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What To Do With All Of Those Thoughts…And The World Inside Us
A veteran of the Vietnam War was sharing what was happening in his life — a new job, working out at the fitness center, staying in touch with his family, and a hands-on home remodeling project.
“Sounds great,” I said. “So, how are you doing?”
There was a pause and then he shared these words as he fought through the tears and the emotions that suddenly drenched the moment:
“Every day I do battle with the thought of suicide. Every day. I get up. I meditate. I live my life. I deal with my thoughts,” he said
His tour in Vietnam had moments where it seemed life would end. He saw buddies die or injured for life. A helicopter overhead or the smell of diesel fuel always revives memories of those days.
It is estimated that more U.S. veterans committed suicide between 2008 and 2017 (60,000-plus) than the number of U.S. soldiers that died during the entire Vietnam War (58,000 from 1955 to 1975). It is also estimated that 6,000 veterans commit suicide every year.
More than forty years ago, a mentor shared a phrase with me that became one of those secrets to life that I still cling to — the world is inside you.
It was not original. A version of it can be found in the writings of Rumi, that 13th…
