Category: Signs of Hope

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This Pandemic is causing Havoc with Our Veterans

Since I last posted we have had 36 new subscribers. Welcome to all of you. We are now averaging over 15 new subscribers a day. I am proud to be your blogger, that wants the very best for each of you as veterans, or family members of veterans.

It has been a nightmare for those who are locked up and not able to get out to do things because of the virus. My State of Oregon is getting hit hard. The county I live in is a red hot spot for the virus. Second highest in the state.

As a veteran, who has underlining problems with my health, I have no choice. My wife and I go on walks. We get in our car and drive to no where just to get out. We do our grocery shopping online and go to the store, and they bring out what we ordered.

I fear that this Pandemic is causing havoc with those veterans who have their own battles of PTSD, TBI, Depression, Anxiety, etc. They are fighting their own, war only to have the enemy coming to their door.

Here are some suggestions to get your mind off of what is happening in the world.

  1. Do not turn the TV on and read. There are millions of great books at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and many smaller book stores online, like Powell’s Books in Portland Oregon.
  2. Write! This is a wonderful way to get “away.” I wrote my first book,Signs of Hope: Ways to Survive in an Unfriendly World, just from some journals I had written, and it won a National Award from the Reader’s Favorite Awards. WRITE!
  3. Some have taken up art. You can draw or paint. I am not good at either, but you may have just what you need to relieve yourself of stress.
  4. Hand select movies on your TV that are uplifting and makes you laugh. We have a free movie section on our TV. I have watched a ton of them the last three months.
  5. Use Zoom, Skype, or any other connection, to talk to your buddies, or family. I have been doing this and it gives me hope and helps me smile.

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Seriously, how are YOU doing? Are you having a bad time adjusting to all this mess around us? Do you have times of depression, and anxiety? I know how you feel, because I have been there.

If it is getting far too overwhelming, get Help!

You are not a sissy for getting help. I know that some people thing that since we are veterans, that we should be able to handle anything. Total lie!

If you are hurting look for help. Here is a 24/7 toll free free number to get immediate help .

1-800-273-8255 (option # 1)

Just do it!!

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Remember:

You are never alone.

You are never forsaken.

You are never unloved.

And above all…never, ever, give up!

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+If you feel this site is valuable and helpful for you, please subscribe. When you do all future posts will delivered directly to your inbox. Just go to the top of this page and click on “Subscribe.” It will guide you. Also, if you know of some veterans who are hurting or could benefit from this site please let them know about it.

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Endorsements for My New Book, “Signs of Hope for the Military”

Started keeping track of new subscribers on June 1st. On that day we had 8,093. Today we are up to 8,224. What a wonderful increase. I am so honored to have all of you here.

My last post I shared with you the outline of my upcoming book, Signs of Hope for the military: In and Out of the Trenches of Life.

It is a good post to go back to if you are new.

Tonight I thought I would share with you some of the outstanding endorsements my book has been receiving. I will only share a couple tonight:

Most of us are fortunate not to have experienced the stress of combat.  Words cannot adequately define the grinding daily pressure of knowing that every time you step outside the gate the enemy will try to kill you and your buddies.  You are constantly alert, on point; but how can you protect your team from the instantaneous blast of the IED?  You are part of a highly-trained team poised to execute, but what has prepared you for the mental toll of being on edge every moment.  The skills that helped you survive….have taken a toll and are now working against you when you return home.  What do you do now; where do you turn?  Whether you are dealing with PTSD, TBI, depression, homelessness, or recovering from wounds; Doug Bolton has answers…..this book has answers!

Jim Jaeger

Brigadier General, USAF, ret

San Antonio, TX

Member of the Board, Victory for Veterans

Although ‘Signs of Hope For the Military: In and Out of the Trenches of Life’ wasn’t written for men only, it brings honesty and openness to veterans, and military personnel about feeling ok to express fears and emotional challenges in a difficult world.  US Army Retired Veteran, Mr. Douglas Bolton brings his personal stories to life in a way we all can relate to and gives a big “you’re ok” for revealing our shortcomings and encourages us to open up and talk.  A must read for those seeking healing and forgiveness from ourselves and those wanting a fresh look on life. 

Steve Durgin, Founder & CEO with Victory For Veterans Foundation. 

Huntington, Beach California

There are many more. I will share some in future posts.

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How are you doing? Are you struggling? Do you find situations where you are actually afraid?

You certainly are not alone. I was there, and over 8,000 followers here have been with you.

What can we do to overcome the darkside, that wants to torment us? The most important thing you can do, my friend, is get help. I know, it is hard to admit that you need help. You are a tough military veteran Right?

Never fall for that. I got help. I am here because of the help. I was near self imposed death at one time. That was in 2001.

Here is your life line of you think you need it. It is 24/7.

1-800-273-8255 (Option # 1)

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Remember:

You are never alone.

You are never fosaken,

You are never unloved.

And above all….Never, ever, give up!

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Outline of the book, Signs of Hope for the military

I am here to tell you that starting today, I will be changing the format a little. I will be talking more about my new up coming book to get you “hooked.”

What I will be doing in this post is to tell you why I even started writing the book, Signs of Hope for the Military: In and Out of the Trenches of Life.

I am a veteran, and veterans are very close to my heart. I am on a National Board called Victory for Veterans, Inc. Check our website at: www.victoryforveterans.org.

While being on the board I began to see the need to help veterans even more when I saw this statistic: Twenty two (22) veterans committ suicide every day. Not every year, month, or week. EVERY DAY!

That was very sad for me. This veterans served their country and were placed in harm’s way. Things overwhelmed them and they ended their lives.

I decided I needed to reach out to try to help these veterans. I began my book about two years ago.

Why is it taking so long?

I need to make sure it is accurate and that I have some quality interviews. (More on that later.)

The book is divided into four sections:

  1. Basic training
  2. Deployment to South Korea.
  3. Ft. Bragg.
  4. Interviews with veterans.

You have read a few of my interviews and you can see the pain and hurt many of our veterans have.

The first section talks about my time in basic training, and it is full of humor and how i survived. Each chapter tells you about one of my adventures, and then share how you ccan be better if this has heppened to you.

The second section is about my time in Korea. It is not nearly as humorous. There were things that happened there that was hard for me to write down. One flash look is that I lost a buddy there.

The third section was my time at Ft. Bragg North Carolina. I had one very scary day there.

The fourth section is full of interviews from veterans. That is the part I am still working on.

If you subscribe, and follow this site, you will hear much more on each post. There are 8,185 veterans who have subscribed. I am very honored to have you

You can subscribe by going to the top of this page and clicking on “subscribe.” When you do all future posts will go directly to your inbox. Please tell others about this site so they can get help as well.

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Remember:

You are never alone.

You are never forsaken.

You are never unloved.

And above all….never, ever, give up!