Why Men need Beer, Punk Rock and War Movies

So this weekend in between working and training I spent watching 'The Pacific.'

Back Story

It might sound odd, but imagine if a whole country shut down for the week before Easter. That is what it is like here in the Philippines, the week before Easter, the cities are like ghost towns as everyone flocks to their province of origin and spend it with Families. Holy Week this year was lonely, I sat here in solitude, really reflecting on life, where I was, where I wanted to go- and how I was going to get there.

This weekend was another great reprieve. Something to remind me of what was important- and what I really wanted in life.

Enter The Pacific.

Following the lives of young men through 'The Pacific Theater of War' this ten part series was really well done. I was really moved by the story of John Basilone After winning the Congressional Medal of Honor he went and lived a rockstar party life. Until something changed him, he got to the point in his life where he wanted to go back and make a difference. He felt out of place with the glamor and media madness, he opted for a return to his original passion. There, once back into preparation for his return to battle, he fell in love and married. All this happened just before returning to the Pacific, where he was sadly killed on the battle for Iwo Jima.

I was moved that a man found a purpose in life greater than himself. That he was capable of extreme love and devotion as well as the true grit and ability needed in warfare. A man amongst men.

War movies if done well, have the ability to showcase something bigger than a man. Something that pushes us past our selves. Musashi the Japanese Samurai wrote in the 'Book of 5 Rings' you can never win a battle unless you are able to accept Death first.

You (we) must go forward without fear of loosing.

Listening to Punk Music, Drinking Beer and Watching War movies all weekend healed me, aligned me and focused me. Maybe shit like this is a way to get back to the reality of 'WHAT REALLY MATTERS'

Answer for yourself I guess what, is really important in your life?

To that end, my answer was, I want my love, I want to do something important, I want to directly affect change, I want to do, be a part of something bigger than me and my selfish wants.

I desire to do something great. Not for my glory, But for my Creator, and for future generations of Men.

Like John Basilone found during the course of his life, I hope to get back to my passion, focus on what is important and inspire something in me and others more than a good time, Hollywood Starlets and cheap madness.

Beer has a way of making all this more of a reality. Why do men love Beer so much? Maybe this is part of it. We are so much different than women, you do not hear men saying to another:

'Lets just talk...'

Men don't call each other and chit chat, and if we do meet up its always over coffee or a beer.

Never really anything else.

That ability to unwind, let the stiffness out of the day night glory & unleash itself with a few ounces is a blessing in disguise. Throughout my life I have enjoyed too much, gotten accustomened to its glory and forgot how to function otherwise.

I remember a time in Australia going through a very terrible period wherein I was drinking every day for over a month, my buddy Noel Posus looked at me and said:

'Kevin this is not YOU, this is an EVENT'

Him saying that, struck me, I went home put on all sorts of sweaters and jogging pants, ate a really huge bowl of Indonesian Chili noodle soup (with massive raw garlic) and just sweat out the toxins. Since that period, I have never had an issue with drinking. It psychologically changed my relationship with Drinking Beer for the rest of my life.

All too often I realize, I mistake EVENTS, and BATTLES in my life, for the entire WAR, and CAMPAIGN.

Life is more like The Pacific, its a campaign, its a series of battles, and victories with Glamor, Holidays, breaks and Love avail to those who are ready to accept it.