Education
I have several big goals for this year. Among them, are to publish two books. One is the fiction book I'm working on for my MFA and the other is a non-fiction book. The non-fiction book is a different approach to preventing veteran suicide. Over the last few years I've learned a lot about how to be a veteran and the unique challenges it poses. As someone who wrestles with depression and suicidal tendencies, I've found some unique methods and insights that have helped me navigate this huge transformation. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find any books or experts who understand or accept these observations. I've approached dozens of mental health professionals with these ideas and the response has been underwhelming. And there's a simple reason for it - generally speaking, the mental health professionals aren't veterans, they don't struggle with depression or suicidal thoughts, they've never had to go through major transitions in their lives, and they are doggedly committed to their book knowledge. Even through their hearts may be in the right place, their methods don't seem to be making progress in the right direction. So, I'm putting my ideas out there. Hopefully, through my experiences and tough lessons, I can help you through some tough times. Over the course of this year, I'll be putting out podcasts each week on one of the subjects for this book. Stay tuned. Keep listening.