A Soldier's Life is Worth 24,000 Minutes

Put your money where your mouth is.  That's an expression I've heard throughout my life, but recently when my friend and I asked ourselves what a soldier's life was worth, I began thinking, I mean really thinking, about that question.  Well, for me, because financially, I don't have a lot, I decided it translated into my time.  Twenty-four thousand minutes, a projected 400 hours, or 1,440,000 seconds of my time.  It's worth the several paychecks I'll earn from a temporary job, and so much more to create the Warrior Dog Project to raise funds to help our soldiers, military working dogs and retired veterans. 

I can only speak for myself, but when I feel passionately about something, I'll do anything humanly possible for that cause.  We all have emotional triggers - things that bring tears to our eyes, tug at our hearts, makes us sad, glad to be alive or incredibly angry.  In the end, what action do we take to affect a change?  What makes us step-up to the plate and say, I'm going to do something - give this cause my all because I really want to make a difference?

It comes as no surprise that it's getting harder and harder to pierce the exterior of people's everyday lives and get them to stop and think about what's important.  We have become so desensitized and immune to what's going on in our world, due in large part to the massive amount of media and information that floods into our brains twenty-four seven.  I am, at times, disheartened with the slowness with which others step-up to the plate.  It's simply the way I'm wired.   I never need to wait for someone else to lead the way.  I just jump in and work through things as I go.  But, I'm always thrilled and extremely grateful when we come together for some common purpose.  I love the energy that builds as like-minded people bring their enthusiasm, skills, passion and financial resources to the cause.  It doesn't matter whether it's sharing our patriotism by holding signs, putting out shoes, gluing plaques or collecting money to help someone....it all matters.  It all makes a difference!

The Warrior Dog Project is that mission for me.  I believe, if there is even a chance that what I'm doing will help save one of our soldier's lives, then I will continue to ask people to help me with money and time.  Each of us must follow our own hearts and conscience.  We all must decide what value we place on family, friends, our country, our soldiers, etc.  Each of us has a different calling.

But, I pose the question again.  What is a soldier's life worth to you?  Is it worth donating $1?  Or $20? Or $50?  Is it worth any of your time even thinking about the fact that our soldiers and these brave four-legged warriors are risking their lives far around the world every single day?  Or, will you mistakenly think your contribution is meaningless?  I hope not.  Just think about the fact that we have 30,000 residents in Oswego.  If every man, woman and child was represented by a one dollar bill, that would be an incredibly large amount of money.  If every single household sent in one dollar for each member of their family, it woud grow the possibility of saving a military working dog's life and that of the soldiers he serves and protects.

I'm just as guilty as the next person of putting off things I have every good intention of doing.  Then it becomes too late and they pass me by.  Sometimes though I just make myself stop and take a deep breath.  I quiet myself and focus on the things that are important, not the ones that are short-lived and bring no value.   It's hard getting ourselves centerd in a world that's so off-kilter!

I hope there'll be times today that you'll think about these questions and you'll decide that your help is important.  When I arose this morning at three thirty, I couldn't help thinking that it was eleven thirty in the morning in Afghanistan and that our troops are in the midst of looking for bombs buried in the very paths they must walk.  It chokes me up with emotion to imagine that.  If they're lucky, they have a dog team with them who will help save their lives today. 

I'm not asking you to match my twenty-four thousand minutes, but I am asking that you think about what you can do to help make these dogs and troops safer.   I'm encouraging you to think about homeless, disabled, veterans being given a dog to care for and a place to live, a chance for a new life, because you donatd something to help make that happen.  Please go to my site at www.warriordog.co (not .com!) to see all of the wonderful things that will be taking place, but please don't wait until the last minute to begin contributing.  The reality is that it takes both time and money to make these projects happen which ultimately make a difference.  You can be an important part of that.  Your contribution does make a difference.  We all know how good it feels to do something for someone else.  

Also, did you know that March 13th is K9 Veterans Day in a number of states and cities across the United States?  There is an ongoing effort to have that happen throughout our country in all 50 states   I hope you'll take a moment next Tuesday (March 13th) to remember that these dogs have saved tens of thousands of our men's and women's lives.  Go to www.k9veteransday.org to read more about this.  "They served to save, and they deserve to be remembered."

As always......lived an inspired and patriotic life!