A Letter To All Veterans

Hey Brother,

As a Marine, I thought I had been through the shit and that when I separated from service life would be perfect. Little did I know how difficult marriage, fatherhood and a change of careers would actually be.

For the first time in ten years, I was going to wake up, have no one tell me where to be, what to wear, and how to do it. Despite everything I faced during my years of service, this was one of the scariest and toughest things I was ever going to do.

I did not know what to expect, so I rushed into everything because I was scared, alone, and uncertain. I had no path, no purpose, and for the first time in my life, I felt lost.

During this process, I lived in a word of validation. Constantly seeking approval from everyone and anyone. I was that guy that everyone came to for problems. From money, relationships and life. That made me feel good, well at least I thought.

In reality, I was coming from a place inside that was damaging who I was as a man. I was walking in other people shoes, expecting my life to get better. And it did, but I was still lost inside.

Shortly after I left the Marines, I met a girl who I soon spent a great deal of time with. When I went to Afghanistan as a contractor, she waited for me and we traveled the world together. It was amazing…