Turbulence of the Flood

[DISCLAIMER]

I recall being a Marine while living in Okinawa, Japan from 1997 to 1999, during which time I experienced a number of typhoons. Sometimes these storms would result in weather conditions whereby Marines were ordered to remain in the barracks as a matter of safety.

As a member of the military police (MP), I was permitted to patrol the streets in a high mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicle (HMMWV) that was equipped with a snorkel for driving in flooded conditions. Even then, high winds could cause HMMWV tires to break traction.

Surprisingly, I observed Okinawans carrying on about their business on the other side of the fence that separated Camp Kinser from the city of Urasoe. Despite turbulence of flooding conditions, local people simply lived as though typhoons were merely an inconvenience.

Looking back, I can appreciate the resilience of Okinawans. Marines were uninvited guests on the island, though people originating from the Ryukyu Islands were familiar with turbulence in various ways. Contemplating this matter further, I’m reminded of a book.

As Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) is informed by Stoic philosophy, this blog entry is part of an ongoing series regarding a book entitled The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman.

Considering turbulent conditions, I reflect upon Marines of Okinawa, MPs, and the Ryukyu people. To assist with my consideration, I appreciate that authors of The Daily Stoic quote Stoic philosopher Seneca who stated (page 52):

I don’t agree with those who plunge headlong into the middle of the flood and who, accepting a turbulent life, struggle daily in great spirit with difficult circumstances. The wise person will endure that, but won’t choose it—choosing to be at peace, rather than at war.

When typhoon winds were particularly powerful and MPs weren’t permitted to venture out of the Provost Marshal Office (police station) unless contacted for an emergency, MPs would watch spirited Marines parachuting from the third and fourth floors of a barracks using bedsheets.

Although one could argue a logical case for unnecessarily flirting with disaster, I maintain that it was unreasonable for Marines to deliberately put themselves in harm’s way when likely fueled by liquid courage (alcohol). Thus, I conclude that such behavior was irrational.

What compelled my fellow Marines to behave in such a reckless manner? As well, what was it that led to Okinawans continuing on about their business during such conditions? Offering a plausible reason to these questions, authors of The Daily Stoic suggest (page 52):

It has become a cliché to quote Theodore Roosevelt’s “Man in the Arena” speech, which lionizes “the one whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly . . .” compared with the critic who sits on the sidelines. Roosevelt gave that speech shortly after he left office, at the height of his popularity.

In a few years, he would run against his former protégé in an attempt to retake the White House, losing badly and nearly assassinated in the process. He would also nearly die exploring a river in the Amazon, kill thousands of animals in African safaris, and then beg Woodrow Wilson to allow him to enlist in World War I despite being 59 years old. He would do a lot of things that seem somewhat baffling in retrospect.

Similar to the ostensible behavior of Roosevelt, I imagine that the Marines I observed jumping from third and fourth stories of a barracks with nothing more than a bedsheet suspended above their heads sought purpose and meaning. Admittedly, this seems a peculiar proposition.

Whereas “purpose” relates to what one does, “meaning” regards value derived from having fulfilled one’s purpose. It very well may’ve been the case that apparently intoxicated Marines who leapt from windows (purpose) sought to receive accolades from others (meaning).

Given my perspective of such behavior relating to irrationality (not in accordance with both logic and reason), I question the merits related to that form of compulsive behavior. Still, there may’ve been a deeper meaning at hand. Regarding this matter, authors of The Daily Stoic state (page 52):

Theodore Roosevelt was a truly great man. But he was also driven by a compulsion, a work and activity addiction that was seemingly without end. Many of us share this affliction—being driven by something we can’t control.

We’re afraid of being still, so we seek out strife and action as a distraction. We choose to be at war—in some cases, literally—when peace is in fact the more honorable and fitting choice.

Okinawans presumably ventured out into typhoon weather conditions, because they needed to complete routine tasks (purpose). From having fulfilled their obligations, I suspect the Ryukyu people added value to their lives (meaning). On balance, they were a resilient people.

However, for Marines leaping from windows during similar dangerous conditions, I imagine that military service during peacetime was viewed as a mundane affair. There was no turbulence of the flood in the way of challenge from a battlefield.

Ergo, Marines leapt from windows using bedsheets for makeshift parachutes as a means of creating their own trials and tribulations to an otherwise dull life of trained killers without a battle mission. Of this perspective, authors of The Daily Stoic conclude (page 52):

Yes, the man in the arena is admirable. As is the soldier and the politician and the businesswoman and all the other occupations. But, and this is a big but, only if we’re in the arena for the right reasons.

MPs who watched foolish behavior of other Marines during typhoons developed varying hypotheses about what we witnessed. After all these years, I think that I understand the nuanced details – aside from the likely influence of alcohol – which contributed to what I saw.

A lack of purpose and meaning probably led to Marines having created an arena, albeit it for arguably wrong reasons, wherein they could attain value without turbulence of the flood relating to combat. Although comprehendible, I maintain that such behavior isn’t advisable.

There are other healthier methods of adding value to one’s life. Now, I invite you to consider what healthy options may apply given your own circumstance. After all, typhoon winds eventually rolled some bedsheets and I observed Marines unnecessarily injuring themselves.

Is that the sort of thing you want to do in order to derive worth from what you do in life? If so, I hope you have adequate health insurance. Otherwise, I encourage you to make healthy decisions. Besides, we don’t control turbulence of the flood, though we do control our reactions to it.

If you’re looking for a provider who tries to work to help understand how thinking impacts physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral elements of your life—helping you to sharpen your critical thinking skills, I invite you to reach out today by using the contact widget on my website.

As a psychotherapist, I’m pleased to try to help people with an assortment of issues ranging from anger (hostility, rage, and aggression) to relational issues, adjustment matters, trauma experience, justice involvement, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety and depression, and other mood or personality-related matters.

At Hollings Therapy, LLC, serving all of Texas, I aim to treat clients with dignity and respect while offering a multi-lensed approach to the practice of psychotherapy and life coaching. My mission includes: Prioritizing the cognitive and emotive needs of clients, an overall reduction in client suffering, and supporting sustainable growth for the clients I serve. Rather than simply trying to help you to feel better, I want to try to help you get better!

Deric Hollings, LPC, LCSW

References:

Daily Stoic. (n.d.). Translating the Stoics: An interview with “The Daily Stoic” co-author Stephen Hanselman. Retrieved from https://dailystoic.com/stephen-hanselman-interview/

Holiday, R. and Hanselman, S. (2016). The daily stoic: 366 meditations on wisdom, perseverance, and the art of living. Penguin Random House LLC. Retrieved from https://www.pdfdrive.com/the-daily-stoic-366-meditations-on-wisdom-perseverance-and-the-art-of-living-d61378067.html

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Theodore Roosevelt Center. (n.d.). The Man in the Arena. Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/Learn-About-TR/TR-Encyclopedia/Culture-and-Society/Man-in-the-Arena.aspx

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Ryan Holiday. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryan_Holiday

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Seneca the Younger. retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seneca_the_Younger

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Wikipedia. (n.d.). Woodrow Wilson. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woodrow_Wilson