The Resilient Warrior

Introduction

“Knowledge, know the ledge to where your heart is or fall off into the internal hell that’s uncharted.” —Wu Tang Clan  

The two of us are frequently reminded of signage we once saw splayed on a blast wall back in Iraq: COMPLACENCY KILLS.

That graffiti was our reminder to keep moving, questioning, examining, re-examining, and attacking. It remains our decision to this day to keep moving by adapting and overcoming, skipping the ailments, and the reactionary. Yet many of our fellow warriors are torn and in tatters, empty shells of their former physically and mentally fit selves. Both veterans and those actively serving are stuck, suffering, and often suicidal. Some wage a war within as high-stakes as the war without, and still lose the battle. We are burdened by this truth.

The following pages are our personal exploration of what lies beyond the “traditional methods” of care. We have enlisted the help of our close friends and friends of friends; veterans, divorcees, single mothers of military families, military sexual assault victims, drug and alcohol users, former and active U.S. Marines, Navy, Army Rangers, Green Berets, a former member of The British Royals, an auxiliary Coast Guard Member & Master Barber, providers, and caretakers who are practitioners in their respective niche(s).

They are doing the daily rinse and repeat. They are getting themselves unstuck, seeking and practicing with positive, healthy alternatives, all in the name of chipping away and coping with setbacks and struggles. The WARRIORS featured in this book are relentless. They take care of business.
 
The two of us have made a career out of working and supporting veterans post-military, and we avow that the warrior contributors featured are appropriate for this project. They have expressed comfort in their sharing. They have fostered an aesthetic of smoothness and speed in their operational environments. They continue to shock the enemy, even while others dwindle away their time with the manufactured suffering.

Throughout this book you will hear many voices, each with their own tips and tricks to gaining the upper hand against the powerful enemies of the modern day-to-day. The gains they have won are immeasurable, and now they are offered to you freely.

This book is a field manual for feeling well.

For the Warriors

For those with military backgrounds, we know you have been trained to execute effectively during the toughest of times. You were mentally fit, physically ripped. Know that regaining and managing your physical, mental, and emotional health is possible, with some effort and a desire to change. All warriors deserve to be at peace and free of chaos outside the theatre of war. You need a field manual that works. To lift the fog, you must be motivated. Passivity prevents you from moving forward. Waiting for others to aid and assist will always keep you waiting. You can endure if you want better for yourself and others. Don’t get left behind in the reception area of your medical office or the isolation of your home. You alone control your course of action.

And with that, we welcome you WARRIORS. We are honored you are joining the Resilient Warrior community. We thank you for following our writing and exploration. The support we have received after writing The Warrior’s Book of Virtues has been incredible. The many readers we touched were unexpected, and they inspired us in return. This writing process has motivated us to continue on the path leading to discovery and life-long learning. 

We thank you for your commitment to grow and improve, for leveling up and ending suffering. Our hope is you will lead others on your path to ascension and victory. Your resolve is inspiring.

The Resilient Warrior will…
· Challenge the belief that traditional healthcare has your immediate solution
· Prevent you from becoming a “cog” in a medical treatment plan or healthcare system
· Challenge the belief that medication is the only way out
· Teach you what other WARRIORS are doing for remedy and happiness
· Chip away at the anxiety, depression, and suffering
· Help you regain your confidence and eradicate fears

How to Read This Book

The Resilient Warrior is a collection of easy strategies, practical tips, and self-care ideas for military men and women, and everyday people. Our book is not a solution but an embarkation. You will find hacks that pry the warrior out of isolation. 

Hacks are annotated in the table of contents and a list of the Warrior Resources can be found at the back of the book.

We are not doctors, and the following is not a prescription. Let the following content be an introduction to novelty, a return to our days of play. This book is an attempt to create more awareness, positive action(s) and a focus on what matters, making you and all of us a more balanced Warrior. We are all in this together, Coalition Forces, Army, Air Force, Coast Guard, National Guard, Reserves, Navy, Marine Corps, friends, and family. Everything you need to help you attack the day is right here. Collaborating on this book has helped us grow in so many ways. We had no idea of the immediate impact this project would have. A big thank you for the warriors that fill the following pages… we are grateful for this newly found friendship and your contributions to help our fellow WARRIORS.

Take the stuff you enjoy from here, do more of it, and do it consistently. Be good to yourself. Make this manual a part of your battle kit and refer to it often. You will have the ability to maximize your healthy habits while adding new life hacks. Taoist philosophy believes that life is always flowing and transforming, and things that are static become dead. Be fluid. WARRIORS keep moving and stun their opponents with great fury.