Page 2 - Edwards AFB Desert Wings 12-4-15

Desert Wings Commentary December 4, 2015

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by Capt. Jerry Novack No matter how well I plan and budget, I again. Time with family can be simultane- happiness and cheer they see around them.
Eglin AFB, Fla. find myself blindsided by unexpected ex- RXVO\ZRQGHUIXODQGIXO¿OOLQJDQGIUXVWUDW- First, know that feeling down is per-
penses beyond gifts. There are holiday cards, ingly stressful. We can get overwhelmed if
It’s that time of year again. All things parties, meals out, entertainment events, and we forget to schedule in personal time or fectly normal from time to time. Do not
pumpkin spice become all things pepper- postage I consistently fail to consider. Some “little getaways” when visiting with family. forget we are resilient, even when we do
mint; television networks start showing nos- strategies can help with damage control, For me, an afternoon spent in the bookstore not necessarily feel that way. Also, “time-
talgic, holiday-themed movies; in northwest though. or at a local Brazilian jiujitsu school can outs” are perfectly acceptable. Just like
Florida, we complain about cold weather help me get some downtime, remember that with family visits, temporarily disengag-
while the rest of the country actually deals I maintain my year-round savings habits I really do love these people, and re-engage ing from holiday cheer can provide a much
with winter; and I write the holiday stress by setting up automatic, online funds trans- renewed and happy. needed break and enable you to reconnect
mental health message. fers into retirement and savings accounts, with renewed excitement and joy.
and limit (or eliminate) credit cards with Without scheduled breaks, I get irritable
My challenge, of course, is to write some- high interest ratings. I also create a “tighten and relationships begin to rapidly deteriorate. If feeling overwhelmed with holiday
thing of value not already heard or read ad the belt” plan for early January to help me Figure out what you need in order to manage stress, or notice that a wingman does not
nauseam. This can be a real challenge, con- recover from the holiday expenses. If any- family visits and protect it because it matters. seem to be coping well, reach out for help.
sidering the main stressors this time of year one needs help managing holiday spending, Talk to friends, family, chaplain or mental
remain relatively constant. PDNHDQDSSRLQWPHQWZLWKD¿QDQFLDODGYL- Coping with sadness health providers.
sor or go to the nearest Airman and Family
Finances Readiness Center. For many people, the winter holidays Accompany the wingman to a helping
and New Year’s celebration carries mean- professional, if she/he refuses to go alone.
I should recommend to create and stick to Family ing and/or memories that can conjure feel- If confused about the difference between
a holiday budget, spend time with loved ones ings of sadness, anxiety or grief. I hesitate family advocacy and Airman and Family
instead of spending money on presents, and I adore my family. The more I miss them, to call these negative emotions because Readiness Center, just go to any helping
consider thrifty options when gift shopping. the more I adore them. Each year, I approach in certain circumstances they can be not agency. We will get you where you need to
If you do these things effectively, then you the holidays longing to reconnect with my only appropriate, but helpful. However, for go. The most important thing is just get the
should be writing me advice — not the other siblings, parents, nieces and nephews. By some, these feelings can seem overwhelm- support you or your wingman need.
way around. Jan. 2, I cannot wait to get away from them ing, especially when juxtaposed with the

Volunteerism affects positive change

by Lt. Col. Stephen A. Simko receive some amount of pay, housing allowances, bonuses at EHVWZD\WR¿QG\RXUVHOILVWRORVH\RXUVHOILQWKHVHUYLFHRI
Travis AFB, Calif. WLPHVPHGLFDOEHQH¿WVDQGDYDULHW\RIRWKHUEHQH¿WVWKURXJK- others.” As members of the Air Force, we all live very busy
out our career. lives, from our normal duty schedules, to exercises, weekend
Throughout our military careers, we often talk of being a duties, shift work, and especially deployments.
volunteer force, a subset of our culture that has volunteered to %\GH¿QLWLRQ\HVZHGLGDOOYROXQWHHUWRVHUYHRXUFRXQ-
serve our country in the profession of arms. try in the military. But when I talk about volunteerism, I am It is easy to fall into a mundane pattern of life. If volunteer
referring to those that have given their own time and energy work isn’t already part of your life, I would challenge you to
Without disrespect to anyone currently in uniform or those to serve others — these are the people I have the highest level VWDUWRXWZLWK¿QGLQJMXVWDQKRXUDZHHNWR³ORVH\RXUVHOILQ
WKDWKDYHVHUYHGEHIRUHPH,KDYHDOZD\VEHHQLQFRQÀLFWRYHU of respect. It is this type of volunteerism that I think each and the service of others.”
the military/volunteer discussions. Granted, there were times every one of us owes to the various communities we live in
in our past when the draft was in place and a number of our throughout our careers. If you look at the microcosm of “any base USA,” I would
QDWLRQ¶VFLWL]HQVZHUHIRUFHGLQWRVHUYLFH0\FRQÀLFWFHQWHUV argue that we easily make up the most diverse of skillsets per
on the aspect that we are all compensated for our service, we There are number of great quotes relative to volunteerism,
one that struck a chord with me is from Gandhi who said, “The See VOLUNTEER, Page 4

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