The Havok Journal

24/01/2025

Better late than never. Holiday seasons always seem to snow me under and I’m not in the snow belt or overwhelmed by any of the usual complaints. Doesn’t mean you can’t feel overwhelmed. What may be a minor problem for one person can be a huge challenge for another. Seems to be the way it is.

Many years ago I was mulling over this with a local rabbi. He suggested that we all go through life carrying a backpack of our own problems, like the peddlers in the old country (Europe) centuries back. He has his, I have mine, and you have yours. And he added, if we met in an inn for some grog and then after we had color in our cheeks got up to leave, mistakenly putting on the others backpack – why we’d be crushed. Small comfort. So, as you would say, we soldier on!

And now a big question: why are we here? Remember the Burt Bacharach song: “Alfie, I really want to know?” It’s a big question – an elephant that’s always in the room of life! That there are so many different answers is indicative. Perhaps there is no one answer and that’s an answer: We can never know.

On the other hand, perhaps there’s a clue in the adage that you know a person by her/his deeds, by their actions. And that we’re given life so that we can act. Actions have consequences and something we do now may ripple down the years and critically help another in their time of need. We may be long gone and/or never know.

But the help we give another may be related to their children or that person may “pay back” your kindness to another and the world becomes a better place.

Soldier on then in this New Year. Commit random acts of kindness knowing that these acts are one of the reasons we’re here – and each one of us is necessary and every act is important even a smile and pleasant greeting when we meet another, even a stranger.

May this year be blessed with Peace, Health, and Happiness for all!

Better late than never. Holiday seasons always seem to snow me under and I’m not in the snow belt or overwhelmed by any of the usual complaints. Doesn’t May this year be blessed with Peace, Health, and Happiness for all!

24/01/2025

But the movie itself isn’t the point. As it took a while for the kids to realize, the point of the “Boyfriend for Christmas” watch party, isn’t to appreciate this cinematic masterpiece. It’s about appreciating time with family. As a cop and a Soldier, I’ve missed a lot of holidays with my wife and kids. Watching this movie with them and reflecting on a time when I spent Christmas completely alone, makes the time with family feel even more special. And that, truly, is a wonderful gift.

by Patrick Seaman It’s Christmas time, and like many people, I’m looking forward to time with family and friends, and celebrating various traditions. Like But the movie itself isn’t the point. As it took a while for the kids to realize, the point of the “Boyfriend for Christmas” watch part...

23/01/2025

We are the shadow before brightness. Forsaken for what we did in darkness so that others might bask in light. Our presence in the warmth relies on forgetting the unforgettable. They stand in our triumph and demand we renounce all we were asked to do. Payment comes at the cost of our dignity, forcing us to grovel and beg as they once did. To relinquish what we hold dearest—our honor—and kneel to their cowardice, so they might be absolved of guilt and shame.

In moments of deepest darkness, we are the monsters called forth. We are the devils summoned to bypass pleading with God for forgiveness. Beckoned and We are the forsaken saviors, bound to the darkness, condemned for eternity, and shackled by our loyalty to the call of others.

23/01/2025

As I breathe the winter’s air.
I am thankful people still care.
I salute and thank each aging Vet,
for every generation is in their debt.
I am from a small town, like Paris, Maine
and am glad they still can pray.
Let freedom reign today and every day!

“One NATION under GOD!”

by Lou Marin "I PLEDGE allegiance, to the FLAG, of the UNITED States of America . . . " Some words hang in the air.A little more power put them there;a I am thankful people still care.

22/01/2025

I’m not in any way, shape, or form throwing a pity party or asking for sympathy. I have no regrets about getting out of the Army when I did, and everything had run its course the way it was supposed to in the three and a half years I served. I squeezed a lot into my one contract with the Army, and I’m really fortunate I had all the experiences that I did. Memorial Day Weekend just makes me reflect back on that chapter – the chapter of my life that so far, at thirty years old, I’m most proud of.

I just miss my guys is all, and I still want the best for all of them – even the Mickeys.

Especially the Mickeys.

by Reid Sealby This first appeared in Reid Sealby | Substack and is published with the author's permission. At around 11:30 this morning, on Memorial Day, My Feelings on Memorial Day as a Veteran that Never Lost Anyone

22/01/2025

If you served in the military no matter what branch of service you were in, you learned at some point the importance of having space to maneuver. Whether you were maneuvering pairs of boots, a tank, a ship, or a fighter jet, having adequate physical space was essential to executing maneuver smoothly and safely. Likewise, when we encounter challenges in life, our minds need maneuver space to mentally negotiate difficult moments. This series will highlight each month a different brief cognitive tool that you can use in your daily life to potentially create more maneuver space. Remember having maneuver space, or space to think, is a gift in life. Once you create it, use it to your advantage!

Volume 2, Issue 11 If you served in the military no matter what branch of service you were in, you learned at some point the importance of having space to Understanding Guilt & Shame

21/01/2025

Self-awareness, self-understanding, and self-mastery are more than just stages—they are steps on a lifelong journey of personal growth. By moving through these stages with intention and effort, you can transform your life in meaningful ways. Remember, it’s not about being perfect; it’s about being better than you were yesterday. So, ask yourself: where are you on this journey, and how can you take the next step toward self-mastery? The path is yours to walk, and the rewards are well worth the effort.

by JC Glick and Michael Ostrolenk When we talk about personal development or growth, we often hear about the importance of self-awareness. But what does Understanding the Difference Between Self-Awareness, Self-Understanding, and Self-Mastery

21/01/2025

Tormented into fragmentation, the words of Jake are my Tyler Durden. Jake is the id, where I am the ego and superego. Jake is the words I feel compelled to share. He is my true self, exposed to the world through pseudonymity. His words are the words I so desperately want others to understand. I want them to know they are not alone. Through Jake, I want to know that I am not alone.

These words are always tormentingly liberating. I fear every phrase, wondering if some passing reader might one day recognize my same utterances. Will the My Liberator, My Tormentor

20/01/2025

Our creeds and lies
Only reveal this disguise

Where does wisdom go to die
Our Declaration only cries

Born into this battle
Destined for this war

Revenge is in our blood
We always come back for more

Boots, boots up and down
We march again into hell

There’s no discharge in this war
So glory is what they have to sell

by Daniel Clancy Our creeds and liesOnly reveal this disguise Where does wisdom go to dieOur Declaration only cries Born into this battleDestined for this Glory is what they have to sell.

20/01/2025

So, why don’t I wear the hat? Well, simply put, I don’t want the attention. You’re thinking to yourself, but you’re literally writing about being a veteran, so how is this different? The quick answer is that most people who read these articles have a relationship with me. It doesn’t just end at that thirty-second interchange. I don’t want the false accolades from strangers wishing to assuage their guilt for not serving, the “patriots” wanting to impart their opinions on politics or foreign conflicts, and mostly, I don’t want to take attention away from veterans far more worthy of praise. The ones that lost more than a year of their life. I feel fortunate that my experience was better than many others. So, for me, they deserve the attention.

My dad and I talked recently, and he asked an interesting question. “Why don’t you and your brother wear those veteran hats like the Korean War and I don’t wear that hat. I’m not ashamed of my service. I don’t want to be thanked for my service, and I don’t want to answer those questions.

19/01/2025

Foxhole addresses a pressing need in the veteran community: the growing sense of isolation many experience after leaving service. By providing a platform for connection, Foxhole helps veterans maintain the bonds they forged during their military careers. Beyond fostering camaraderie, Foxhole creates opportunities for mentorship between veterans of different generations, allowing experienced veterans to guide those transitioning to civilian life. This sense of shared purpose and mutual support strengthens the community and ensures no veteran feels left behind.

“Veterans understand each other in a way that’s hard to replicate outside the service,” said co-founder Spencer Collazos. “With Foxhole, we’re creating a space where that bond can thrive, whether you’re traveling for leisure, reconnecting with old friends, or making new ones.”

For more information, visit the link.

Veterans and active-duty service members across the nation will soon have a unique way to travel and connect, thanks to the launch of Foxhole, a

19/01/2025

Tommy’s fiancé was waiting for him back home. It was doubtful that she even knew at this point. Patrick’s wife probably didn’t know. Cody’s sisters.

The few of us that walked off that mission were all at the foot of Tommy’s bed now, as the ventilator did the breathing for him. One by one, they spoke words of encouragement. They spoke words of brotherhood and bravery.

I stood next to courageous men with hard faces and watched them choke back tears.

And I realized that every word they spoke was the truth. Tommy was going to make it. He was a fighter, and always has been. We were there for him, and always will be.

And so, I spoke as well. And I said what they did.

We were brothers. We are brothers. We always will be brothers. Nothing else matters. Nothing in the f*cking world.

I couldn’t find the right words. I stood at the foot of Tommy’s bed, still drenched in sweat. My head pulsing and pounding. Blood on my clothes, but not We were brothers. We are brothers. We always will be brothers. Nothing else matters. Nothing in the fu***ng world.

18/01/2025

The challenge for veterans—and for society—is clear: we must move beyond labels and silos, beyond the idea that our differences define us. Veterans must transform from uniformed service members into fully integrated citizens, and society must create spaces where that transformation is not only possible but welcomed.

In a world that celebrates individuality, we must also remember the power of connection. True belonging comes not from being set apart, but from being part of something bigger. Veterans understand this, and it’s a lesson we can share. For the good of society, let’s not settle for transition—let’s embrace transformation.

In today’s culture, the celebration of individuality is everywhere. From social movements to personal branding, the emphasis is often on standing out, on In today’s culture, the celebration of individuality is everywhere.

14/01/2025

...I am, it has taken me years to realize (much to my wife’s chagrin) a large human being. I like guns, knives, lifting weights, and all of that sort of stuff. So why does this big veteran, retired cop feel the need to watch a ‘chick flick’ at Christmas time every year?

by Patrick Seaman It’s Christmas time, and like many people, I’m looking forward to time with family and friends, and celebrating various traditions. Like But the movie itself isn’t the point. As it took a while for the kids to realize, the point of the “Boyfriend for Christmas” watch part...

13/01/2025

13/01/2025

Schopenhauer profoundly stated, “For what a man is in himself, what accompanies him when he is alone, what no one can give or take away, is obviously more essential to him than everything he has in the way of possessions, or even what he may be in the eyes of the world.” It prompts us to question: Amidst the noise and pressures of life, who are we when the world isn’t watching? What core principles guide our actions in solitude?

We are in a fast-paced, digitally-driven era where every click, like, and share seems to define our worth.  This is a harsh environment that takes In a world constantly pulling us in myriad directions, pausing to look inward, appreciating simplicity, and transforming challenges into opportunities i...

12/01/2025

The truth is we’re both wrong because we’ve changed in a way you can never understand, a way that took us from who we were and made us who we are. The difference is we were once like you. It was just too many pushups, CQ shifts, airfield seizures, training cycles, ass chewings, and firefights ago to remember. What makes us so different is when you forget to do something at work, you probably get away with it most times, and maybe get an ear full once in a while, but nothing serious. When I forgot to do something at work, I became the last pushup for a private with his feet elevated yelling out: “and one for my Airborne Ranger in the sky” as his team leader is in his face asking who his Airborne Ranker in the sky is as my name rolls off his lips.

You see a vet, and you see an angry, gun-slinging, paranoid, PTSD-stricken lunatic. He cusses all the time and seems to always be looking over his We must understand we have lived in two different worlds, but are now living in the same.

11/01/2025

These vices have us clamped in society. Media (including social media) platforms spread the fire. These platforms advertise and promote the life you don’t have (and you don’t need). They tell you that everyone else is doing it, whatever “it” is. We as a society must fast from these desires and exercise restraint. We must turn our eyes away from s*xually immoral desires. We must find a different way to cope with a “long week” or anxiety. We must remember that we as people set the prices for the things we create. We must remember that when we pass on, no worldly currency will purchase a ticket into the kingdom of God. Life is wonderful and the world is beautiful. Let’s break the cycle of evil by remembering right from wrong and treating others like we want to be treated.

by Chris Derson Alcohol, s*x, and money are commonly used ingredients for evil. Often associated with various vices, they can fracture society and often These vices have us clamped in society.