Page 6 - Ft. Irwin High Desert Warrior, January 2022

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News
High Desert Warrior January 2022
www.aerotechnews.com/ntcfortirwin
January is the time of year when we think about new beginnings — a month of fresh starts that allow us to improve ourselves and strive for new objectives. It is a time of both reflection and anticipation as we consider not only where we’ve been but where we would like to go. January is also, therefore, a time to develop New Year’s resolutions that map out a course that reflects our goals.
Unfortunately, we all know what usually happens to New Year’s resolutions. The aver- age New Year’s resolution lasts for about sev- en days. We can easily observe the aftermath of failed resolutions: the gym that was full the first week of January will return back to normal after a week or two, the goal of read- ing a book per week will surrender to another night of watching television, and diets give
way to cookies and soda. The problem isn’t that we don’t want to change, the problem is that change is difficult to accomplish. New Year’s resolutions are wish lists, actual change is the product of determination.
Change is not possible until we decide to rid ourselves of the past and chart a new course. This is where most resolutions fail: we say we want something new while simultaneously clinging to the thing we want to eliminate. We would stay on our diets if cookies weren’t already in the house and we would finish a book if the television weren’t in the middle of the living room. The future depends on how we fearlessly handle old habits.
Forgiveness also works this way. Forgive- ness is similar to a New Year’s resolution — it
is our decision to change and
not to let past wrongs influence
us today. Forgiveness provides
healing and allows us to move
forward; forgiveness gives us
the freedom to decide our own
future rather than allowing the
past to determine it for us. Despite the ben- efits forgiveness offers us, many people fail to forgive because they find it difficult to let go of the past. Sometimes we can’t forgive others because the pain is too great; sometimes we don’t forgive because we don’t want someone else to “get away with it.”
Much like a New Year’s resolution, for- giveness can remain a wish list. We can find motivation to turn forgiveness into reality by realizing that the person who most ben-
efits from forgiveness is ourselves. There is a wonderful world of freedom waiting for us that begins the moment we free ourselves from the past — and we can pray to God for the strength to forgive knowing it will be granted.
Rather than making a New Year’s resolu- tion that will be cast aside in a week, make one resolution this year: become a forgive- ness expert. If each of us can do this, we’ll be happier people when January 2023 rolls around.
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Chaplain’s
Corner
A Look Back on
The National Training Center and Fort Irwin grants wish for 8-year-old boy
2021
The National Training Center and Fort Irwin made a wish come true for eight-year-old Carson Gardner, as a part of a Make-A-Wish® event on May 24.
Carson has a progressive condition called Duchenne’s Muscular Dystrophy for which there’s no known cure, and wanted to be a soldier for a day-- shadowing an Army leader, conducting drills and riding in a military tank.
The 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, along with the 916th Support Brigade provided a full day of activities for Carson and five of his family members. The day began with a meet and greet with the Commanding General of the NTC/Fort Irwin, Brig. Gen. Curtis Taylor where Carson was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant. Carson went on to be promoted throughout the day at each of his stops, culminating with the final rank of Colonel by 11th ACR Commander, Col. Todd Hook.
For more information go to home.army.mil/irwin