Wasted time? Try feeling like your prime years were wasted on repeat trips to Afghanistan and Iraq. Maybe I helped at least one person. Maybe they’re long dead.

Wasted time? Try feeling like your prime years were wasted on repeat trips to Afghanistan and Iraq. Maybe I helped at least one person. Maybe they’re long dead. At least I got to come back. However, now I have a wife and kids who adore me. I get things done that other people find useful. I’m active and close with extended family. Things are pretty good, no regrets. Thinking about it, I’d do it all again. Point is, worrying about what you could have done is wasted energy. Accept where you are and make a plan for where you want to be. Realize that after you’re gone, the likelihood of people remembering you outside of those you touched is small.