Month: August 2020

i am not a Hero
Just an old man in my bed
i try to sleep at night
With memories in my head

The storm at night now scares me
The lightning and rumbles above
The memories of the war i went to
But yet did nothing a Hero would speak of

i canʼt help myself with these feelings
i fear what has already past
As i lay hear in my safe bed
With the prayers that this storm wonʼt last

i try to prepare for the worst
Thoughts and fear run through my head
But i canʼt help think of those soldiers
As i lay here in my safe bed

i am not a Hero
i studied, i trained, i went
But nothing except bad memories
Of when i layed there in my tent

But now many things scare me
That i have never feared before
As i lay here in my safe bed
With memories i have from war

i try and try to hold it
These emotions that i have
And the ones who are now my protectors
Continue to come home to a grave

i am not a Hero
There are others who deserve that praise
But the price that they pay for their service to us
Is forgotten in not many days

As i continue to live life and get older
My children live safe and have grown
i cannot help but think of the days
When i was the one who was gone

Once young and eager to serve my country
There was nothing that i would fear
But now i lay in my safe bed
Afraid of the sounds that i hear

There are Heroes that deserve our thanks
Even more for what they endured
For their fearless and selfless service
Now unable to hear our word

i am not a Hero
Just an old man that doesnʼt understand
Why i have fear of things like never before
Such as the shadows i see from my hand

Those serving us now are the true Heroes
For the comfort that they give
Those warriors who fight for our freedom
So old soldiers like me can live

They protect us and fight for our freedom
Earn ribbons they wear on their chest
Yet these Heroes when they return
Are praised with “They were the best”

There is nothing we can say or do
To prevent this bittersweet calling
Thank them now for their service to GOD and country
In case some day they have fallen

i am not a Hero
Just an old man in my safe bed
With the pride that i served so others may live free
And the fear of whatʼs in my head

os, SFC Ret

SK

Itʼs likely youʼve heard by now that exercise can be an effective tool to manage mental health symptoms. Itʼs equally likely that 99% of the people reading this also just let out a groan at the thought of having to sign up at a gym, wake up an hour earlier in the morning, dig your old gym shoes out from the bottom of your closet, work up the courage to go to the gym or find a time of day it isnʼt blazing hot to go on a run (I mean who wants to run in Texas in the summer anyway?), and get that popularly touted, mental health curing workout in.
Not really your style? Thatʼs ok.

Movement (or exercise) can look entirely different for everyone and still accomplish the same benefits. The most important thing is finding something that makes your body and mind feel good. For some people, this does mean going to the gym and getting an intense workout done. For others, it means going on a run. But for many people, it can be even simpler than that.

Walking is one of the most underrated forms of movement. Weʼve all heard the “10,000 steps per day” nonsense (as in thereʼs no research to show that 10,000 steps is an effective number and was actually arbitrarily picked by fitness watch manufacturers to sell watches, but thatʼs another story) but walking doesnʼt have to be that long or measured in any way to be beneficial. Even getting out for a 5 minute walk can improve your mood dramatically, or distract you from self destructive behavior, or be the stepping stone for creating the changes you want to see in your life.

There are numerous reasons that walking can be game changing for your mental health. Spending time in nature has been shown to reduce feelings of depression and anxiety, as well as promote grounding and relaxation. Walking helps tie physical movement to regulated breathing, which has a calming effect on the nervous system. Going for a walk is also a lower impact form of movement than running, while still improving your cardiovascular health and muscle tone. All of these benefits can be available to you in as few as 5 minutes of walking.

Interested in more on the effects of movement and mental health? Keep an eye out for more blog posts coming soon!

Bea Morrealle, LPC