a hero man, you're.

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<v Speaker 2>You were one of the the first in there, buddy, and I'll ask you to talk about that a little bit.

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<v Speaker 2>So, deployed twice to the Middle East.

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<v Speaker 2>Eddie loves motorcycles and we're gonna talk about that a little bit, excited about that.

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<v Speaker 2>Look at the smile starting on his face already.

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<v Speaker 2>So, eddie, tell me a little bit about you.

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<v Speaker 2>I know you're an amazing family man, all of that great stuff.

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<v Speaker 2>Tell me a little bit about yourself.

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<v Speaker 3>Yeah, so you know, we, me and Ruby we started our family early, right.

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<v Speaker 3>So we were just out of high school a couple years once we ended up getting married and then starting our family.

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<v Speaker 3>And I think we had been married a couple years and little Eddie was about two years old and I went ahead and I enlisted.

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<v Speaker 3>You know I enlisted, becoming a Marine was always kind of been in the back of my mind.

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<v Speaker 3>My dad was a Vietnam Marine, also Vietnam era, and so I grew up with that picture around the house.

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<v Speaker 3>So I was like, you know, as early as I can remember, what is that?

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<v Speaker 3>You know, what is it?

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<v Speaker 3>What does that mean?

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<v Speaker 3>What does this cross rifles mean?

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<v Speaker 3>What is you know?

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<v Speaker 3>So it kind of um involved all three of us, you know, because she was there and he was there and begun training and then we did, you know, deployments, um, what was nice is that I was able to stay, uh, just by chance, because I was supposed to go to the east coast, um, and uh happened to be at the right place at the right time, where, um, uh, sergeant Major heard, you know us talking over lunch and kind of sad that she had just got hired on with a state and I was going to be going to North Carolina and, um, he went out of his way a couple of times actually to get my orders changed to stay on the West coast.

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<v Speaker 3>So I ended up down the road there in Camp Pendleton and stayed local and Ruby was able to, you know, transfer down there and work part-time through my service, with the state still working, which was, you know, good, so private, we don't get paid much.

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<v Speaker 3>So her working part-time and, you know, keeping it, keeping it locked, you know, on the home front, made it easier for me once we started getting ready to deploy in 2002 for Operation Enduro Freedom.

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<v Speaker 3>It was a one year anniversary, I believe, when we were on our deployment of September 11 attacks.

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<v Speaker 3>There's a pretty popular picture that's floated around on Facebook, I know, for a while, where it shows a carrier with let's roll.

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<v Speaker 3>We're all standing on top of the flight deck.

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<v Speaker 3>Yeah, so that was us.

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<v Speaker 3>That was on the anniversary of September 11, the first year anniversary.

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<v Speaker 3>Man, I can't believe it's been that long already.

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<v Speaker 2>I know Right, and I've, I've seen that, I've seen that picture.

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<v Speaker 3>And it's it's kind of seeing it again.

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<v Speaker 3>It's kind of sobering, you know it's yeah, yeah, definitely, and it was one of the big you know back then what I remember it was after that America we got so, you know, united and patriotic.

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<v Speaker 3>I mean we, everywhere we went there was, you know, american flags flying.

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<v Speaker 3>You know people were proud to be american and and just, you know, helping each other out and people you know were friendlier, uh, to each other, uh, no matter where you were, unless you're driving on a 405, right, because then everybody just cut you off and blocked me back then.

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<v Speaker 3>We used to travel that along a lot back then going back home, but yeah, it's weird when you bring that up.

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<v Speaker 2>I actually literally got chills because I forgot, you know, when our nation came together like that, it was amazing, it was a beautiful thing.

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<v Speaker 2>I won't get into a lot of that, but it literally sent chills, just the remembering of how this nation came together.

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<v Speaker 2>It's a shame that that is how it came about, but, you know, maybe we need to remember that and come together again, you know.

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<v Speaker 3>Yeah, we should.

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<v Speaker 3>Yeah, so that it was.

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<v Speaker 3>It was easier, being on deployment, knowing that Ruby and Eddie were where she was.

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<v Speaker 3>You know she was strong woman.

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<v Speaker 3>Lady, for some reason she doesn't like when I call her woman.

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<v Speaker 2>Nice fix.

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<v Speaker 3>Yeah, and so, you know, it just was able she, it was able, I was able to focus on the task at hand.

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<v Speaker 3>You know, we were on deployment.

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<v Speaker 3>We were in the real world, real things were happening.

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<v Speaker 3>We lost people on that first deployment that shouldn't have been lost.

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<v Speaker 3>And then, you know, we came back in December of 2002, after being away six months, we punched out on leave and what would you know?

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<v Speaker 3>We got a phone call to come right back and get on ship again because we were going back over for, you know, the whole uh, invasion of iraq, iraqi freedom one, um, so we, you know, we went back out there and got ready and you know, there was a massive build-up.

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<v Speaker 3>It was, it was huge, uh, you know, and uh, the first marine division was tasked with, you know, leading the way up all the way to baghdad.

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<v Speaker 3>The quicker we could get up there and take over, and I was fortunate enough to be a part of that and, yeah, it was.

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<v Speaker 3>It's crazy, it's just surreal.

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<v Speaker 3>You know, it feels like yesterday and a lifetime ago at the same time.

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<v Speaker 3>So some things are so clear, crystal clear, that I can remember so well, and other things I just I can't remember as much so, uh, maybe that's for a good thing, but um, yeah so sometimes our mind, um, you know, we know this in the neurocoding institute and in our trainings and so on that our mind, uh, when there's trauma, it will block it out.

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<v Speaker 2>Sometimes, yeah, we can get into that more another time, you know, when we're just talking, um, but it's, you know, it happens to protect you, you know.

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<v Speaker 2>So question for you.

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<v Speaker 2>Well, first of all, thank you for going in and doing what you did.

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<v Speaker 2>Man, again, you well, as my wife just says, we are forever indebted to you, you know.

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<v Speaker 2>Thank you for the comments, by the way.

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<v Speaker 2>Keep them coming.

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<v Speaker 2>We love seeing these, they're great.

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<v Speaker 2>So thank you.

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<v Speaker 2>The way, keep them coming.

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<v Speaker 2>We love seeing these, they're great, so thank you.

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<v Speaker 2>So, when you went through that, when you start transitioning back into civilian life after both deployments, if you will, what were some of the skill sets or, more so, resources that were available to you?

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<v Speaker 2>Because back in the Vietnam days and I'm not throwing shade on the VA or anything, so please understand that they do some great work it's just a lot that's not being done from my humble opinion, and that's why I do what I'm doing.

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<v Speaker 2>You know, we need to get the word out.

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<v Speaker 2>There's veterans out there hurting.

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<v Speaker 2>There's veterans that don't know when they're transitioning out.

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<v Speaker 2>That's what you know.

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<v Speaker 2>My specialty is, if you will, building business, finding out what you really want in life, because most veterans and I think you'll agree with this, eddie, and please fill in if not but they really are looking to still serve.

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<v Speaker 2>They're looking for that purpose, right?

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<v Speaker 2>I talked to a retired Lieutenant, colonel, tina Parker, yesterday, and that's her story as well.

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<v Speaker 2>The people that enlisted not drafted, but enlisted.

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<v Speaker 2>They were going to serve, they wanted to serve a purpose.

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<v Speaker 3>And if they get out, they still want to.

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<v Speaker 3>Do you agree with that?

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<v Speaker 3>Do you think that's oh yeah, absolutely.

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<v Speaker 3>I think that's why a lot of us continue on and wearing another type of uniform law enforcement, first responders, emts those to me are the real heroes that continue on to serve their, their own communities.

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<v Speaker 3>That's kind of.

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<v Speaker 3>When I got out, you know, we there was a bit of a transition out of the military or the Marines, where they brought people in to talk about possible jobs and I really and I don't remember it much because it wasn't much and I didn't know about utilizing unemployment benefits, which that would have helped for a short period of time, since I ended up just getting out abruptly.

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<v Speaker 3>My plan was to stay for 10 years and my unit left me.

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<v Speaker 3>I was hurt and I needed surgery and so I got soured where I was.

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<v Speaker 3>Everyone else was overseas again for a third time and I was home in a cast and I just hated it.

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<v Speaker 3>So my EAS day came out and I took it.

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<v Speaker 3>So Ruby wasn't happy about that.

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<v Speaker 3>No, talks about it to this day.

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<v Speaker 2>Everybody, just everybody knows Ruby is his amazing wife, just so you know.

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<v Speaker 3>I guess I should give that context a little bit.

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<v Speaker 3>But yeah, so I packed up my gear and headed north on I-5 the day before Christmas in 2004 and didn't look back for 15 years.

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<v Speaker 3>It was too hard to look back for 15 years, so at the time I didn't have anything lined up.

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<v Speaker 3>I didn't know how to use my Montgomery GI Bill, which at the time that's what we had.

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<v Speaker 3>It later evolved to the Post 9-11, which is wonderful.

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<v Speaker 3>It's one of the first things that the VA really gave to us to get back into school.

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<v Speaker 3>Yeah, and it was with housing allowance as an E5, uh, while you're enrolled in school, um, in, in the early stages it was, they understood that most of us were working.

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<v Speaker 3>So they made it to a point where you know, as long as we were enrolled, you know part-time, three quarter time or something, we still rated all that.

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<v Speaker 3>You know housing and um.

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<v Speaker 3>So I, I did that, I, I, I, I.

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<v Speaker 3>Later on, after, let me back up, I'm sorry.

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<v Speaker 3>So when I got out, yeah, there was not too much information readily available.

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<v Speaker 3>Definitely, social media.

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<v Speaker 3>There was no social media back then.

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<v Speaker 3>Social media had does have its good parts to it, because it allowed us not only to reconnect with people we hadn't seen for a long time.

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<v Speaker 3>But then it we, you know, just like this, what this podcast is now.

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<v Speaker 3>It's it's veterans reaching out to other veterans and forwarding along you know information.

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<v Speaker 3>I mean, we didn't have that back then.

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<v Speaker 3>This is 2005, early 2005.

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<v Speaker 3>And I remember it was part of of maybe the beginnings of combat veterans getting released back into the workforce.

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<v Speaker 3>So you know, luckily we had just bought a house in Bakersfield because Monterey County was too expensive to move to, san Diego County was too expensive to stay in.

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<v Speaker 3>So we kind of picked a little spot and we moved there.

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<v Speaker 3>There's a booming at the the time was booming oil industry.

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<v Speaker 3>So I got a job basically on the spot for the sole purpose of me being a Marine.

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<v Speaker 3>They said, okay, we're going to take you regardless.

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<v Speaker 3>You know, and I didn't know what I was doing it ended up being good work.

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<v Speaker 3>I enjoyed it.

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<v Speaker 3>It was tough, yeah, tough.

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<v Speaker 3>So what?

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<v Speaker 2>what so?

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<v Speaker 2>Basically, you were resourceful.

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<v Speaker 2>You brought out your own resourcefulness, brother, so you went out and figured it out yourself.

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<v Speaker 3>Yeah, you know it took a little and I almost went back.

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<v Speaker 3>You know I almost started to.

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<v Speaker 3>I got in touch with a recruiter Small World, a recruiter at Bakersfield who was a former 3-1 Marine as well.

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<v Speaker 3>So he was like, hey, I got in touch with a recruiter, um, small world, a recruiter Bakersfield was a former three one Marine as well.

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<v Speaker 3>So he was like, hey, I got you, let's, let's get you back in, and and um, it didn't work out that way and it's probably for the best.

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<v Speaker 3>It probably is, because that was at the time where things were starting to feel different about me.

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<v Speaker 3>I was thinking differently, emotions were kind of everywhere.

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<v Speaker 3>So I dove into work, anything to keep my mind busy and occupied.

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<v Speaker 2>So, eddie, can I stop you really quick there?

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<v Speaker 2>Um, what, what tips would you give and I know we're going to get into some tips at the end, because I always do that to people but, um, when you're dealing with that and you're getting into that, um, are there any tips that you give?

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<v Speaker 2>I mean, I've got, you know, my stuff, but I'm curious, from a veteran you know you specifically, is there a tip that you have or something that you would do to get yourself out of that, because you've obviously thrived right?

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<v Speaker 2>You're an amazing father.

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<v Speaker 2>You've, you know, have thrived after the military, so you fought your way through it.

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<v Speaker 2>So is there anything you could give, a tip or so on, that may get someone a little bit further faster when they're starting to struggle?

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<v Speaker 3>Yeah, I would definitely get.

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<v Speaker 3>I mean, these days there's so many veterans out there in the workforce.

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<v Speaker 3>Seek them out, seek those people out, ask them questions, ask them you know about healthcare I mean a lot of people you know don't have health benefits or good health benefits.

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<v Speaker 3>Ask as many questions as you can get their, get their number, and stay in contact with them.

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<v Speaker 3>Start reaching out more and more, reaching out more and more.

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<v Speaker 3>Support system's huge Friends and links and acquaintances it's huge.

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<v Speaker 3>You can't be isolated.

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<v Speaker 3>I isolated for years and years and stayed away from other military.

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<v Speaker 3>I was just in a bad place as far as that concerned.

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<v Speaker 3>But yeah, my tip to to guys transitioning now is like, look, you gotta, uh, you gotta think, you gotta maintain your, your, your military bearing and discipline, but you gotta start thinking as as, uh, I mean a civilian right.

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<v Speaker 3>You gotta start, uh, trying to network and you gotta start trying to, you know, reach out and find new avenues of approach.

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<v Speaker 3>We can still maintain the military mindset, but it's got to shift a little bit.

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<v Speaker 3>You can't, you know, you can't be.

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<v Speaker 3>I mean, especially for the Marines, right?

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<v Speaker 3>I mean we're a little rougher on the edges.

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<v Speaker 3>I think you got to start to shed that away.

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<v Speaker 3>Swallow a little bit of the pride, not all of it, but you know, pride is still good.

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<v Speaker 3>Just a point.

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<v Speaker 2>When you say that, eddie, obviously I'm going to go back two steps here because you're bringing up a lot of great stuff.

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<v Speaker 2>So stay, you know, don't, don't be isolated, right?

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, I am big on get in your communities, you know.

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<v Speaker 2>Find Facebook groups, I mean honestly, you know everybody.

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<v Speaker 2>We have two Facebook groups, with Empower for families and for the vets themselves.

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<v Speaker 2>So reach out, there's other veterans in there, there's a lot of support there.

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<v Speaker 2>So, but Facebook, I mean there is countless and countless and countless on Facebook groups and you know what?

00:17:19.096 --> 00:17:40.933
<v Speaker 2>There's nothing more important, I think, and I hope you agree with this to the actual person Go have a lunch, get on the phone, hey, how you doing, man, you know that isolation is the road that no one needs to go down or should go down, because it generally ends in a bad place, right, when it's isolated, like you for years yeah, it really years.

00:17:41.295 --> 00:17:42.738
<v Speaker 3>They just go by quicker and quicker.

00:17:42.738 --> 00:17:44.608
<v Speaker 3>You know, the older you get, the quicker they go.

00:17:44.608 --> 00:17:50.448
<v Speaker 3>Another thing that I would recommend too is that they is every county has a vso veteran.

00:17:50.448 --> 00:17:59.340
<v Speaker 3>Uh uh, the term is fleeting right now VSO, veteran Safety Officer, not safety.

00:17:59.340 --> 00:18:05.897
<v Speaker 3>Anyways, it's the direct link in each county for the veteran to the VA.

00:18:05.897 --> 00:18:25.278
<v Speaker 3>So anything claim having to do claims, schooling, driver's license, veteran designation, veterans plates, award uh awards and ribbons replacement any all that will begin with abso and it's uh e-benefits.

00:18:25.278 --> 00:18:28.426
<v Speaker 3>Now is is it's easy to access everything.

00:18:28.426 --> 00:18:29.568
<v Speaker 3>It's all connected.

00:18:29.568 --> 00:18:34.365
<v Speaker 3>So back then in the early stages uh, you know everything, it was all fragmented.

00:18:34.365 --> 00:18:38.797
<v Speaker 3>It was there was pieces here, pieces there, nothing really tying things together.

00:18:38.797 --> 00:18:44.131
<v Speaker 3>If you weren't actively searching and looking, you weren't going to know about it.

00:18:44.131 --> 00:18:52.676
<v Speaker 3>Now it's almost a one-stop shop with them as far as e-benefits anyways, because it'll link everything, pull your records.

00:18:53.065 --> 00:18:55.473
<v Speaker 2>Yeah, I was actually able to read get.

00:18:55.473 --> 00:19:06.788
<v Speaker 2>I mean, I have thousands of pages of my dad's records, I've got his medals and it's fantastic what they do for veterans and veterans families for that matter.

00:19:06.788 --> 00:19:08.690
<v Speaker 2>So fantastic resource.

00:19:08.690 --> 00:19:09.611
<v Speaker 2>Thank you for saying that.

00:19:09.611 --> 00:19:18.054
<v Speaker 2>As far as other resources, was there anything specific that really helped you?

00:19:18.054 --> 00:19:27.758
<v Speaker 2>I mean, was it family and resources could be anything from the Veterans Association or VSO or you know.

00:19:27.758 --> 00:19:35.701
<v Speaker 2>There are so many resources Coaching there's, you know, online trainings and I mean it's all over the place now.

00:19:35.701 --> 00:19:42.304
<v Speaker 2>But when you got out and as you've learned in life, you know, is there anything specifically that helped you?

00:19:42.304 --> 00:19:49.797
<v Speaker 2>You think that said you were going to that aha moment or I call it oh shit moment that you realize, hey, this really helped.

00:19:50.685 --> 00:19:52.790
<v Speaker 3>You know um it, it, it.

00:19:52.790 --> 00:19:55.718
<v Speaker 3>It was pretty slim pickings in the beginning.

00:19:56.226 --> 00:20:02.440
<v Speaker 3>I don't think things started to really move forward until after 2009,.

00:20:02.440 --> 00:20:11.449
<v Speaker 3>I believe when post 9-11 GI Bill came out, that really kind of you know got a lot of me specifically back into school after being.

00:20:11.449 --> 00:20:15.692
<v Speaker 3>You know, I graduated high school in 1997, you know, I didn't barely graduated at that.

00:20:15.692 --> 00:20:18.238
<v Speaker 3>I mean, I had to pull my transcripts and it was pretty pathetic, honestly, but hey Ruby got me through it.

00:20:18.238 --> 00:20:18.739
<v Speaker 3>You know, I didn't barely graduated at that.

00:20:18.739 --> 00:20:21.148
<v Speaker 3>I mean, I had to pull my transcripts and it was pretty pathetic, honestly, but hey Ruby got me through it, you know.

00:20:21.148 --> 00:20:22.132
<v Speaker 3>And um.

00:20:22.532 --> 00:20:36.116
<v Speaker 3>So going back to to getting into enrolled in college and and and getting into the VA pipeline helped me find um for one of the time I mean they're still around when the warrior project.

00:20:36.116 --> 00:20:37.369
<v Speaker 3>I know they were shedding some bad light for for a while.

00:20:37.369 --> 00:20:38.128
<v Speaker 3>I mean they're still around Winter Warrior Project.

00:20:38.128 --> 00:20:39.109
<v Speaker 3>I know they were shedding some bad light for a while there.

00:20:39.109 --> 00:20:42.835
<v Speaker 3>They really helped me through a time where I needed it.

00:20:42.835 --> 00:20:45.633
<v Speaker 3>I just happened to have a friend that I went to school with.

00:20:45.633 --> 00:20:56.374
<v Speaker 3>They ended up getting his degree in social work, I believe, and got hired on with them and anyway, they helped me a lot.

00:20:56.374 --> 00:20:59.740
<v Speaker 3>I mean huge, got hired on with them and anyway, they, they helped me from a lot.

00:20:59.740 --> 00:21:00.063
<v Speaker 3>Uh, I mean huge.

00:21:00.063 --> 00:21:01.928
<v Speaker 3>Um, the the mission continues came in.

00:21:01.928 --> 00:21:06.017
<v Speaker 3>Uh, after that we talked about service and and continue to help.

00:21:06.017 --> 00:21:06.678
<v Speaker 3>That was huge.

00:21:06.825 --> 00:21:26.046
<v Speaker 3>And then the catch a lift fund um, that was probably the biggest uh help for me, because you know people, you know anxiety has many faces, right, so you want to get, you know, get back in shape, working out, and sometimes going to a big, busy gym isn't the best thing.

00:21:26.046 --> 00:21:35.240
<v Speaker 3>So catch a lift fund was when they, when they started, was like look, uh, chris koflin was his name, it's what it was his sister that began it.

00:21:35.240 --> 00:21:36.184
<v Speaker 3>Uh, it's a great organization.

00:21:36.184 --> 00:21:38.272
<v Speaker 3>Look into it at some point, anybody that's listening.

00:21:38.272 --> 00:21:49.115
<v Speaker 3>But they send either they give you veterans a membership after you know, some coaching and training and they'll pay for a gym for you, or, in my case, they sent me all the gym equipment to my home.

00:21:49.826 --> 00:21:55.596
<v Speaker 3>Oh, fantastic, wow, we're still working out, because that's another huge thing that guys forget.

00:21:55.596 --> 00:21:59.709
<v Speaker 3>You know you got to stick, stick to.

00:21:59.709 --> 00:22:00.954
<v Speaker 3>You got to continue on pt and I'm wanting to preach right now.

00:22:00.954 --> 00:22:04.528
<v Speaker 3>Right, because I'm probably haven't been doing it enough lately, but it's, you know, I got.

00:22:04.528 --> 00:22:07.373
<v Speaker 3>I just uh, uh, it's still.

00:22:07.373 --> 00:22:10.578
<v Speaker 3>I have all my gym equipment and you know it's it.

00:22:10.578 --> 00:22:20.728
<v Speaker 3>It's a whole lot better to to to work out and get those endorphins pumping and then trying to cope the other ways absolutely, man, absolutely.

00:22:20.748 --> 00:22:23.795
<v Speaker 2>Better that than going down the dark ways, right, uh?

00:22:23.894 --> 00:22:30.078
<v Speaker 2>So you know, we had uh, uh coach tyler bray on a couple of days ago, which was fantastic, and we did.

00:22:30.078 --> 00:22:42.873
<v Speaker 2>We did touch base on uh, probably not as much as we could have or even should have, but exercise, good nutrition, uh, but exercise specifically I'm going to talk about uh, it just changes the game.

00:22:42.873 --> 00:22:50.258
<v Speaker 2>It releases all the good, good hormones from the brain, um, and just makes everything you know emotionally better.

00:22:50.258 --> 00:23:03.690
<v Speaker 2>I mean, you can literally not only the little high you get, obviously, when you, when you work out, but the rest of the day next time you go work out and I'm saying this to the, to the people watching, and people are watching in the future, you know, do that.

00:23:03.690 --> 00:23:06.737
<v Speaker 2>And then another thing I want you to do is celebrate.

00:23:06.737 --> 00:23:07.577
<v Speaker 2>You're doing it, man.

00:23:07.577 --> 00:23:19.792
<v Speaker 2>You know, literally when you smile, it releases all kinds of endorphins and all those things instantly, um, to make you lift your mood, to make you happy, and your brain doesn't know the difference.

00:23:19.792 --> 00:23:24.356
<v Speaker 2>And then it's looking for other ways to say hey, what happened?

00:23:24.356 --> 00:23:25.287
<v Speaker 2>How do?

00:23:25.307 --> 00:23:25.953
<v Speaker 1>I get that again.

00:23:26.035 --> 00:23:26.682
<v Speaker 2>Right, yeah.

00:23:26.682 --> 00:23:31.036
<v Speaker 2>So, guys, ladies, take a minute, smile.

00:23:31.036 --> 00:23:35.941
<v Speaker 2>Literally, I'm going to say this literally celebrate the little wins.

00:23:35.941 --> 00:23:38.390
<v Speaker 2>You went out and you worked out.

00:23:38.390 --> 00:23:42.732
<v Speaker 2>For instance, you, you made a right choice eating something, you got up and brushed your teeth.

00:23:42.732 --> 00:23:44.175
<v Speaker 2>You got out of bed that day.

00:23:44.175 --> 00:23:46.228
<v Speaker 2>Yeah, that's a win.

00:23:46.228 --> 00:23:47.951
<v Speaker 2>That's a win, guys.

00:23:47.951 --> 00:23:50.955
<v Speaker 2>Yeah, that's a win, celebrate it.

00:23:50.955 --> 00:23:53.905
<v Speaker 2>Put your hand up I'm doing the wrong side here.

00:23:53.905 --> 00:23:58.693
<v Speaker 2>Put your hand up, pat yourself on the damn back and smile, yeah absolutely.

00:23:58.713 --> 00:24:02.299
<v Speaker 2>Because it changes your state, it changes everything, it'll change the day, and guess what?

00:24:04.125 --> 00:24:07.590
<v Speaker 3>You're going to make better decisions that day, Absolutely that day right then, not tomorrow.

00:24:08.031 --> 00:24:08.894
<v Speaker 2>There is no tomorrow.

00:24:08.894 --> 00:24:09.535
<v Speaker 2>Do it now.

00:24:09.535 --> 00:24:12.019
<v Speaker 2>Yeah, that's my tip of the day.

00:24:12.019 --> 00:24:13.711
<v Speaker 2>Now let's move on.

00:24:13.711 --> 00:24:14.747
<v Speaker 2>Sorry.

00:24:20.045 --> 00:24:30.039
<v Speaker 2>So for veterans, eddie, and I think one of the things that they deal with, there's 10 toxic thoughts or things we deal with as human beings.

00:24:30.039 --> 00:24:31.130
<v Speaker 2>We call them the things of your dreams.

00:24:31.130 --> 00:24:36.998
<v Speaker 2>I won't go through them all right now, but one of them is self-loathing, fear of rejection.

00:24:36.998 --> 00:24:40.414
<v Speaker 2>I mean, self-loathing is one of the things that vets deal with a lot.

00:24:40.414 --> 00:24:44.351
<v Speaker 2>It's hesitation, procrastination, fear of failure, fear of success.

00:24:44.351 --> 00:24:51.951
<v Speaker 2>There's all these things that vets deal with it because you know they're conditioned not to ask for help, not, you know, figure it out on your own.

00:24:51.951 --> 00:24:56.010
<v Speaker 2>And those kinds of things where you know every human deals with one of these.

00:24:56.010 --> 00:25:10.131
<v Speaker 2>I promise and if you are shaking your head, no, you're lying to yourself and you're lying to me right now, every person deals with these thieves of your dreams, and some people multiple times at once, or multiple thieves at once.

00:25:10.131 --> 00:25:14.873
<v Speaker 2>I've done it, eddie, just the couple that I've mentioned.

00:25:14.873 --> 00:25:20.422
<v Speaker 2>I'm sure you can say, yeah, I've dealt with procrastination, hesitation, one of those right, absolutely.

00:25:20.825 --> 00:25:21.046
<v Speaker 2>Yeah.

00:25:21.046 --> 00:25:27.709
<v Speaker 2>So there's little tricks and things like that that you can learn to move forward faster, and that's what this is all about.

00:25:27.709 --> 00:25:39.099
<v Speaker 2>Right is getting people on here to do that, but celebrating, releasing those good chemicals in your brain are some of the most important ones to deal with self-loathing and that kind of stuff.

00:25:39.099 --> 00:25:43.957
<v Speaker 2>Because if you love yourself like yourself first, love yourself next, you'll get through anything man.

00:25:44.565 --> 00:25:45.027
<v Speaker 3>Oh yeah, absolutely, Yep, 100%.

00:25:45.027 --> 00:25:45.097
<v Speaker 3>Awesome.

00:25:45.097 --> 00:25:46.301
<v Speaker 3>Like yourself first, love yourself next, you'll get through anything.

00:25:46.301 --> 00:25:48.817
<v Speaker 3>Man, oh yeah, absolutely, yep, 100 awesome, so hey.

00:25:48.857 --> 00:25:50.801
<v Speaker 2>So, um, let me ask you a question.

00:25:50.801 --> 00:25:53.787
<v Speaker 2>So you've been through it right and we got about four minutes left here.

00:25:53.787 --> 00:26:02.835
<v Speaker 2>So I know we always I always need to tell everybody we need an hour, we need at least an hour so you got to do it part two next later on.

00:26:02.835 --> 00:26:08.101
<v Speaker 2>I know right, I'd love to have you back on, eddie, I think you've got and we've just scratched barely the surface.

00:26:08.121 --> 00:26:20.670
<v Speaker 2>Oh, yeah, definitely you know what you can give to the veterans, to give back and serve, and not that you've not served enough, my friend, but to help, because I know your soul man, you want some help.

00:26:20.670 --> 00:26:23.049
<v Speaker 2>I know that, or you wouldn't be here, absolutely.

00:26:23.049 --> 00:26:23.651
<v Speaker 2>Yep.

00:26:23.651 --> 00:26:32.102
<v Speaker 2>So one of the differences between you and some of the veterans that are still struggling, what was the?

00:26:32.102 --> 00:26:37.192
<v Speaker 2>And I'm going to keep this very short we make decisions based on pain and pleasure, right?

00:26:37.192 --> 00:26:45.077
<v Speaker 2>So how much pain are we going to go through to get to the pleasure, et cetera, and vice versa.

00:26:45.077 --> 00:26:46.109
<v Speaker 2>Our brain just works that way.

00:26:46.109 --> 00:26:48.369
<v Speaker 2>So what's the difference?

00:26:48.431 --> 00:26:53.327
<v Speaker 2>and what was the breaking point, or a thriving point, I'd actually like to call it.

00:26:53.327 --> 00:26:57.237
<v Speaker 2>That moved you to being in a good place.

00:26:58.905 --> 00:27:05.065
<v Speaker 3>I think that was one thing, that when you say pain and pleasure, right.

00:27:05.065 --> 00:27:12.996
<v Speaker 3>So I knew moving forward to get out of a dark space it was going to take effort and it was going to be tough and hard.

00:27:12.996 --> 00:27:16.894
<v Speaker 3>And I stopped avoiding that, I just went into it.

00:27:16.894 --> 00:27:22.115
<v Speaker 3>I wholeheartedly said, okay, I got honest with myself.

00:27:22.115 --> 00:27:31.032
<v Speaker 3>I knew I needed to make big changes because I was tired of being uh dark and and no hope.

00:27:31.032 --> 00:27:32.134
<v Speaker 3>Um.

00:27:32.134 --> 00:27:34.057
<v Speaker 3>So I knew, okay.

00:27:34.057 --> 00:27:34.999
<v Speaker 3>So change has got to.

00:27:34.999 --> 00:27:41.786
<v Speaker 3>It's going to hurt, it's going to take, it's going to take a bit, uh, but it's good, it's going to help me in the long run.

00:27:41.786 --> 00:27:42.667
<v Speaker 3>It's going to help me.

00:27:42.667 --> 00:27:47.789
<v Speaker 3>You know, be here, you know, to see my kids, to see my grandkids to.

00:27:47.789 --> 00:27:49.252
<v Speaker 3>You know, enjoy life.

00:27:50.335 --> 00:27:54.170
<v Speaker 3>And I also I mean even saying that, though it was kind of almost it's got to be selfish.

00:27:54.170 --> 00:27:56.154
<v Speaker 3>You have to do it for yourself.

00:27:56.154 --> 00:27:59.431
<v Speaker 3>You can't many times where I say, well, you know, I'll do it for them.

00:27:59.431 --> 00:28:14.356
<v Speaker 3>Of course I love my wife and kids, but at that point you really need to be selfish and say, look, I want to live for me, I, there's more that I want to see, there's more that I want to enjoy.

00:28:14.356 --> 00:28:18.374
<v Speaker 3>Um, uh, uh, and I'm not done living.

00:28:18.374 --> 00:28:31.548
<v Speaker 3>I'm not done, you know, feeling the pain and whatever it is that I got to push through, physically wise, mentally wise, and you know, and getting honest, you just got to get honest with yourself.

00:28:32.834 --> 00:28:44.090
<v Speaker 3>Yeah, I mean, we can go a whole into, I mean, a lot of veterans that don't necessarily believe in medications, but at some point, yeah, you know, in my case, I needed medications for a while.

00:28:44.090 --> 00:28:47.570
<v Speaker 3>I needed them and I needed to to to change my way of thinking.

00:28:47.570 --> 00:29:05.316
<v Speaker 3>And after about seven, five, five or six years, uh, I knew it was time to to get off medications and I did, um, so I got to a point healthy enough, yeah, and uh, uh, where I could, and, and I moved on from there.

00:29:05.316 --> 00:29:13.730
<v Speaker 3>And during even that portion, it was hard because I knew it's like, okay, I wanted to sleep, I can just take this, this pill, just to sleep.

00:29:13.730 --> 00:29:20.010
<v Speaker 3>But I knew if I did, if I just kept giving it to myself, then I would never be able to move on.

00:29:20.010 --> 00:29:24.000
<v Speaker 3>And so it was rough for several months, um, I.

00:29:24.140 --> 00:29:29.553
<v Speaker 2>I love, eddie, that you found leverage for yourself, though, because that's the leverage between pain and pleasure, right it's?

00:29:29.553 --> 00:29:46.486
<v Speaker 2>I'm gonna go through some shit, it's gonna be hard, but when I come out on the other end, I'm gonna be a better man, and and and buddy, you're a better man I try to be real, I'm trying to try to be you know hey man, hey, I don't care if you're a veteran, a civilian or anything in between.

00:29:47.688 --> 00:29:50.953
<v Speaker 2>Life's, life's tough it is, and you get you.

00:29:50.953 --> 00:29:53.618
<v Speaker 2>You get kicked on the to the ground, you get kicked.

00:29:53.618 --> 00:29:57.575
<v Speaker 2>I'm not going to say the word, but you get up, right.

00:29:57.575 --> 00:30:02.671
<v Speaker 2>You get up and you do another day and you figure it out right.

00:30:02.671 --> 00:30:04.017
<v Speaker 2>To some extent you figure it out.

00:30:04.017 --> 00:30:12.689
<v Speaker 2>But there's also those resources, and lean on a friend, lean on your wife, you know, yeah let them know where you are, communicate man right yep, you need it.

00:30:12.729 --> 00:30:14.333
<v Speaker 3>Yeah, you need a support system.

00:30:14.333 --> 00:30:24.712
<v Speaker 3>You need a tribe, you need, you need a group, you need absolutely find your tribe um, absolutely um, we can go on and on about that and different books and things that you know.

00:30:24.712 --> 00:30:31.334
<v Speaker 3>Um, but I get we can save on and on about that and different books and things that you know, but I get we can save that for another day it sounds good.

00:30:31.354 --> 00:30:32.396
<v Speaker 2>Yeah, and you know what we will.

00:30:32.396 --> 00:30:32.958
<v Speaker 2>We'll do that.

00:30:32.958 --> 00:30:38.998
<v Speaker 2>So we're a little past time now, but hey, I have been every every time I've done this.

00:30:38.998 --> 00:30:43.813
<v Speaker 2>So one more question, actually two more, if you will.

00:30:43.813 --> 00:30:51.571
<v Speaker 2>How has the military experience and this is what I really try to get and what I do have veterans focus on?

00:30:51.571 --> 00:30:54.117
<v Speaker 2>Because they need to focus on the future, not the past.

00:30:54.117 --> 00:30:55.755
<v Speaker 2>Right, learn from your past.

00:30:55.755 --> 00:31:06.885
<v Speaker 2>I always say learn from your past, but focus on your future, because if you live in the rear view mirror, guess what I'm driving You're going to crash you need to be looking forward rearview mirror.

00:31:06.905 --> 00:31:07.426
<v Speaker 2>Guess what I'm driving?

00:31:07.426 --> 00:31:07.928
<v Speaker 2>You're going to crash.

00:31:07.928 --> 00:31:08.990
<v Speaker 2>You're looking forward.

00:31:08.990 --> 00:31:09.351
<v Speaker 2>So what are?

00:31:09.351 --> 00:31:17.450
<v Speaker 2>What military experience did you bring out of life that serves you now, or just I can get through it.

00:31:17.450 --> 00:31:17.691
<v Speaker 2>What?

00:31:17.691 --> 00:31:20.478
<v Speaker 2>What really did you bring out of military?

00:31:21.045 --> 00:31:28.874
<v Speaker 3>I think I mean Marine, I, I, I mean Marine wise, it's always mission accomplishment, right, it always mission accomplishment.

00:31:28.874 --> 00:31:36.170
<v Speaker 3>Um, so I continue to, I, I carry that into the workforce, um, to the smallest.

00:31:36.170 --> 00:31:45.194
<v Speaker 3>You know, pay attention to the little things, um, uh, maintaining a military bearing, but at the same time, you know, chilling out a little bit.

00:31:45.194 --> 00:31:46.258
<v Speaker 3>You know, don't be so rough.

00:31:48.786 --> 00:32:31.192
<v Speaker 3>Listen to listen to your body, for one, as we're getting older, older, right, but you know a sense of of confidence when it comes to the you know be, you know be engaged to people talk, the you know be, you know, be engaged to people talk through you know, whatever problems might be in the job force or workplace and it's, it's easier, I think, for veterans to you know my life and security, I mean, we know how to wear a uniform, we know how to shine our boots.

00:32:31.192 --> 00:32:35.047
<v Speaker 3>I know that's a lost art now, but you know, and you, you, you look good, you, you, you play good.

00:32:35.047 --> 00:32:38.448
<v Speaker 3>Basically, right, you look good, you, you, you represent something.

00:32:38.448 --> 00:32:49.276
<v Speaker 3>Have, you know, that self-confidence and pride in yourself.

00:32:49.276 --> 00:32:52.221
<v Speaker 3>What's that?

00:32:53.165 --> 00:32:54.592
<v Speaker 2>I froze up just a little bit on my side.

00:32:54.592 --> 00:32:56.711
<v Speaker 2>So have confidence and pride.

00:32:56.711 --> 00:32:57.994
<v Speaker 2>I heard that yeah.

00:32:58.744 --> 00:33:05.356
<v Speaker 3>I mean just that alone it sets you apart from other workers.

00:33:05.356 --> 00:33:10.353
<v Speaker 3>We kind of gravitate towards each other.

00:33:10.353 --> 00:33:16.717
<v Speaker 3>It's definitely easier to get through a day when you've got fellow veterans.

00:33:16.717 --> 00:33:23.337
<v Speaker 3>Of course the fellow bantering back and forth makes it easier.

00:33:23.337 --> 00:33:31.877
<v Speaker 3>I've only met a couple of Coasties so far out in the workforce but they're out there.

00:33:31.897 --> 00:33:52.357
<v Speaker 2>They're out there okay, so, um, so, I guess, uh, taking from that, well, basically what you're saying is, you know, take that confidence, take that leadership, take those things that you've learned in there and because they apply now, man, they apply to every day and talking to all the veterans and so on, that I talk to, they forget that.

00:33:52.357 --> 00:33:55.955
<v Speaker 2>They forget those, you know, because it's a job to a lot of them.

00:33:55.955 --> 00:34:03.255
<v Speaker 2>You know, it's just, they're just doing their job and they get out and they forget that those are skill sets that employers want.

00:34:03.255 --> 00:34:06.782
<v Speaker 2>Starting your own business, that those are skill sets that employers want.

00:34:06.782 --> 00:34:07.805
<v Speaker 2>Starting your own business.

00:34:10.065 --> 00:34:12.449
<v Speaker 2>You know there's so many opportunities and things that you can use the skill sets like confidence.

00:34:12.449 --> 00:34:18.780
<v Speaker 2>I mean, isn't that not one of the number ones you know to come out and to get a job or start your own business or whatever the case may be.

00:34:18.780 --> 00:34:20.429
<v Speaker 2>So fantastic, all right.

00:34:20.429 --> 00:34:24.018
<v Speaker 2>Last one Give me one, one more tip, because you give me a lot of them.

00:34:24.018 --> 00:34:33.713
<v Speaker 2>Give me one more tip that got you further faster when you got out of the military that you would give a veteran now to move forward faster.

00:34:36.577 --> 00:34:46.987
<v Speaker 3>Let's see, get a part of an organization I mentioned a couple earlier.

00:34:46.987 --> 00:35:08.706
<v Speaker 3>Catch Live Fund Mission Continues, something that will still give you a sense of accomplishment, pride, being around others that want to give back, continue to give back, to continue to give.

00:35:08.706 --> 00:35:09.027
<v Speaker 3>That was huge.

00:35:09.027 --> 00:35:11.851
<v Speaker 3>I mean, it's being around like-minded individuals and even with Catch, a Live Fund and Mission Continues.

00:35:11.851 --> 00:35:17.608
<v Speaker 3>It has a lot of civilians involved in those organizations, so it's a mix of people.

00:35:17.648 --> 00:35:39.829
<v Speaker 3>Yeah, it was started by former military and wives and family members of Gold Star families, so it just brings a lot of different backgrounds and people together for one common goal and it's for to, to help and to serve others and and not forget anybody.

00:35:39.829 --> 00:35:42.956
<v Speaker 3>Cause that that just nobody should be forgotten.

00:35:42.956 --> 00:35:44.057
<v Speaker 3>You know it makes me happy.

00:35:44.057 --> 00:35:50.750
<v Speaker 3>I might see in the news where the remains of a fallen service member are brought back home to us.

00:35:50.750 --> 00:35:56.596
<v Speaker 3>You know, after 40, 50, 60 years, whatever the timeframe is, you know nobody wants to be forgotten.

00:35:56.596 --> 00:36:10.510
<v Speaker 3>So yeah, that's the biggest tip Get involved with somebody, an organization or like-minded individuals to continue to help anybody in need, and it doesn't have to be veterans, it could be anybody, anybody.

00:36:10.510 --> 00:36:22.074
<v Speaker 3>Coaching, you know, coach youth football for several seasons, just kind of mentoring and and and helping others.

00:36:22.074 --> 00:36:28.858
<v Speaker 3>That's, I think that's the biggest thing to get you moving in the right direction, keeping you focused and engaged.

00:36:28.858 --> 00:36:40.829
<v Speaker 3>Yeah, and not let those dream thoughts, like you were saying, those thoughts that are really not true, don't let that stuff creep in.

00:36:41.371 --> 00:36:43.295
<v Speaker 2>Yeah, amen, amen, eddie.

00:36:43.295 --> 00:36:46.735
<v Speaker 2>I think that's great advice and that's kind of the golden nugget for the day right there.

00:36:46.735 --> 00:36:50.532
<v Speaker 2>So, eddie, I just want to celebrate you.

00:36:50.532 --> 00:36:54.130
<v Speaker 2>My friend, keep smiling man, keep doing the good work.

00:36:54.130 --> 00:36:58.233
<v Speaker 2>You're doing amazing stuff and, you know, keep just being you man.

00:36:58.233 --> 00:36:59.750
<v Speaker 2>You're an amazing man.

00:36:59.750 --> 00:37:01.271
<v Speaker 2>I love your family.

00:37:01.271 --> 00:37:02.750
<v Speaker 2>We need to go do lunch.

00:37:02.750 --> 00:37:06.010
<v Speaker 2>I love your family, we need to go do lunch.

00:37:06.010 --> 00:37:07.731
<v Speaker 2>Let's connect, man.

00:37:07.731 --> 00:37:10.373
<v Speaker 2>So that is it for today.

00:37:10.373 --> 00:37:14.735
<v Speaker 2>So, eddie, again I'm honored, and I say this every time, every show.

00:37:14.735 --> 00:37:22.476
<v Speaker 2>You know, time is our most precious resource and we know how busy we are because we've not been able to connect as much as possible.

00:37:22.476 --> 00:37:27.338
<v Speaker 2>So you am honored truly for your service, who you are, what you've done.

00:37:27.338 --> 00:37:32.460
<v Speaker 2>Uh, and I am honored, you spent the time today.

00:37:32.460 --> 00:37:35.742
<v Speaker 2>I'm glad we finally connect?

00:37:35.882 --> 00:37:40.467
<v Speaker 2>yeah, absolutely absolutely, and we'll connect some more so we'll get you scheduled for another one.

00:37:40.467 --> 00:37:48.791
<v Speaker 2>All Everybody just want to say you know the QR code up there at the top right hand side of your screen.

00:37:48.791 --> 00:37:50.130
<v Speaker 2>You know, scan it.

00:37:50.130 --> 00:37:51.469
<v Speaker 2>There are resources.

00:37:51.469 --> 00:37:54.371
<v Speaker 2>Share it with veterans, veterans families.

00:37:54.371 --> 00:37:55.811
<v Speaker 2>There's some e-books on there.

00:37:55.811 --> 00:37:58.931
<v Speaker 2>There's a lot of different stuff Free e-books, by the way.

00:37:58.931 --> 00:38:03.954
<v Speaker 2>You know, just reach out, make connections and stay engaged.

00:38:03.954 --> 00:38:05.730
<v Speaker 2>We are out of here.

00:38:05.730 --> 00:38:06.231
<v Speaker 2>Thank you, eddie.

00:38:10.226 --> 00:38:16.605
<v Speaker 1>Thank you for joining us on another insightful journey of your Thoughts your Reality podcast with your host, michael Cole.

00:38:16.605 --> 00:38:20.315
<v Speaker 1>We hope the conversation sparked some thoughts that resonate with you.

00:38:20.315 --> 00:38:26.873
<v Speaker 1>To dive deeper into empowering your thoughts and enhancing your reality, visit empowerperformanceststrategiescom.

00:38:26.873 --> 00:38:31.896
<v Speaker 1>Remember your thoughts shape your reality, so make them count.

00:38:31.896 --> 00:38:36.956
<v Speaker 1>Until next time, stay inspired and keep creating the reality you desire.

00:38:36.956 --> 00:38:38.690
<v Speaker 1>Catch you on the next episode.