NYAO, Ep: 61 – Failures We are Proud of

Failure is an inescapable part of life and a critically important part of any successful life.” -Tal Ben-Shahar
The boys spend a few minutes talking about Afghanistan, the toll of multiple war fronts, and how it has plagued the SOF community. They really came together on this episode to share a few laughs recounting the biggest mistakes that they inevitably became proud of and were able to glean some life lessons.
Raf recants why he was proud after he failed selection for a special mission’s unit. Even more life altering, he shares the story that taught him that we are only in charge of our own personal life and choices. Everyone has their own free agency, and why a sense of ownership over someone else is almost always doomed from the start.
Melon takes us back to the days when he was training for his F/A-18 Hornet course, and getting scrubbed just 2 sorties short of graduation. He would be offered the rare opportunity to restart the course again, but he had the ability, with a grateful heart, to decline, because his center & desires now sat with his family.
Mike shared some lessons learned from a broken heart, but outlined the many ways he has become better because of it. A solidification in his resolve, his eagerness to pursue challenging paths, like school, while being extremely busy in his current career. More importantly, he notes that ultimately, his biggest take away was the realization that he always had the keys and power to choose to be happy, versus the western miguided ideology of “pursuing happiness”.
Please share your thoughts about this episode and let us know what epic failures you’ve had, and why you were proud of it in hindsight. We encourage all of our listeners to reach out to us with your own stories. We love reading your insights, feedback, and how we can add more value to your day.
Paul “Melon” McFadden
Raf “Tio” Espinosa
Mike
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