Warrior Wisdom
I have been blessed with two loving husbands during my life. Both of them have left this physical reality but are not forgotten. They were both wise warriors and taught me a great deal.
My first late husband, Doc, was a survivor of World War II. He swam off of the USS West Virginia at Pearl Harbor, was assigned to the Chicago, and participated in the major Pacific Theater battles. He was a Marine medic and experienced a great deal of the trauma and horror of war. He learned to survive!
The horrors that he experienced taught him to survive and also to help others while performing his healing duties. This to me is warrior wisdom. This wisdom and strength carried into the remainder of his life to go to Dental school, become a dentist, and eventually co-found a Church. He used his warrior wisdom in every challenge of his life.
My second late husband, Peter, was a Golden Gloves boxer, a private airplane pilot, and a survivor of a difficult childhood. He used his warrior wisdom to create an exciting life including creating a paving construction company and a Hydroponic Herb Farm long before its popularity. He knew how to fight and survive, to be a warrior, and his wisdom made him a very gentle soul.
Both of these men were healers. They were strong enough to stand up for what they believed, and also wise enough to be gentle when needed to allow the healing to occur. We so often think of healers as being only gentle and forget they must be strong to create the healing.
One lesson they both taught me was not to allow fear to stop you from your goal. Both men taught me that you need to face your fears, acknowledge them, and move forward. Fear freezes you and forward motion allows creativity. They both helped me see that a great deal of one’s fear is from past experiences, so being in the present moment allows you to be in reality and move forward.
My favorite lesson from both of them was the importance of amusement in all circumstances. Doc taught that when you don’t succeed at something, celebrate; and when you do succeed, celebrate. Peter always encouraged taking life lightly with laughter and a party. They were both strong warriors and wise healers.
I have also known many female wise warriors, one of my favorites was my mother-in-law, Annie, Doc’s mother. She grew up in rural poverty in Wyoming and moved her family to Seattle during the terrible drought in Wyoming. She worked in an airline factory during WWII when men were scarce. She raised her daughter and two stepsons and helped raise many grandchildren. She survived two husbands and healed everyone she encountered. My favorite advice from her is “Never consider ‘What if’. Accept what is.” Wise warriors come in many forms.
When you are afraid or discouraged, remember these wise warriors and their advice to: face your fears, be in present time and be amused. Their advice will carry you beyond your fear and past to a healing experience.
