The Video Game Perspective
What happens when the consequences of bad choices cause the end of your level?
What if your life was a video game? If every day was a jumping off point from the day prior. You could access all the stuff you've saved along the way, you could regain health and supplies, and you would be able to have an idea on how to beat the level that defeated you the day before. You would just keep moving forward. And don't worry about any consequences of a bad choice...you will have the chance to redo it all tomorrow. All the benefits of Groundhog Day without the trap of staying in the same spot. Sounds amazing, right?
The reality is something different. There are penalties for hurting people, losing money through bad choices, or suffering injury to yourself or someone else. And the next day doesn't erase the folly of the day before. You see, nowadays people in our culture have believed the lie that promises a guilt-free life. One full of pleasure without the problem of pain. Even though the pain and problems from our choices do exist. Remarkably, I have recently seen people living without a thought to the consequences as they abuse their body through rampant drug use and then die. That's right, they died. And were brought back by Narcan administered through the police or fire department or one of their "friends". One person told me (with a smile on her face) that she had died four time that month and been brought back by her "friends" and/or the police and fire department. I asked her what happened when no one got to her the next time she died and she said, "game over." I cannot make this up. Her life is a failed video game.
Purposeful Living
Do you see a world that has no impact on the way you live your life? Can you really believe you were created to be apart from the people, joy, and pain that living for others allows you to experience? If you believe that it will truly be "game over" for you as well. Not that you may die from a drug overdose, but you will surely be without purpose. The real world is a tumultuous place. You will go through levels of life where you learn new skills, get more stuff, and achieve an expert level at your work. Just like a video game, I suppose. But when you are careless in what you do with both what you have and where you are, then you will experience failure that not even pushing the reset button can fix. Conversely, I saw this story the other day and it ties in directly with this thought.
Barcelona's Alex Roca Campillo made history as the first person with a Level 5 severe disability to complete a marathon, when he finished the Barcelona Marathon in a time of 5 hours and 54 minutes.
The 32-year-old has cerebral palsy due to contracting encephalitis when he was six months old which rendered 76% of the left side of his body immobile forcing him to communicate in sign language. In the Spanish disability grading system, the 5th level being over 75% - meaning a very severe disability with the individual unable to perform most daily tasks by themselves.
The doctors were not confident that Alex would survive, but his hard work, determination and perseverance has allowed him to take on life and not be defined by his disability.
After the race he posted on social media: "I HAVE NO WORDS!"
Alex's mantra is "You set your own limits; they are set by us individually."
Alex lives with a purpose that only facing the end of your life gives you. He sees his life as a way to stretch the limits of what can be done because it simply hadn’t been done yet. How are you doing with your perspective?
No More Updates
I watch the talking heads on television, and I feel like I’m preparing to replay the 2020 level all over again. The media (see: agenda-driven voice box) shows constant overspending leading to economic failure, a destabilization of equality within our open borders, and the complete erosion of the family and the morality embedded within. But wait! A hero will emerge…
When are we going to come around to recognizing that WE are the heroes the country is waiting for?!?!? You cannot sit idly by and let the elements tearing the fabric of society apart go on unchecked. Hear that? That’s the sound of the clarion call blasting to generate a response. Who is answering that call?
I don’t know about you, but I’m not waiting for the next purple-haired, 17-year-old Bill Gates to come out of his Mom’s basement to get another Red Bull and some Twizzlers as the tech solution to our problems.
So, where are you? Where are the leaders courageously assessing the situation, determining solution sets, and then engaging with action to solve the problem? If not you, then who? And if not now, then when? There is no update to this game we are in to streamline our culture. It’s messy, convoluted and ripe for change. And it will take students of history with foresight to anticipate the challenges in front of us before they occur to embolden others to inspired action.
There is a victory lap that looks nothing like the Apology Tour so many of our cowardly “leaders” are on currently. It’s the path marked out by the principled living laid out through examples seen in the Courageous Police Leadership Alliance, and by individuals willing to ground their actions in what they stay true to believing and not wavering when the political climate becomes rough. If you are reading this, it’s also you! No more time-wasting comments like, “I’m just a cop” as if that somehow abdicates you from the genuine inspirational legacy impact you can have in the lives of people. And no more game-playing half measures like acknowledging the law enforcement profession is “leading the way” while shuffling to the DOJ with hat in hand to line up for a spoonful of consent decree stew.
Someone asked me the other day when “enough was enough” as a comment in passing. I stopped, turned and looked him dead in his eyes, and said that time was now. Step up, step out, and step into the battle with men and women who aren’t playing games anymore. Engage where you’re at and if you want to know how to get more involved then reach out to me.
The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him, said G. K. Chesterton. Stand in the gap in front of the those looking to be protected, led, and inspired!
Sergeant Daukas is committed to the principles of Courageous Leadership and is the lead instructor for the foundational principle of Courageous Nobility. You can listen to Jeff discuss this vital principle on a recent Courageous Leadership Podcast. He has over 20 years in law-enforcement working through patrol, investigations, and special operations both at the line level and as a supervisor. Through the last 20 years, Jeff has embraced his passion instructing officers and civilians through the nobility of policing. He is a certified FranklinCovey Nobility of Policing instructor, as well as a certified instructor for the Blue Courage curriculum. Jeff holds a master’s degree in criminal justice with a focus on terrorism and homeland security and teaches in that discipline at the college level. He is a graduate of the FBI-LEEDA Supervisor Leadership Institute program consistently implementing servant-leadership into training the next generation of law-enforcement professionals in both courageous leadership and followership.
Great job on this. My favorite is the Chesterton quote!
Love this!!