Everyone has heard of Remembrance Day, Armistice Day, or Veterans Day—or all three. Even though different countries call this day different things, it’s the anniversary of the end of WWI at 11am on the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918.
Here in the US, we take this day to honor all of our veterans. Unlike Memorial Day, Veterans Day pays tribute to all American veterans—living or dead—but especially gives thanks to those who are still with us.
So many of our veterans carry heavy memories of their time in service. They’ve witnessed events that, thanks to them, the vast majority of civilians will never have to see. Many have lost their brothers and sisters in arms (some right before their very eyes) in combat, while others have made it safely through with their entire units only to lose them to suicide after returning home. Thankfully, there are several organizations dedicated to preventing this loss, such as Mission22 and the Military Veteran Project.
If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide, please reach out for help! There are so many resources, and I’ve listed a few here:
- SuicidePreventionLifeline.org (800-273-8255). You can call them or even use their chat feature anytime. They have options for those who are deaf or hard of hearing, too.
- The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention has some amazing resources here.
- I also have blog posts here that you may find helpful.
If you find yourself wondering what this subject has to do with Integrated Wellbeing Institute and the services we offer here, let me clear that up for you!
It has to do with giving thanks. Gratitude, and the expression of gratitude, is an important part of contributing to creating a healthy and peaceful environment both on individual and global levels.
So what can you do to show your gratitude on Veterans Day? I’ve made a list here that I hope you find helpful:
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- Create a tribute video (it’s free!) here: Tribute.co
- Host a cookout, or buy them a meal
- Create a social media post, and if you have friends who are veterans, tag them
- If you’re an employer, give your veterans the day off
- If you’re close to your veteran, make them a keepsake like a shadow box or a personalized note
If you are a veteran, I want to take a moment to let you know that I appreciate you and your contribution. Being away from home and hearth is a sacrifice, and I recognize the value that you add to this world.
Love all around, above, below, to the left and to the right, before you and behind you,
Georgena
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