Choose or loose

  • Published
  • By Lt. Col. Christopher Williams
  • 60th Contracting Squadron
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Hello from Baghdad! As I find myself in my third combat zone, I could write to you about many topics; leadership ... nope, motivation ... try again, attention to detail ... not this time. I'm picking the topic I want everyone around me to have - a positive attitude.

Thankfully, I see it all the time here in this very hostile environment. Let's call a duck a duck - life here in Iraq stinks. We are away from our loved ones (I've missed my anniversary, my son's seventh birthday and soon Christmas;) work is long (last Sunday was my "half day" and I still worked 12-hours); and insurgents are doing their best (medevacs come and go daily from the hospital next door).

So why do I constantly see and hear positive attitudes? Is it professionalism ... maybe, training ... perhaps, mission accomplishment ... possibly? However, I think the answer is simpler - choice. The people (military/civilian/contractors) I work with in Baghdad choose to have a positive attitude.

When I was back at Travis, daily, I was asked, "How are you?" My answer was always the same, "I'm not wearing body armor, I'm not in a bunker and there are no incoming rounds ... life is good." I can't say that now. My body armor is 10 feet from me, I work and sleep in a bunker and insurgents are doing their best. My new answer is, "We don't have a dust storm (except for last Wednesday), power is still on (each computer has its own mini generator), and I don't have any broken bones (thank God) ... life is good." I choose to have a positive attitude.

I am grateful so many people I work with also choose to have a positive attitude. It is very easy to go negative in this oasis. At lunch three-days ago, we came up with ways our lives are similar to a convict in jail. A convict and I wear government issued uniforms twenty-four seven, eat institutional food, sleep in the same size room in a concrete building, see armed guards manning the parameter wall and are provided free medical care.

Life is stressful enough without having people project their negativity on you - don't let that happen! When they start, tell them to stop. We all know these people. They never smile, have people skills of a rock and/or constantly complain. They want you to sink to their level so they feel better. Worst of all, if they aren't stopped, these individual's negative attitudes can spread like a cancer and destroy the morale of the entire organization.

If you are a negative-attitude person, I challenge you to change it. If you don't like work, what part of work is your issue? If your answer is everything, then I say get a different job before you have a heart attack. If your answer is your boss, then I say go out of your way to open communication. If you don't like your home life, what part of it is your issue?

Life is a challenge. Life with a negative attitude is significantly more challenging. It's your choice - choose wisely. Be safe ... I'll see you in January.