Hindsight: Volume 1

By Dustin K Jessip

Remembering where we come from can be as much a burden as it can be a reward. Everyone experiences life differently. Everyone perceives life through different eyes, each looking at life from different angles. Much like the cover of this book, a picture can look like one thing from one angle, and something completely different from another.
The point of Hindsight Volume 1 is to enhance your own perception while challenging your critical thinking skills. This is merely a foundation of what is to come. Everything we experience, suffer through, endure and enjoy in life contributes to how we perceive people, situations, news, information and life itself. Accept this challenge not only for yourself, but for everyone around you and the life you wish to lead. Look to the future after you put everything in your Hindsight into perspective.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Nov 14, 2019
• ISBN: 9781728335827

Book preview

Copyright © 2019 Dustin K. Jessip. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse   11/14/2019

ISBN: 978-1-7283-3583-4 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-7283-3582-7 (e)

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

CONTENTS

Introduction

Chapter 1   Chaos to the Fly is Normal to the Spider

Chapter 2   Spoon or no Spoon?

Chapter 3   Shadows on the Wall

Chapter 4   No ifs, ands, buts, Butts, or Butts

Chapter 5   Hurry up and Wait

Chapter 6   Bull in a China Shop

Chapter 7   Walking on a Thin Line

Chapter 8   Clear as Mud

Chapter 9   Mind Over Matter

Chapter 10   Pen or Sword

Chapter 11   No Good Deed

Chapter 12   Farmers, Geese and Geckos

Chapter 13   Second Opinion

Chapter 14   Bubble Gum and Paper Clips

Chapter 15   The Burning Desire

Chapter 16   The Golden Rule

Chapter 17   Closure

Acknowledgements

The Takeaways:

References

About the Author

INTRODUCTION

First of all, I’d like to thank you. If you have this book on your screen or in your hands, I cannot express how much your support and interest mean to me. This book has been in the works since I was a little boy. No, I did not start writing it then, but it was from the earliest moments I remember growing up all the way to where I am right now that have accumulated perspective, experience, education and positions on virtually anything you can think of.

Almost every experience in our lives has value. Every word we say has weight behind it in some fashion or another. The way we look, talk and interact with each other are all important. Not necessarily every breathing second, but overall, our everyday actions mean something.

Anyway, why should you read the words I have laid before you? Well, the decision was always yours, but I’ll take this opportunity to outline who I am and why you may want to keep reading. First off, I’ve made my share of mistakes in life. We all do, but it’s how we react to similar situations in the future that really matters. We are all fighters in our own Respects and to quote the infamous Henry Hill played by Ray Liotta in the movie Goodfellas (2004), …everyone takes a beating sometime. Secondly, I served out my 8-year contract with the Army, gaining several experiences, skills and values unique to a very small portion of the world’s population. Third, I have a business administration degree, which has been fairly useless to this point because I simple do not have the capital to bring a business to life, yet. Lastly, but arguably most important, I am forever striving to be a better father, brother, friend and influence overall. On to the harder stuff.

My parents separated before I could remember and I was introduced to a number of male and female, replacements. Many of which were temporary, but they had their impacts anyway. I am the oldest of 6 total siblings, all of which are half-bloods to myself. I was 9 years old when my 3rd brother died from premature birth. I spent my 11th birthday in the hospital with the older of my 2 sisters. My youngest sister was in the hospital for almost 2 weeks and suffered seizures at a very young age. My best friend died from a car wreck when I was 16. I hit a tree head-on at 60 mph when I was 18 and walked away. My first daughter was born when I was 19. I joined the Iowa Army National Guard as an Intelligence Analyst when I was 23 and was married for the first time by 25, divorced by 26. I also had another daughter when I was 26, whom I felt best to sign rights over on at the time. Married again at 28. I had my son when I was 29 and was divorced before my 31st birthday. These are not things I am proud of nor would I steer my children to repeat any of the mistakes I have made. I have lost people I love dearly, and I know you have to, or if you haven’t, you will. To that all I can say is live on to honor them.

Throughout this book, should you continue to give me a chance, you’ll find a lot of raw emotion tied to logical thought. The messages I am trying to relay to you all tie back to the topic of each chapter, based on my own experiences and perspective. I encourage you to make each chapter your own by revolving your thoughts and feelings around the specific topic I am discussing. Also, let me provide a clear disclaimer from the get-go. I am not stereotypical, sexist, racist, extremist or anything else that may be perceived as portraying ill-will to any specific groups of people. I try to be as unbiased as humanly possible for several reasons. However, in my writing, I provide several examples that I feel a majority of people will at least understand. (I did not say agree with.) These examples are just that, there to execute a feeling or reaction to help me make a point. I hope you see these and accept them as nothing more than just that as/if you continue on.

I do not expect you to agree with everything I say either. In fact, I would be slightly discouraged if you did. I want this book to inspire your personal free thought. I want to challenge your critical thinking so that you can enhance your own perspective. When I was at the military intelligence corps, the single greatest skill I sharpened while I was down there was learning about how to think critically. I am not in any way saying I am a smart guy, but I can sure question the hell out of any topic you put before me, given enough motive to do so.

I guess what I am trying to get at is life has not been easy. I have always worked for what I’ve wanted, and I always value my situations, no matter how hard or painful they may have been. I did my best not to repeat the negative I saw or went through, though I was not always successful. What is important is we accept that we are going to make mistakes. It is inevitable and incredibly human. I ask that you accept my words for what they’re worth to you. Broaden your horizons, think twice about things before you speak or act and help contribute to a better thought out world. Do these things and I will be forever grateful and eternally thankful for every person that learns even the slightest bit from what I have to say.

I hope these words find you in good spirits and resonate within you for the rest of your days. I thank you again for making it this far, and I really thank you for every page you turn. However, my thoughts will all be on paper, so at this point this is more for you than it is me.

CHAPTER 1

CHAOS TO THE FLY IS

NORMAL TO THE SPIDER

PERCEPTION

per·cep·tion

NOUN

1. the ability