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Of Courage and Judgement

In the eleven years of writing my thoughts and ideas on my Word Press site Strong Words and Simple Truths, I’ve observed that some posts receive more random views than others.  The blog below was written in October 2016 and is one that is consistently gets viewed by three or four people every month and I’ve always wondered why.

On this morning in June 2024, I pulled the Judgement card and reflected on the symbolism once again.  I haven’t seen this card in years and decided to read the widely read 2016 blog again.

It’s uncanny how similar patterns in the world and in my personal journey keep repeating themselves.

As I embark on a new chapter and journey in life, I am reminded to keep the faith and have the courage to do what is right.  

Photo by Lukas Hartmann on Pexels.com

The following excerpt about the Judgement tarot card is taken from https://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/learn/meanings/judgement.shtml and applies to all people facing major changes in their lives.

“It’s a very hard card to read, in part because it deals with very hard and final decisions.  And it means facing something that most querents don’t want to face.  This is not about Death, something ending whether you want it to or not, this is about deciding to make a change, to stop doing something that isn’t working or do something that will work.  Which means that’s it really a card about courage, and about recognizing that you’re holding on something that needs to be let go.”

Here’s my post from October 9, 2016 titled The Fool on the Hill and the Judgement Card:

There is nothing like a good tarot card reading, a pending move to a new state and a bizarrely disgusting election news cycle to get me to look at things in an altered way.  An Agile Life encourages us to have frequent Retrospectives to review what is going well, what is blocking us and what we can do differently.

I view tarot cards as a mirror to the heart and soul and they often reflect thoughts and notions back to us in a new light.

“There is no way to leave the past behind,” The Angel observes. “Each step wears down the shoe just a bit, and so shapes the next step you take, and the next and the next. Your past is always under your feet. You cannot hide from it, run from it, or rid yourself of it. But you can call it up, and come to terms with it. Are you willing to do that?

The Angel hands the Fool a small trumpet. The Fool is hesitant, but he knows that the Angel is right. There are certain memories he has a hard time looking back on as they make him feel guilty, ashamed, angry. He knows that he’s never come to terms with what happened and he must if he wants to make that final transition.”

Here are some retrospective thoughts and questions based my drawing of the Judgement Card last night:

Are we able to resurrect the past, forgive it and let it go?

Do we need to start something we’ve been putting off or have the courage to finally end something that isn’t good for us?

Is it time to move on?

As I bask in the glorious autumn weather of Colorado and watch the leaves turn to orange, yellow and red, I remember that they will all fall to the ground soon, dead but nurturing to the soil below. I also have faith that the leaves will be reborn in the spring as the seasons continue to roll by.

I have hope that after the cold winter, there will be a better, brighter season but in the meantime…

It’s time forgive and move on to more important things.

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My Final Report to Legion Post 64

These words were published in the June 2024 Newsletter for American Legion Post 64 in Phoenix, Arizona.

This is my final report to you as your Commander.  One year ago, I was honored to be elected to lead the Ahwatukee Post and I am happy to say that we fulfilled our promise to directly help and assist local veterans and their families.

Adjutant Roddy Charlton and Chaplain Rebecca Schmidt presented me with the Commander’s Award

In mid 2023, the officers of Post 64 came together and crafted an Action Plan which focused on meeting the needs of our members.  The plan had 3 points:  1) Engage- Make Connections, 2) Expand- Build Bridges, and 3) Retain- Strengthen Social Fabric.  When I look back at the last 11 months and reflect on all the good work, activities, and events that our members participated in, the words Mission Accomplished come to mind.

Engage– We listened to what was important to our members and held three social mixers, two fundraiser dinner dances and numerous activities outside of our 10 regular member meetings at the ARC.  The number of veterans and guests who attended and actively participated also increased as the word got out about what value and benefit the American Legion can provide.  The outstanding personal outreach of the Buddy Check program by our Service Officer Craig Annis and a small team of volunteers also had an amazingly positive impact on engagement.

Expand– Our strong partnership with Auxiliary Unit 64 helped us expand and improve the quality of our service to those in need.   We built bridges to the community with active roles in the Chamber of Commerce, Boy Scout Troop 172, local Middle and High Schools, and other veteran service organizations which extended our service reach.  With these actions and an enhanced PR/multimedia marketing emphasis, we increased awareness and visibility of the Legion programs that help those in need.

Retain– Taking care of the needs of our existing members while strengthen the social fabric of our post and local community enabled us to have the high member retain rate in District 12.   The key ingredients in this area were members’ passion and service to others with meaningful causes.  Having fun added the extra spice that kept people coming back and renewing their membership and increasing their involvement and commitment to our post.

As I pass the baton to our incoming Commander, Tamma Notaro, I am confident that she will keep the momentum going with our goal of Veterans Helping Veterans.  Her strong leadership, communication and mentoring skills, in addition to a military intelligence background, will serve her well in coming year.

Lastly, the most important thing I need to say is Thank You to all the post members and auxiliary for supporting me this past year.  We couldn’t have accomplished anything without you.  I was blessed to have an amazing team of officers who all stepped up and exceeded my expectations.  Words of appreciation are not enough to express my gratitude to the leaders of Post 64.  I enthusiastically salute the 2023-2024 Post and Unit 64 officers:  Al Hunter, Pete Meier, Roddy Charlton, Craig Annis, Jay Hendrix, Rebecca Schmidt, Mark Shillinger, David Green, Darlene Hunter, Joan Uhler, Kristy Hendrix, Judy Steffen, and Bev Shillinger.  Great job everyone!

I also want to express my deep appreciation to our Post Photographer, Steve Smull, who has been creatively capturing so many memories and moments at Post 64 for the past 6 years. 

A few words from Steve,

“As Post Photographer for Post 64, I was honored to serve and support Brenda’s efforts as Commander. We share a mutual respect for the efforts of our nation’s veterans, not just in defense of our borders, but also in their support of their peers. 

Brenda and I will carry our efforts for veterans up the hill with us. I enjoy supporting veteran events with images which support veterans’ efforts. Thanks for allowing me to do it.”

Steve Smull with the GOAT Award from Post 64

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Red Poppies are Not Artificial

The red poppy is a real and hardy flower that thrives in Belgium, France, England, and along the streets of Georgetown, Texas. This vibrant wildflower is a strong and passionate symbol of the sacrifices made by members of the armed forces across Europe, Canada, and the United States.

Poppies are authentic.

Poppies are powerful.

Poppies are the perfect reminder of the true meaning of Memorial Day in the United States.  A stark and true symbol of remembrance and hope.

I first learned about the poppy when I was 10 years old and competing in my local VFW Post’s Poppy Queen contest.  Having studied the history and background of the red and black flower, I have grown to appreciate its beauty and enduring symbolism.  While paper replicas of the Papaver roheas are hand-crafted and distributed outside thousands of grocery stores on Memorial Day weekend in the U.S., they are not artificial.  Rather, they represent the truest of all human experiences – that of noble sacrifice for one’s country.

It is an honor to don a red poppy in remembrance for those who have served in the military and paid the ultimate price.

The last stanza of the famous WWI poem, In Flanders Field, strikes me in my heart every time I read or recite it:

“Take up our quarrel with the foe

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch;  be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die.

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

 In Flanders Field.”

The reality of humankind’s warlike ways is painfully evident across the globe and the valiant fight of good against evil continues.   The simple red poppy remains a strong and radiant light of truth, power and sacrifice.  Nothing is more real than that.

 

 

 

 

 

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Memories of Mom

For those whose mothers are no longer living on this earth, do you ever wonder what she would think about our world today? I often think about how my mom would react to my decisions and current situation. What advice would our mothers give us if they were sitting next to us right now?

It’s been almost 24 years since my sweet Mom passed away from lung cancer and Mother’s Day is always one of the saddest days of the year for me.

The best thing I can do is honor my Mom’s memory by doing and saying things that I know she would appreciate and be proud of. Striving to emulate her values with my actions.

Virginia Mary was born during the Great Depression and had a strong, spunky spirit and an infectious smile. She was extremely generous with her time and limited money and always rooted for and lent a helping hand to the underdog. Virginia was kind, jovial and optimistic. Her friends called her Ginny and I called her Mom.

One of my Mom’s favorite sayings was “Live, Love, Laugh” and that was how she lived her life. I never heard her complain or speak poorly of others, She was stoic when she was sick and cared more about taking care of the needs of others than she did for herself.

My Mom was hearing impaired since childhood and wore hearing aids which I don’t think helped her much. She was good at reading lips, body language, and expressions. She loved to read mystery books and write letters to her family. I am so happy to have a stack of letters she wrote to me during the early 1990s when I was in the Army and deployed in Saudi Arabia. This was the best way to communicate with her and they mean the world to me now.

Mom was not one to give unsolicited advice but if you asked she would give her simple and wise opinion. She didn’t use big words but she had large and important ideas, lessons, and experiences to share.

I’d like to imagine that if my Mom were sitting next to me right now, she would encourage me to lighten up and enjoy the small, good things that life has to offer. She would remind me to relax and slow down and look before I leaped. She would smile and tell me to be kind to others and volunteer to help the needy and underprivileged. Virginia Mary was an amazing and strong woman who inspired me to serve my country, my family, and my community. She is one of the main reasons why I became so active and engaged with the American Legion (all 4 of her brothers served in the U.S. military in WWII). The way she lived and loved and laughed in the face of adversity were key examples for me and helped shape who I am today.

My yoga instructor shared this quote below after class yesterday and it made be think of my Mom.

“If you want light to come into your life then you need to stand where it’s shining.” – Guy Finley

Happy Mother’s Day in heaven Mom!

Your values live on in the actions of your children, your friends and everyone who had the honor of knowing you.

Thanks for the great advice today.

My Mom and I at Ft Gordon, GA in 1989.

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Self-Nourishment: Releasing for Recovery

Are your muscles tense and holding a huge amount of stress?

Is your neck screaming at you? Maybe it’s your lower back that is barking.

Life’s challenges can be extremely stressful on your physical body. So often we hold our stress in our muscles and this leads to pain and discomfort. What can you do to get some relief?

To help release and let go of your tension, I recommend the top 3 basics of walking, stretching, and yoga. Recently, I experienced great release and recovery from a fitness class at Mountainside Fitness called “30 MIN. XPRESS ROLL & RELEASE” led by Kathleen Sollars which used foam rollers and tennis balls to help us achieve the benefits of myofascial release and increased blood flow and circulation to soft tissue. I felt like a stick of melted butter after this class! It’s amazing what a bit of focused rolling and pressure point action can do. The result that night was the best quality sleep I’ve experienced in months.

To help us better understand and apply the release and recovery model, my good friend and Yoga Therapist, Nancy Martch, shares her wisdom and focuses on the importance of self-nourishment in our daily lives. More than self-care, self-nourishment is the intentional replenishment of vital energy and breath to the body. Just like it is beneficial to feed our bodies quality food and nutrients, it is equally important to fill up our body’s emotional and spiritual tanks with positive movements, reflections, and breath work. In addition to yoga and mediating, rolling and releasing can be key components to your daily self-nourishment.

Below is a slide I appreciated from a presentation crafted by Nancy, owner of Jai Yoga. As my Yoga Therapist, she has helped me to become more aware of my body and its response to external stimuli and trauma. Nancy has helped me to breathe, balance, release and accept. Yoga therapy is an outstanding way to promote health and well-being within a therapeutic relationship. To learn more , check out this video. Follow her on Facebook and Instagram @jaiyogahouston

It is my hope that you can release some of your pain and tension with these ideas and tips. Life is too short to be in constant discomfort and you deserve to have some relief.

Take care of yourself. Breathe, move, and let it go.

Self nourishment calls on the Mother within you to take action for your personal and specific needs.

Remember the 3 Rs of Roll, Release and Recover!

Namaste.

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Surprise! You are Ready to Rearrange

“Sometimes our lives have to be completely shaken up, changed and rearranged to relocate us to the place we’re meant to be.”

I was shocked to realize that I ready was to rearrange my life, shaking it up like a red, 1975 Etch A Sketch- selling our house and moving to another city.

Whether you are resetting your priorities, refocusing your efforts, or completely changing your home address, change and moving are not for the light-hearted.  Change is hard and that is why most people don’t attempt it.  Leaving your comfort zone is painful and that explains why so many remain like the frog in the proverbial boiling pot. It often seems easier to do nothing than it is to take a step into the scary unknown.

But I am here to tell you, not changing or relocating may result in just as much pain and anguish in the long run (look to history books for numerous examples of this- 1939 Germany comes to mind).  

My recent shakeup involves two major areas of my life- my job and my home.  The catalyst was a down-sizing event at my employer of ten years and then the retrospective conclusion that my home was located in a place where I wasn’t meant to be.  It just didn’t feel right anymore, and I knew that a drastic change was needed.  So, I resigned from my dead-end contract job and my family put our house up for sale.  The house got an offer in 2 days with a short 3-week close date.  Wow was that shaking things up!  

The rearrangement continues as I sit in a coffee shop called the Ground Shaker and write this blog.  I am in the city of Surprise, AZ where we are fortune to be staying at the house of good friends who are snowbirds who flew to Colorado for the summer.  

So now I find myself jobless and homeless with all of my worldly belongings (minus my clothes, bikes, and Apple devices) in a storage locker in Prescott, AZ.   

Moving is one of the most stressful and tiring experiences and this is the 24th time I’ve done it in the past 35 years.  All of my immediate family lives in the same county where I was born and raised and I sometimes wonder how my life would have turned out if I had never left for my first Army duty station after college.  A rolling stone may never gather moss but it also doesn’t establish strong and deep roots.  I do miss seeing my sister, brothers, cousins, nieces and nephews for the holidays and important life events. I miss and long for the adventures and trips down the shore with my east coast friends.

Relocating is all very unsettling and disconcerting but it helps when you know that you are doing it for a good reason.  Keeping a positive future state clear in your mind is one of the keys to reducing the pain of the change.  Visualization of a better place where I am meant to be is helping me cope with the waterfall of stress and angst. 

The ideas and images of a new house in a smaller, cooler town in the mountains are calming and soothing to the soul.  I’m hoping for that the higher altitude will bring better attitudes (or, to be more grammatically correct, higher elevations will bring positive revelations).  Less heat, more trees and lakes- that is what I need to keep my sights on- not this temporary sense of dread and unease. 

And so here I am in Surprise Limbo, experiencing the thrill of having my life completely shaken up, changed, and rearranged to enable me to relocate to the place I’m meant to be.

Onward and upward!

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A Positive Force in the Community: Remembering Jack Armstrong

Jack Armstrong was a strong and caring man who walked the walked and stood tall for his values, his community, and his nation. He cared about his community through his volunteer efforts at the Ahwatukee Recreation Center (ARC) and the American Legion.  He supported his country through his military and government service.  Jack advocated for and helped his Legion Post 64 in more ways than he knew.  His strength and sincerity were a shining example of what is right and good about our nation.

A few years ago I began meeting with a small group of Legionnaires from Post 64 at the Denny’s restaurant in Chandler, AZ.  Jack, Al, Bill and I put our heads together to brainstorm and how we could increase membership and engagement at our local post.   I truly appreciated Jack’s quiet command and thoughtful ideas on how we could help our fellow veterans and the youth of in the Phoenix area.   He could always be counted on to man the Post’s information/PR tables at public events and assist at Post meetings, social mixers, and fundraising functions. Jack was a true patriot and a leader who was liked and respected by everyone in the American Legion family.

Jack was an intelligent man who wanted to write a book and encouraged me to start a Writer’s Group at the ARC.  Below is the email he sent me on May 4, 2023.  Together we started a bi-weekly ARC Writer’s Group meeting in July 2023.  He was a great inspiration to me and I enjoyed listening to his stories and experiences from his Army Corps of Engineering days in Vietnam to his Office of Inspector General audit days in the DoD.

“Brenda,

The ARC is trying to start a writer’s group.  Would you be interested in joining and taking the leadership?  I plan to join if the ARC can find a leader.  I have always wanted to write a book on fraud in Iraq and Afghanistan, but I am not very creative when it comes to writing.  I have written a couple hundred audit reports but nothing creative.  Let me know if you are interested.

-Jack”

Jack was an active supporter of his community and a leader with a positive message of unity and respect.  He lived authentically and was grateful for all that he had.  Jack Armstrong embodied the values and pillars of the American Legion which are: Rehabilitation for Veterans, Youth & Children, Americanism, and National Defense. He not only lived these values- he boldly took action to make the world a better place.  

As Commander of American Legion Post 64, I was honored to have worked with Jack Armstrong on countless efforts and events that supported our “Veterans Helping Veterans” focus.  We will honor and remember Jack in the best way we can- by continuing his legacy and great work and by being positive, helpful, and caring volunteers in the local community.

RIP Jack L. Armstrong

January 3, 1947- April 24, 2024

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Being the Spark

To counter the dark, we need the light.

To counter the cold, we need the fire.

To create the fire, we need the spark.

The spark starts with you and with me.

Being the spark is all that it takes to spread the warmth and the luminosity that the world needs right now.  Igniting the flame to be the light would be an amazing gift to someone this season.

Similar to the butterfly effect, many people can be impacted by one small act- one tiny gesture of love and compassion.  Fire spreads quickly and joy is contagious.  

Loneliness, isolation, and sadness are kindling which can be dispelled in an instant by the spark and the subsequent flame.   

The facade of happy holiday cheer and joyous music masks the reality of so many peoples’ inner pain and suffering. 

Being the spark to light the fire in someone’s heart can bring relief and hope in an otherwise dark time.

Be the one.  Be the light.  Spread the spark.

May your candle burn bright.

Merry Christmas!

Photo by Viktoria on Pexels.com
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Stand Tall, Stand Bright-  Be the Light

As the coolness of winter settles in, many holiday traditions seek to counter the shorter days and the growing darkness with symbols of light. Whether it’s with candles, fireworks, or brightly colored LEDs, our winter religious ceremonies are filled with joyous expressions to warm the soul.   Tall, strong structures are erected to display the light for all to see.  Evergreen trees and menorahs will stand bright and serve as radiant beacons and positive gathering places for communities, families, and friends to come together in a spirit of peace and good will.

Photo by cottonbro studio on Pexels.com

This tall, bright luminosity can help push out the encroaching darkness of our modern, fractured world. As our nation and local communities are less cohesive and less united under a common purpose or goal, the need for warm bonds and true, meaningful connection is more important than ever.

Menorah setup in Phoenix plaza. Photo by Steve Smull

As the world continues to face terrorism and wars, we need to stand tall and be the light.   As some members of our community face increasing levels of discrimination based on their religion or skin color, we need to stand tall and be the light against these dark forces.

Another challenge many people face during the holiday season is loneliness and isolation, which effects young and old, rich and poor.  To combat this epidemic, I encourage you to look for ways to reach out to someone with a warm and heart-felt greeting.  Take the extra effort to connect and make a positive difference in someone’s life.

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels.com

As we look to this season of giving and light, I am reminded that the greatest gift is time.   Giving someone your time and attention is a priceless present that will brighten their day.  If you can, reach out and touch someone with a personal visit, card, or phone call.  Check in to see how they are doing and let them know you are thinking about them.  This is how we can strengthen the social fabric of our communities.

Now, more than ever, we need to share our light with others.  

May your candles burn bright.

May this holiday season fill your heart with love, your home with joy, and your life with laughter.

Happy Hanukkah

&

Merry Christmas

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An Honor to Serve: Veterans Helping Veterans

In the United States, November 11th is the national holiday when we recognize our fellow citizens who have served their country in the military.  Veterans Day, unlike Memorial Day, is meant to appreciate the sacrifices of the millions of living veterans who raised their right hand and pledged to defend the U.S. Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic.  

This year Veterans Day has more meaning for me than usual.  With the active and brutal battlefields in the Middle East and Eastern Europe, I am acutely aware and distressed at the heavy price that is being paid by both military personnel and civilians during wars.  

As a U.S. Army Veteran from the Gulf War, it my honor to serve as the Commander of Ahwatukee American Legion Post 64 which is focused on helping veterans and their families in our local community. 

Now more than ever, we need to strengthen the social fabric of our society and in our neighborhoods and, in my opinion, this is best done by connecting and bonding with people in person with a sense of common purpose.  One of the things I miss most about my time in the military is the camaraderie and sense of shared values with fellow service members.  When in a foxhole together at the morning stand to during my deployment in Saudi Arabia and Iraq, it didn’t matter what color your skin was or what your religious beliefs were.  The only thing that mattered was that you were an American and believed in freedom, liberty, and our country’s Constitution.  

As part of our Post’s Veterans Helping Veterans initiative, we are conducting Buddy Checks, where American Legion members are actively calling members to check in and see how they are doing. We are letting veterans know that we miss them and are thinking about their health and wellbeing. This focus is in support of the American Legion’s “Be the One” program, a suicide prevention effort which is addressing the growing health concern among those who served and are suffering with PTSD, TBI, or other debilitating issues.

American Legion Post 64 is Ahwatukee’s sole Veteran’s Service Organization and we meet monthly (3rd Wednesdays at 4PM) at the Ahwatukee Recreation Center (ARC).  This November 11th you can visit with veterans from Post 64 at our table at the 19th Annual Ahwatukee Car Show on 4700 E. Warner Rd.  

Please visit our website at www.americanlegionpost64.com for more information on the many events and social activities we are hosting in the local area.

Happy Veterans Day!