> [Original Message]
> From: Osborn LtCol Roy
> Date: 10/4/2004 12:33:09 PM
> Subject: FW: 5 Golden Rules
>
> To All,
>
> This is a pretty good set of Rules from a special Marine in my Command.
> Yesterday at 1700, I promoted him from the rank of Sergeant to the
> rank of Second Lieutenant.
> Something I have never done and something you do not see very often.
>
> Long story on trying to become an officer and then getting injured.
> The injury was viewed as a disqualifier.
>
> We have been fighting this decision for past 7 to 8 months.
> We won.
>
> More importantly the Marine Corps won - the Corps has a hard charging,
born
> leader now wearing the rank he should have pinned on 2 years ago.
>
> VR
> Ozzie
>
> LtCol Roy A "Ozzie" Osborn
> HMM-263(REIN)
> "Thunder Chickens"
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Trouerbach Sgt Earl M
> > Sent: Monday, October 04, 2004 4:04 AM
> > To: ACE ALL HANDS
> > Subject: 5 Golden Rules
> >
> > IF YOU'VE EVER BEEN FRUSTRATED, READY TO GIVE UP, THEN YOU HAVE 5
MINUTES
> > TO READ THIS. LESSONS CAN BE LEARNED FROM ANYONE.
> >
> >
> > Five Golden Rules
> >
> >
> > If you haven't noticed, good things DO come for those that wait.
> > There was so much I wanted to say at my commissioning but due to the
extenuating
> > circumstances, my emotions consumed me with 14 years of enlisted
memories.
> > My experiences, trials, failures, and accomplishments will forever
> > stay embedded in my brain-housing group as important lessons in
> > life. What
is
> > interesting is the way that Marines react differently to the success
> > and failures of their fellow comrades in arms. No matter what the
> > instance, you are ultimately responsible for your own future. The
> > road to success is never the same for everyone, and some may be
> > forced to take the hard road while others seem to have their roads
> > paved. Either way, be proud
of
> > those that succeed and learn from their experiences. Help those
> > that
have
> > failed and guide them back to their path. Show them the way to
> > their destination. If there is any lesson in my commissioning, it
> > is that the Marine Corps is full of opportunity, but opportunity is
> > useless without initiative and determination. When I originally
> > applied for the Meritorious Commissioning Program I was a
> > 34-year-old Corporal with 14 years in the Corps. I was surprised to
> > be accepted and realized the
Corps
> > is based on "Pure Performance". What I mean by this is simple.
> > Perform above your peers, accept nothing but the best, and strive to
> > achieve
more
> > than what is expected. Do this, and opportunity is available. But
> > no
one
> > will throw opportunity your way. There is a price to pay for
everything;
> > be prepared to pay the price. If there is anything I can leave
> > behind,
it
> > is these simple rules.
> >
> > Rule number 1. "Start living, or start dying." Everything around
> > us is based on how we act or feel. Sometimes we are creators of our
> > own problems, worries or anxieties. Don't dwell on what you cannot
> > change, but embrace what you have the power to do. Life is short
> > and full of
too
> > many disappointments. It's easier to change what hasn't happened
> > than
fix
> > something that should be forgotten. There are so many places on
> > earth that are a piece of heaven waiting to be seen. I have seen
> > much of the world; in the sky through the eyes of an eagle and in
> > the ocean with
more
> > colors and creatures you can describe. There are those types of
> > people that read about the miracles of life, and there are those
> > that discover the miracles that surround us every day. God has
> > given us an amazing place full of new adventures. Do not let the world pass you by. Live.
> > Live to discover, enjoy and share the beauty that surrounds us. Die
> > knowing you have seen all that you could see, accomplished all that
> > is humanly possible, and loved more than anyone could ever ask of you.
> >
> > Rule number 2. Don't take your family, friends or the simple things in
> > life for granted. I have been in places too poor to describe.
> > Places where children cannot bathe, pets are more like cattle, and
> > clean water
is
> > treated like gold. There are people on this earth that are forced
> > to
live
> > without plumbing, sewage, medicine, food, and sometimes shelter.
> > For most, they are given the lives they live, and yet they do not complain.
> > As primitive as their lives are, they know only what they have and
> > what
is
> > available to them. To most, these people are savages without
> > intelligence. Yet they live without the every day stress that money and
> > the pursuit for material objects give us. Savor your favorite food
when
> > you eat it, searching for that special spice that lingers across
> > your
lips
> > and across your tongue. Visit your favorite places, and spend more
> > time doing the things you enjoy to do. Remind your loved ones and
> > family how much they mean to you every day. It's easy to forget
> > about the good in someone as we get older and grow into our own
> > lives. Look back at what
is
> > good in that person and give them a chance. We do not have to agree
with
> > everyone all the time, and its ok to disagree some of the time. But
> > are all of our petty indifferences worth forgetting our family ties?
> > Please try to forgive and forget. What would you do if you did not
> > have the chance to say I'm sorry? The most successful empires and
> > kingdoms were built with foundations of stone. Let your family be
> > your stone; each
one
> > built together. And as we add new family members, so do we add a
> > stone
to
> > our empire; or dynasty. If we forget to put one stone in our pile
> > or knock one stone down, so does our dynasty fall.
> >
> > Rule number 3. Learn and teach all you can. Life is a never-ending
cycle
> > of lessons. From the days as a toddler when you learn not to touch
> > hot objects, to the day you learn what it means to have your heart broken.
I
> > have many regrets, but I have learned that we must build on our
> > mistakes and use them to grow and help others. Know yourself and
> > seek self improvement, which by the way is a Marine Corps Trait
> > forged from boot-camp over seventeen years ago. Learn what makes
> > you happy and experience it often, learn what makes you love and
> > embrace it, and
finally
> > learn what makes you angry and conquer it. You can learn from
> > anyone, even children. My boys have taught me to enjoy life again.
> > I look at them and see ambition, excitement and dreams. Things I
> > left back in my brain basement a long time ago. As much as you
> > learn, teach. Mentor anyone who asks and some that don't. Everyone
> > needs a helping hand or a piece of advice at some point in time.
> >
> > Rule number 4. Fulfill your dreams, don't ignore them. Most people
live
> > most their lives wishing their dreams would come true instead of
> > making them happen. Its good to be a dreamer, but eventually you
> > have to
attempt
> > to achieve those dreams to be happy. No one wants to die saying, "I
wish
> > I would have done this or tried that." I haven't accomplished
everything
> > I've dreamed of, but the road to my dreams was worth the journey
> > every time. Whatever you do, don't let anyone, and I mean anyone
> > shatter your dreams before you give it everything you have. You are
> > the forger of
your
> > fate. Mold your life as you seem fit.
> >
> > Rule number 5. Be honest, trustworthy and humble. Unfortunately,
> > it
took
> > me my whole life to learn this one. I've burned more bridges than
there
> > are rivers, and in my mistakes I learned no matter how tough the
> > outcome may be to tell the truth, the truth will set you free.
> > Trust can be broken by silence also. Failure to step up for
> > something that is right
is
> > just as bad is lying itself. Ignoring your inner instinct that
> > say's
you
> > are wrong simply out of pride is dishonesty in itself. Lying to
yourself
> > is the worst thing to do. Be a person everyone can trust to confide
> > in
or
> > task with.
> >
> > Remember; be proud of who you are and where you came from. Whatever
> > the reasons were when you joined the Marine Corps, you took pride in
> > being
one
> > of the few and proud. Don't ever forget the day you dawned the
> > Eagle, Globe, and Anchor. It's easy to lose sight of your past when
> > the future seems dim. Know inside who you are and what you are capable of.
Nothing
> > can stand in your way. When you get knocked down, brush off the dirt,
> > get back up, and move on. Fear is a part of life; you will be
> > scared,
and
> > this is human. Just never let your fears overcome your actions.
> > Use
your
> > fear to chamber your performance. Don't be quick to react; think first.
> > Make an impact on life. Whatever life you choose, there is always
> > time for a change. Don't accept the results of something out of convenience.
> > Remember my Rules. Live by them, read them, and remember them.
> >
> >