When I was in junior high school, the teacher posed a question to the class: “Would you rather have a life of relative comfort- live in the same area, steady job, steady marriage, generally happy. All of your basic needs are met. Your life is reliable. Acceptable. Ordinary. Or would you rather have the opposite? Dizzying highs, heart-breaking lows, travel the world, experience the unexpected. Tomorrow will not look like yesterday. In short, “A Life Less Ordinary”.
Without hesitation I choose the latter. The first choice just seemed so… boring.
This will be my farewell speech. The last goodbye. I’ve given several of these speeches over the years and they’ve never gone the right way. Either I made a bad joke, or went off on an unnecessary tangent, or the people I really wanted to thank no longer worked there. Hopefully by entering it here, my meaning won’t get skewed, and perhaps a few more of the people that mattered to me might see it.
I have started writing and re-writing this blog multiple times. It’s so hard to accurately capture the joy, pain, humor, frustration, honor, anxiety, brotherhood, apathy and love I have experienced in the past 23 years. I entered the Army a young kid with a higher opinion of my abilities than I deserved. I’m exiting a middle-aged man with a family, who’s traveled the world and experienced more than my fair share of adventures… both good and bad. I have gotten to know so many people from all walks of life. Most were amazing, a few were terrible and some were just “there”. All those interactions helped shape me into the person I am today.
Looking back on my career now, it’s easy to become nostalgic. I smile at the good times and gloss over the difficulties – stashing them away as fuel for stories at parties. But then I start to wonder, did my contributions matter? What did I really accomplish? I doubt my 23 years made any difference to the Army in the greater sense. Soldiers continue to come and go, but the Army keeps rolling along. I’d like to believe I had a positive impact on the people I encountered. I’m sure some out there would argue – I made my fair share of mistakes along the way. But hopefully most of the folks I met gained something from our time together, a new perspective, and little wisdom, or even just a few laughs.
This is how the Army has continued for almost 250 years. Push-ups and details can only carry you so far. But the people make it go. The legacy of the Army is its mentors. I had many wonderful leaders/teachers/ and inspire-ers. I owed it to all of them to pass that torch. To kept the spark alive in the next generation of Soldiers, so they can inspire the wave that follows them. And so on and so on. If my Soldiers gained as much from me, as I did from my mentors, I did my job. And I can fade away at peace.
I’d like to leave you with a few guiding principals. These are small nuggets of wisdom that have informed my point of view in the last few years. Those of you who know me, have likely heard these points before. So at the risk of being redundant (and since it is my farewell speech) I thought I’d say them one last time.
1. Be creative and inspired. Have the willingness and excitement to look at things from a different perspective, even at the risk of occasionally missing the mark. Have a vision and follow it. Don’t be afraid to break the mold. Be the amazing, passionate storytellers that I know you are. Because if everybody keeps repeating the same old things, sooner or later we will all become obsolete.
2. Take pride in what you do. Hold yourself to the highest standard. “Music to be ignored by” and “Good enough for government work” are phrases that grate on my nerves. You won’t always be perfect. Things go south for a wide variety of reasons, but never let that be an excuse to not try. You owe it to your team, to the audience and especially to yourselves, to be your best.
3. Realize that music is a bridge. It’s the hand that reaches across the table to whomever is there; your friend, neighbor or adversary. Music can speak where words fail. Music can heal, it can entertain, it can educate, and it can bring us together. It’s an incredibly powerful tool you are wielding. Respect it, embrace it, and use it to make the world a better place.
4. And lastly, remember that we’re all just people. Take care of each other. We all have far more in common than we have differences. And those differences are nothing to fear. They’re what make us interesting and unique. If everybody was the same, things would be pretty boring. Be brave enough to recognize those differences as what they are, strengths. Encourage openness and be willing to hear new ideas. We can accomplish so much more working together, then we ever will locked in our own little bubbles.
I guess that’s about it. It’s been a great ride and I just wanted to say goodbye, good luck, I hope to see you down the road somewhere. And most importantly-
Thank you. Honestly, thank you all. From the bottom of my heart. Thank you for all the triumphs and headaches, the music and the memories. Thank you for helping me become the man I am today. Thank you to all the mentors, peers and mentees. I will miss you.
And thank you for giving this 13 year boy a life less ordinary.
You have been a building block for the future. You can point to people & things you’ve done, & they know you were there.
& Your wife & children are proud of you.
There is no greater legacy.
Now – I dare you – match what you’ve done already !
Hey Cindy, thanks for reading. I am working hard to match (and hopefully surpass) my previous accomplishments. Thanks for the support!
Excellent thoughts and accurate recollections, Josh! You have obviously been a keen observer of those around you throughout your career. Best of luck in your future endeavors, and keep the music alive wherever life takes you!
I moved from AD Army Band to Chaplain in the USAR and now NG, so still going strong (if a little slower).
Great to hear from you Cory! Glad you’re still going strong.
Congratulations, Josh! Well said!
Thanks Bridgette!
Thank for that Josh , well said, and congratulations!
Thanks Vell! I miss the gigs. You should come up to the PNW.
Nice blog, Josh. Many wise thoughts. It was an honor to meet you that 23 years ago and to end my career alongside you. Congratulations on your retirement.
Thanks Mike. You bookend-ed my career.
What a powerful statement, Josh! Thank you for sharing your insights, and for the expertise and good humor you brought to work every day.
Thanks Bryan!