For the longest time, I’ve been trying to contemplate why I applaud some individuals in the Canadian Armed Forces traits/personalities based on the few that I’ve had the pleasure of briefly exchanging with, first hand. And it only occurred to me when a co-worker referred to me as a soldier, that we share like qualities. Or perhaps, when a common folk referred to me as a police officer because I didn’t easily budge. To me, these statements were nothing short of a compliment. I have a thick exterior.
I recall sitting in class one day, and my teacher was touching up on how to give good, sincere advice. So she asked us, who among you would prefer someone to greet you and ask about your well-being and then beautify the advice they wanted to give by first applauding your XYZ effort and correcting you OR someone who gets straight to the point and tells it like it is. Everyone but me chose the first option, and I alone chose the latter. Although I am no longer that version of myself, I still have those qualities instilled within me. I sometimes understand, in fact, most of the time, people just need to get straight to the point while with delicate matters advice may need beautification.
Regardless of how much I evolved, I am a soldier and will forever remain a soldier at heart. This is something I will forever pride myself on. I’ve broken too many times only to construct myself to never break again. My guard will remain up as time rushes by. I may be adaptable, and I may have the ability to get along with and work with all sorts of people, but the truth of the matter is regardless of how open I am or to which magnitude I share, I’ll most probably not let just anyone into my world.
Being me is not easy, but I wouldn’t have it any other way because I am a soldier.
Anyways, I will end with how awesome and fascinating it is to identify with a breed/flock other than your own and not going through identical experiences, yet the outcome is somehow relatively similar. Cheers.
Words of a Ramadan Addict 
You sound like me in teens. :-). Honey, everybody prefers sugar coated medicine.
Do I? I’ve outlived my teens, dear. And I prefer plain old medicine. Alhamdulillah.
LOL. Sister I was referring to my teenage not yours.
No worries.
As Mary Poppins states, “a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down.” However, I do think sometimes it is much less painful to just get to the point. Sort of like ripping a band-aid off.
Indeed, some is better than none.
Sometimes ripping the bandage off is the way to go as going around in circles might cause a misunderstanding too turning the sugar into vinegar.
I am with you 101% percent. Subhanallah, I cant imagine people prefer circling around a situation for the longest time and then they get irritated because you didn’t break it down for them. May Allah make us stronger than we think!!
I can feel you, it’s actually not easy to be a part of some breed then being completely different. Whoever you are and whatever seems right to you should be done or said, because that’s what makes you YOU!
Indeed. I couldn’t have said it any better. Thanks.
Interesting article. I don’t believe being a soldier is to tell it like it is,having a thick skin or be direct, rather it is possibly staying true to the cause you believe in, and choosing to ‘soldier’ on and preserve on inspite of setbacks.
Hi. Thanks for your input. Indeed, there are many other aspects to being solider aside from what I mentioned. Despite not zeroing in on our common qualities, I still feel like I can identify with them. I hope that makes sense?