Are you a veteran? Thank you! Are you the parent or sibling or child or spouse/partner of a veteran? Thank you! And yes, Veterans Day was yesterday – there are not enough ways to thank those who choose to serve in ways that most of us wouldn’t. Veterans are vital to the survival of our country – thank you to everyone who serves and has served.
And then there’s this weird, confusing piece:
Veterans Day is often treated as a very somber occasion, and I’ve never really figured that one out. On Memorial Day, a day set aside to remember Americans who died in battle, we have cookouts and fireworks. On Veterans Day, a day set aside to thank those who fought on behalf of our nation and returned home, there is a solemn wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington Cemetery’s Tomb of the Unknowns, a monument to military men and women who died in battle and whose remains were not recovered.
I’m pretty sure we have the observances flipped, aren’t you? The fireworks and picnics belong to Veterans Day and the solemn ceremonies belong to Memorial Day. I’m also pretty sure that, as engrained as these holiday celebrations are in the American culture and heart, it’s not going to be changed any time soon. It’s not the first thing that’s gotten confused and it won’t be the last.
How do you deal with confusion in your life? For some things, like the flipped holiday observances that likely won’t change, laugh and move on. You’re not in control so no need to waste your precious time and energy on it. Change is very hard for most people to cope with – brains don’t like it, so the people associated with those brains can get pretty crabby! Change is still possible, though – it just takes the right focus. And one of the best gifts you can give someone is a sincere “thank you” because it makes them feel seen and appreciated. Here are three episodes of the world’s second-shortest podcast (90 seconds or less per episode!) to explain in more detail:
Need a reminder of what you can and can’t control? Here’s a Tiny Bite for that!
Want to understand why changing anything is difficult? Here’s a Tiny Bite for that!
Is “thank you” really that hard? Here’s a Tiny Bite for that!
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Yesterday was Veterans Day. You can still say “thank you” today. Dad was career military and always got a chuckle out of me calling him on Veterans Day to thank him, just as he was always humbled by strangers who saw his military ballcap and thanked him, or who paid his tab in a coffee shop or restaurant.
If you know a veteran, thank them. If you see someone in military garb and you have the means to do so, pick up their check. If you can do it without them knowing, even better. Thank you!
Wags,
Sandy Weaver
The Voice of Wagaliciousness
PS...want more? Subscribe to the Mind, Body, Soul Sessions podcast, a weekly mental spa treatment for your total self!
