So one of the other threads got me thinking about this. I believe that everyone has at least one moment of their life that changes your life forever. Mine was when we got the news that my dad had cancer. He eventually beat it but our relationship became stronger because we realized how short life can be. So what are some of your defining moments, good or bad? Sent using Tapatalk!
Im still young but the one that sticks out to me is back to senior year of H.S. when my GF and I were on a date at a restaurant and while we were there the place caught on fire. We made it out safely but seeing the building on fire and watching the firefighter work to help everyone out and put the fire out was amazing and really cool to me and something clicked. At the time I didn't know where I was going to college or what for but after the fire I knew what I wanted to do. I ended up in Champaign at Parkland college in their fire service major and started learning about firefighting, this went on for a little over a year before I got on a volunteer fire department here in town. Im sure glad I did I have loved every minute of it. Im still going to school and plan on getting medical training as well but, I plan on making a career out of it in the future.
I could go with an easy one and say when I met my wife, and it was a defining moment, but I think I'll go with the decision to move away from home for college. I could have stayed home at the local college, but I will always encourage any kid to move away from home. It really helps you discover who you are and encourages you to get out of your comfort. As cliche as this sounds, meeting new people, new ideas, discovering new beliefs really helped open my mind to an entire new world.
Mine was when my son was born premature. I spent over 4 weeks in the hospital with him. There was a lot to think about while I was there with him day and night. It changed the way I look at life.
Mine, right now, has to br my deployment to Afghanistan in 2011. I was volunteered to work with the Special Forces task force on the main base. I learned a lot about my self, mostly because I went through a lot of depression, and I also learned that good things come to those who bust their rears and have a little faith that it will all play out. I know that every move up, wouldn't call the first move a promotion, in my civilian career has been because of what I learned over there. Sent from my SAMSUNG Infuse 4G
I first read this and thought I'd come up with a positive one. But, I would have to say watching my ball go half way down and horseshoeing back out to miss an 8 foot putt on the final hole at Q school. Missed advancing by a stroke. Never got that far back or close to the PGA tour. Played in a few monday qualifiers, Got through some stages of US Open qualifiers, but never close again. That was my chance. I played the previous 3 holes in 4 under par to get that opportunity to make that putt and change my life. I actually wouldn't change a thing about the putt I hit. Was probably my best stroke all week. Just didnt' go down. Not that life is over now, but I wold say that was certainly "defining" for me.
Mine was when I walked into an IED during a foot patrol in Baghdad. I got knocked out for a second and got cut up by shrapnel but nothing life threatening. There were a few seconds where even though I was conscious I couldn't get my legs to work, during that time I heard another member of our patrol screaming and he sounded worse off than me. Since I couldn't yet walk I crawled to him to perform medical aid since the medic hadn't got to him yet. Sometimes now when I'm having a hard time with a decision, or I just generally feel sorry for myself, I think about that and I know times have been harder and there's no reason to get weak or selfish now.
I'm sure we will hear a lot of these, but it's easy for me...........the day my son was born. I realized at that moment that no matter what I try and accomplish with my life, nothing will be more important than being a great Dad to him.
When I left home at 17 for the Army in August 2001, I was a 130lb little twerp that did not have much confidence in myself. 4 months later I was in Afghanistan. 6.5 years and 3 deployments. There was a lot of life changing events. Another would be my wife, she is pretty darn good to me. Chris and Wreckless, I have two ears if you ever need them. Chris I can relate to you very well. 11B3B4 2-187inf 101st (2001-2005) 3-187inf. (2005-2008) Here's a funny to lighten the mood, parmalat milk challenge Iraq 2003.
My last defining moment was when my daughter was born, I know it sounds cliche but all of a sudden I have this life that is depended on choices that I make so for the the 14.5 years that has been my focus. It's how I tell time now before Kayla and after.
Same MOS minus the Bravo 4, I started out at Campbell (2/502nd) from 2000-2004. I was in 2/30th 4th Bde 10th Mountain when the event above happened though.
During my childhood a defining moment for me was when I decided to join the wrestling team. It helped me get tougher both mentally and physically as well as showed me disipline and sportsmanship. 9yrs of wrestling and 6 yrs of coaching high school kids later I would say it has helped mold me into the man I am today. I am 29 yrs old and for what I condsider the adult part of my life I don't believe I have had that defining life changing moment yet. I have had several small moments that have changed me but nothing that really stands out in my mind as a defining moment. I guess I am just waiting for that dare to be great situation
Mine would probably be when I decided to leave the family business and go back to college (didn't finish initially) to pursue a different career. I have never regretted it.
I almost went to 10th Mtn, I grew up in Ct and decided I wanted to get away from the north and see different things. Recruiter said i'd see the world, just left out it would be the crappiest places. Wouldn't change a thing though.
I guess mine was back in college when I decided to stay the course and get my degree in chemical engineering rather than chemistry. 20 years later I still have no idea if it was a positive or negative, but it was one the biggest decisions I've had to make. Finish my senior year with a cake walk of classes for my chemistry degree and have one more year with all my friends or transfer schools to continue on with difficult classes and not knowing a single person. An unrealized side effect was that I'd also end up about $15K more in debt.
Mine would be from this last year when we finally realized that my dad was seriously sick from cancer, and eventually passed away. I know it sounds different... But my dad never once went to a doctor to treat his cancer, and we came to find out he had been living with the pain and sufferring for a few years before he passed. We all knew it might have been a possibility as he smoked for 50 years... When he passed and we spoke to the doctor he stated that he had never seen that much cancer in someones body before. He went on to say that for someone who had never went to the doctor because of it was truly incredible. What I'm getting at... That taught me so many things, to always fight on, to never give up, and to thank god for each day that I am alive.
My dad's stroke in '09. Just brought things into a new perspective for a punk 21 year old kid at the time.
I'm still really young but I have one moment that I won't forget anytime soon. This past summer my brother's best friend was killed in a plane crash. He was 19 years old and had just received his pilot's license a month before. His whole family was on board and all were killed. The look on my brother's face when he got the news changed my aspect on life, and how quickly things can change. I was also one to have to deliver this news, probably hardest thing I've ever had to do.
