TwoSpade’s Deck

Day 365: 5 Lessons Learned from 1 Year in Iraq

I’ll just get right to it:

#5 I am now addicted to Audiobooks and PDF books. I have listened and read several that have either been fun or useful since being here. Quiet time in my room that I don’t fill with killing zombie hordes preparing myself for the inevitible Zombie Apocalypse that we all know is coming, is now me reading a PDF on my laptop (Kindles need to support color soon…). When there are only reruns of Chuck left, now I listen to a book. Excellent way to keep my eye on progress bars and still be learning something.

#4 You really can condition yourself to do healthy things. With some hard work, hard work can become part of your routine. When I first started going to the gym out here by myself I didn’t really know what I was doing. I’d go one day, skip the next, maybe a couple, and go back when I felt like it. When I started getting some guidance from some good friends (big thanks to JasonG and BigZero) and started to take it seriously, there were growing pains. When I say pains, I mean I couldn’t walk without using a wall for balance and/or couldn’t raise my arms. I changed my diet and went through headaches and sickness from not balancing my meals and dehydrating from not drinking enough or supplementing incorrectly. But then once I got into the rhythm of it, now I feel guilty any day I miss the gym (even on days I NEED rest) and that old Theo, that used to forget to eat and drink properly when he was playing video games all day, is gone. It is also worth noting, the reason I started working out has gone from being what I thought was a total solution to a problem (my self esteem, which I have recently learned it is not a complete cure for), to a lifestyle choice because I feel healthier in mind and body which effects everything I do in a positive way.

#3 I’m much better about overcoming fears. Coming out to Iraq was coupled with fear. How I was going to cope during my time here, what I was going to do afterward, and just being in a foreign place were all things I feared. I went from freaking out about having to go to Balad, to looking forward to taking the Black Hawk ride in about 10 minutes, I just had to think about it differently. While I always try to remain realistic rather than optimistic or pessimistic, the best way I can describe it is I am trying to put more emphasis on the “now” than the “what can happen.” I had a nasty habit of overthinking things, but applying ideas like “you know, I lived in a war zone for over a year, this is nothing” when I face something new that I’m afraid of is putting several things into a new perspective. I just need to continue practicing doing things out of my comfort zone and I know I’ll be better for it, because in some ways I already am.

#2 I’ve had a complete paradigm shift for the better. I have positively changed my view of things since I’ve been here. It stems from several things, from some good conversation, my own personal introspection, and studying several different kinds of nonfiction material. The most exciting part about this is that the feeling continues to grow. In fact, I would venture to say some of my biggest feelings of relief and positivity have come from things I discovered for and about myself just a couple weeks ago. What is more important to me is that people have noticed, so I know it is working! This only makes it that much better.

#1 I have an awesome network of friends and family. While several of my friends and family did not support my initial move out here (again, JasonG should get props to standing up to, well…everyone!), once I made the decision and followed through, I’ve had nothing but the best support. From personal messages from old friends just checking in, public comments on my photos and blogs, or just the random “Hi” and “We miss you!” (<-Thanks Amber!) on my Facebook (arguably the most important website to me since I’ve been out here), while a little over a year ago today I was at an all-time low, I feel better than ever just because I know how many people are looking out for me. And I can’t wait to party with all of you after I get back!

As always, more later. For now…cake!

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This entry was posted on Wednesday, August 12th, 2009 at 9:07 pm and is filed under Blog. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Day 365: 5 Lessons Learned from 1 Year in Iraq

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