In his book Duty, Robert Gates tells about Lieutenant Jason “Jay” Redman, a Navy SEAL who was shot seven times and endured nearly two dozen surgeries. On the door to his room at Bethesda Naval Hospital, Jason posted a hand-written sign that read:
ATTENTION. To all who enter here. If you are coming into this room with sorrow or to feel sorry for my wounds, go elsewhere. The wounds I received I got in a job I love, doing it for people I love, supporting the freedom of a country I deeply love. I am incredibly tough and will make a full recovery. What is full? That is the absolute utmost physically my body has the ability to recover. Then I will push that about 20% further through sheer mental tenacity. This room you are about to enter is a room of fun, optimism, and intense rapid regrowth. If you are not prepared for that, go elsewhere. The Management.”
Jason made many choices in his young life. There are 7 evidenced in his door sign:
- He chose how people were to react to his plight in his presence.
- He chose not to allow negative reactions to enter his presence.
- He chose a dangerous job.
- He chose to show his love for his job, people, and his country at great cost.
- He chose to overcome his injuries.
- He chose to what level he would overcome his injuries.
- He chose the atmosphere that would nurture his goals and forbid others to infect it with conditions that would inhibit his goals.
Jason did not choose to get shot seven times. Nor did he focus on the people who shot him with blame. He chose to focus on what would make a difference. The choices he made determined what the outcome of his injuries and the subsequent surgeries would be. He chose life and the quality of life that he would have. His choice overcame the potential destruction and damage that could have been the result of his wounds.
Instead of blaming his injuries for making him a cripple, he chose to recover to 120% of what his body would physically allow. And I have no doubt that his mental and emotional recovery was even more than 120% because of his choice.
If we can look at our own misfortunes in such a way, we can overcome them too. But overcoming requires that we choose to recover.
Jason has my respect because he respected himself enough to choose boundaries and goals that fostered his development in the direction that would overcome, and he enforced them. We must do the same in our circumstances. When we do, we respect ourselves and we earn the respect of others.
