Fear! and being the first man

I want to post a comment on this. FEAR! It is the life draining emotion. It is what keeps you from accomplishing and doing and starting. It is excessively protectful. It is how animals think...the kind of animals that get eaten.

Fear is destructive in that it prevents you from doing anything at all other than running away or hunkering in a fetal "down and cover".

Fear thrives on pessimism and complaining. The man that wakes every morning, walks outside and smiles at the bright sun and blue sky and cinches down the ruck, moving out to a day of promise with a straight back and head held high is neither pessimistic nor fearful.

Contrast that with the man who slouches in the couch watching one program after another advising him of the coming calamity of the day. He moves through is day defeated and almost mournful, neither noticing nor appreciating the beauty around him...nor the opportunities.

The first man makes sh*t happen...the second one watches as sh*t happens to him. Which are you? Which do you want to be? The choice is not in the circumstances, it is up to you.

I will tell you about my father Elio Suarez.  He lost everything he owned to communism in 1960...the year that I was born. Had he chosen to be the second man, and he had every right to be, he would have no doubt died of grief as so many Cubans his age did. Instead he chose to be the first man, in the sort of environment that few americans...even those who like to roll around naked on a bed of TEOTEWAWKI, could not imagine.

Think of depression era environment coupled with a Nazi Germany level of oppression. That was post revolution Cuba where a man who was suspected of being anti-Castro could find himself writing a goodbye note to his family while the firing squad got their rifles ready.

In that environment he became an outlaw. Yup...not a law abiding, sullen and defeated man, but a bright eyed, opportunity seeking black marketeer. Seeing the limits of the Cuban pond, he moved his entire family to the USA leaving his aging brothers and mother in Cuba (she died a couple of years later). He was 53.

He built a business and regained much of what he had lost because he was the first man and not the defeated complaining second man. My dad's kids, and wife never lacked a thing...never went hungry, never were homeless, or without education, resources or opportunity. And that through Communism, Lyndon Johnsonism, Nixonism, Carterism, and all the other isms that have come and gone, and come, and gone.

So you can see my disatisfaction with the incessant doom and gloom hopelessness that I am seeing discussed today from time to time. Good grief men....we have seen it all before.

If I was R.Lee Ermey I'd say something to the effect of "stop being a crybaby, grow a set of balls, and make some sh*t happen - TODAY".

But instead I will simply say "be the first man".

Gabe Suarez

Warrior Talk Blog
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Comments

[Dave Brooke]

Thanks for the pep-talk. We all, especially myself, need encouragement to continue on the path of being that first man.

-Dave

[Justin Stowers]

Great article Gabe the world needs more of this.

[Hamrhed]

Right on, Gabe... I have felt the urge to slip into the abyss that is the second man: no more! I guess that means its time to make some sh*t happen

[Hanger]

Not much left to say but AMEN! As my dad used to say, you can either wait for the door to open, or you can open it yourself, your choice.

[boris]

a good word and a great article. while i am aware of the changes in the world, rather than being afraid, it motivates me to continue doing what i need to do. do i have concerns? you better believe it. worries? one or two. paralyzing fear? no, not really. my biggest problem is that i tend to overanylize {sp?} too much....or as my buddy says...Boris, thou thinkest too much!! great article as always, Gabe!

[D C Cole]

Gabe, this very personal story about being a "real" man is one of your best. All of life is a choice. There is a duality to everything. We can either be a Cornerstone or a Stepping Stone.

[Jim Sullins]

Opps, sorry Gabe, I meant to say "Gabe" not "Dave"
Jim Sullins

[Darrell J Berno]

Gabe, Good comintary. I try to follow that type of life
Thanks again for your perspective