On this Grateful Day

"The inputs from those who serve must be threaded with the views from the decision makers on the Hill and molded in with the thoughts and minds of those who we serve."

Reflection

Veterans Day is full of Reflection. At least during my last 20 years of service it was a day of contemplation and tribute. But this Veterans Day, in a sense is nostalgically new.

It is the first Remembrance day that I am commemorating without the honor of donning a uniform.

Understanding

This Veterans Day, like anyday, we must try to better understand the diversity of our Armed Forces -- it is full of color, creeds and culture and it is as muti-modal as the Cyberspace World that we thrive in.

Negotiation

It is important that we listen to our judicious soldiers: From the Frontline General to the deck seaman or buck private, their informed inputs from how we strategize the war to the most fundamental aspects of quality of life will shape our Military and our Country here and now.

The inputs from those who serve must be threaded with the views from the decision makers on the Hill and molded in with the thoughts and minds of those who we serve.

Innovation

This week is especially somber due to the tragedy of Ft Hood. It is unfortunate that the system allowed Hassan to slip through a highly-regarded Uniformed Services medical school and internship at one of our Nation's core hospital for our returning wounded.


Not only had Hassan given a presentation titled "The Koranic World View as it Relates to Muslims in the U.S. Military"in which he recommended that DoD allow Muslim Soldiers the option of being released as "Conscientious objectors."  Hassan had also come to the attention of federal authorities because of internet postings he alleged made discussing suicide bombings and other threats.

Still there is courage under fire. The commendation goes to the immediate and well-managed response by the Ft Hood leadership especially with their full and untethered embrace of social media to inform and inspire.

By that evening on that fateful day, the US Army and LTG Cone was on the horn sending constant snippets of salient information on Twitter that provided welcomed, unbounded peace in a chaotic whirlwind of bitter terror.

Navigate

As we look forward, we must remember their sacrifices as well as the lessons that their notable acts of humanity afforded. What we do now with the ensuing war against the Taliban, al-Qaeda and those who want to do harm against the country that I call home will determine how joyous or remorseful we commemorate Veterans Day in years to come.

In honor of my three close friends who gave their all, so that we might enjoy what we especially have today:

CDR Phil Murphy-Sweet

Major Megan McClung

LT Florence Choe

RUNIN the Name

So what is RUNIN and why are there so many applications to this name? Contrary to what you may believe, RUNIN does not refer to the art of running (although there are many commonalities).  RUNIN is actually a back acronym:

Reflecting on Relationships

Reflection starts with oneself but does not stop there—it is looking at the surface as well as probing deeper beyond. It is about understanding your abilities and capabilities as well as being open about your mistakes and your shortcomings. When looking inward during the process of reflection, the point is to figure out where one stands in relation to the world. In order for these lessons to be valuable, we must consider those around us, and we should be open to share as well as learn from others.

Reflecting on Relationships is about seeing the interconnectedness of many things. This principle is about realizing that many things in life are truly connected-- the situations, events, and decisions of today be synched and in balance and this health-work-life continuum has a direct impact on our future. Reflection can also mean spirituality -- your daily quest to prepare your mind and body for inspiration and enlightenment. As you observe your reflection, other images will emerge—those of the lives around you.

Reflecting also applies to Remembering our history and to appreciate the sacrifices and achievements of those who have came before us and who has made a significant difference in our lives. Remembering also includes understanding mistakes of the past, both your own and those from other people who we can learn from.

Personally, I am a lumper and not a clumper. To clump is to put things in individual boxes, compartmentalize and then relegate core elements in life to labels and stereotypes. In contrast, to lump is to remove walls, to appreciate the value of "one village" and to change the integrity of the things that are being brought together.

Understanding and Uniting

Another important value is to understand the world and the community around you. First we should try to understand others before trying to be understood. When visiting a tenant, it is important to not just collect rent or to check on the property, but to get to know them and learn about their community through the stories they have to tell. We listen, we understand, we learn, we UNITE.

Negotiating 
In life, whatever hand you’re dealt is the hand that you have to play. However don't just submit it's worth to face value -- find it's true value and then negotiate it with other players. Before acting you should weigh every option. It makes it more difficult but in return, you get more out of life. I don’t like hearing people say we should do something a certain way because it has always been that way. In Runin’s approach, there are no set ways to approach a problem all the time – one size does not fit all, and life is too important to not try on another suit.

A decision should be made through negotiation but the numbers also need to be checked, refined and considered. Numbers is not just for balance sheets. It also connotes time, number of calories expended, distance to travel, etc.

If your numbers are not balanced, then your plans may fall into rocks.

Inspiring to Innovate

Innovation is not just about machines, technology and hardware. It is about people, ideas and software. Innovation is about sharing and tapping into people’s ideas -- a process we know today as Social Media. If people are using the internet in the same way that they were a few years ago, then they are behind the power curve. Web 2.0 means that the internet as an efficiency tool has drastically improved and we are just in the early stages. Social media is about leveraging people’s ideas and sharing it freely and instantaneously across the world.

Navigating

Onboard a ship, When you’re navigating, you are taking regular fixes to try and determine where you are. In life, people are not on a fixed course. Part of navigating is being OK with changing your course even if it means turning 180 degrees. There are times when you will realize that you are going in the wrong direction; it is OK to turn around as long as you don’t run aground and incur any permanent, significant damages.

Runin in unison with Back on My Feet

Reflecting

I am still excited about running into friends and fans of Back on my Feet (BOMF) during the mega-fun Marine Corps Marathon two weeks ago. They spoke to me about the great features of this inspirational and purposeful program. In a sense BOMF and RUNIN share many similar principles and values.

Understanding
Back on My Feet gives the homeless a second chance to regain control of their lives. The program's mission also exemplifies several of Runin DC's core values. The first of these is "reflecting on relationships" or seeing how we are all connected. Back on My Feet is not a handout; it is about partnerships and seeing ourselves in others. While running and training, the homeless and the trainers support and challenge each other to strive higher.

Back on My Feet is also about "understanding" or empathizing with people--no matter how different they may appear at first glance.

The neat thing about running is that it is a great equalizer. When we're running hard up a hill, it doesn't matter what socioeconomic status you come from. You are working extremely hard -- rich, middle class, or poor -- all of us have to climb the same hill and have to rely on our God-given strengths and stamina to do it.

Negotiating

The next value is "negotiation," which is exemplified by Back on My Feet's emphasis on goal setting. Participants of the program--both trainers and homeless runners--make a commitment to themselves and each other. This is an especially meaningful decision for the runners, who examine their current lot in life and ultimately know that they can do better.

Innovating and Inspiring

Their response is to commit to running a few miles each day as early as 6am. The "innovation" value is illustrated in the uniqueness of the idea itself. Back on My Feet shows that love for humankind and strength of spirit has endless applications.

Navigating

Finally, RUNIN is about "Navigation." Likewise Back on My Feet will help the homeless strive to finish the run, train for the next race and aspire to get back on their feet and become both customers and contributors to this great social running continuum.

Marine Corps Marathon Crystal City Run