Motivation Monday is designed to make you feel good about the week starting. Most of us slog through the first day of the week. But today, we’re going to get you pumped up! Grit Daily offers an avenue to connect with others like you. We’re here to help get your work week off to a good start. Jazz hands, jazz hands – it’s time for Motivation Monday!
Grateful for those who serve
Each week, we want to get inspired so we meet here for Motivation Monday. Here, we learn how to improve with a few tips on whatever the topic is for the theme-of-the-week. Plus, we’re introduced to an everyday hero. But not this week: this week is special. Today we honor our veterans on Memorial Day.
I’ve seen it a hundred times. A soldier walks by a group of people in a public place. Because s/he is dressed in army fatigues, we recognize them as soldiers. More often than not, they are hunched under the burden of an insanely oversized backpack. People avert their eyes or they look away. Why do we do that?
If we look away with shame, that is on us. The shame we should feel is for not doing more to assist them upon their return from the front lines. They have served our country. Although today’s tours of duty are shorter and a visit home is allowed more frequently than in the past, there is a sacrifice.
Some veterans return to empty homes with spouses and children no longer there. Whereas others have missed the birth of their babies and some return mourning the loss of one of their comrades. Most of our veterans have seen horrible things that we can only imagine from movies. But for them, it was real. These atrocities weigh heavily on our veterans. Unfortunately, many of them return with PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). And sadly, some soldiers are unable to overcome their stress and increasingly choose to die by suicide.
Tips to honor our veterans
It all begins with one simple change. Just like any of the other Motivation Monday topics we’ve provided tips on here at Grit Daily. No need to go overboard. There are things that you can easily do: take baby steps. Then, over time, one thing becomes two, two becomes three and so on. Soon enough, what began as “steps” becomes part of who you are and how you behave on a daily basis, without even having to think about it. There are many things that you can do to honor our veterans, today as Motivation Monday Memorial Day, and every day.
#1 – smile and say thanks
Yup, this one is going to be really, really hard to do for some of you. Instead of looking away, smile at the veteran. Say, “Thank you for your service” if you truly want to do something that makes a difference. That’s it. It’s that simple.
#2 – give something, do something
The USO.org is the leading epicenter of all things “veteran.” Offerings include suggestions on how to raise money, how to contribute to ongoing fundraisers and more. Special interest programs, coping tips and all sorts of information or opportunities to get involved are listed online.
#3 – buy a cup o’ joe
So everyone loves coffee, right? No joke, this program exists courtesy of Green Beans Coffee. And people like you make it possible. You can shop in person at their stores around the globe or donate online. Buy a cup o’ joe for a solider and the coffee company will make it happen.
Motivation Monday salutes all our veterans
Like everyone that has served before them, they are all heroes because every single one of them has soldiered on and given whatever they had. Many of them have given their lives to make a difference. Even the canine soldiers deserve to be recognized for providing companionship as well as sacrificing their lives to protect our people.
