Today, May 17, I turn 29 years old. It’s been an incredible journey so far and I know that things are just getting started. I’ve been blessed with the best family, most incredible friends, and greatest adventures a person could ask for. Over the course of the next few years, some of the biggest chapters of my life will be written. I’m not sure of what the future holds, but I know that my life is better and more meaningful with God in it. I still don’t understand much at all about the man upstairs, but I’m not super worried about that. I’ve just learned that when he leads, I follow.
Let’s see what’s happened over the last decade alone: I joined the Marines, graduated at the top of my boot camp class, became an infantry rifleman and scout swimmer, deployed for Operation Iraqi Freedom twice, became an urban combat instructor for First Marine Division, and was meritoriously promoted twice. I fought in some of the bloodiest battles of the War on Terror to date (video embedded at bottom) and somehow emerged without a scratch. I looked death in the face and smiled back as only those who have been to war can understand. I’ve shot people and been shot at, I’ve seen more dead people than I cared to count, I’ve had my vehicle hit with rockets and IEDs, I’ve almost been hit by incoming mortar fire, I’ve watched buildings crumbled under the 2000 and 500 pound bombs dropped by incoming airstrikes, I’ve had some of my closest friends severely injured and killed, and I’ve been trapped inside a burning building. I have learned more about love, trust, fear, friendship, failure, sacrifice, and the limitless extent of what your body can do if you never say “I quit”, than most people will ever know. Most importantly, I’ve stood shoulder to shoulder with some of the greatest men ever to enter battle since the times of the Spartans and Roman Legions. I’ve watched Marines do the most jaw-dropping and inspiring things imaginable under fire and I’ve seen our Corpsmen run through bullets, bombs, and rockets to provide aid to injured their injured brothers; sometimes using their own bodies to protect them as explosions hit all around.
Since leaving the Marines, I have run marathons for charity, biked from San Francisco to LA, competed in triathlons, backpacked through almost all of the State and National Parks in the western US, climbed to the highest peaks in the lower 48, built homes for the homeless, worked in soup kitchens, helped people in the midst of natural disasters around the globe, and mountain biked myself raw and bloody. I’ve been a keynote speaker at PGA golf tournament fundraisers, had breakfast and played golf with the Navy SEALs who killed Bin Laden, lobbied over 40 members of Congress in personal meetings on veterans’ issues, held conferences in the White House, mountain biked with former president George W. Bush and was later mentioned by him in a speech about continuing service, became a national spokesman for Wounded Warrior Project, was featured on MSNBC, rang the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange, backpacked through Patagonia and Central America, and traveled all over the world doing crazy outlandish awesome things. While doing all of these, I became a certified EMT and SCUBA diver, earned a 4.0GPA in community college and a 3.65GPA from UC Berkeley (…not bad for a guy who never thought he’d be in college), and worked on Wall Street at the New York Stock Exchange. By the end of this year, I will have been to more than 30 countries, living in at least half of them for one month or more.
I’ve also had my struggles. Severe depression, anxiety, PTSD, and a loss of faith or “give a damn” in pretty much anything that mattered in my life left me looking down the barrel of a loaded shotgun. I lost my best friend to suicide. I’ve watched countless friends come home from war injured or traumatized and attempt to put the pieces of their lives back together. I’ve probably broken every single one of the 10 commandments. I’ve lied, cheated, hurt people, and tested fate regularly. I’ve cried myself to sleep more than a few times and tried to turn to God for help. I’ve definitely struggled with my understanding of God, the Bible, and religion… and I still do. And of course I struggle with sin, temptation, etc. just as much as anyone else I know, if not more… and a lot of times it seems like two steps forward and one step back. God’s plans and my wants probably don’t align very well, to be quite honest.
And yet, here I am halfway around the world, doing what He has asked me to. I hope that I will continue to grow as a good man and that I will be led by my faith and convictions rather than my desires. I hope that I’ll continue to learn more about God and maybe someday understand how all of that really works out. I do know this: I couldn’t possibly think of a better way to start a whole new year than by giving myself to others and trying to inch closer to being the man I know God intended me to be.
Dear 29-year old me: keep following your heart. Think before you act. Follow your moral compass even when it’s hard. Learn to really love others without expecting anything in return. Give where you can give and also realize that so many people have so much to offer to you. Forgive yourself. Keep working hard but don’t let it consume you. Learn to be ok with being still every once in a while. Realize that people look up to you more than they did before and that the basis of your actions can cause others to either grow immensely or stumble. Understand that most of your biggest problems in life start from little cracks in the ice. Give God a chance. Stop overthinking things and have more faith. Give these kids the love that they’ve never had in their lives and realize that someday you’ll have your own. Keep up this no-drinking thing because you already have few enough inhibitions as it is and you know it will lead you into trouble. Continue to travel and see the world. Respect others’ views, opinions, and lifestyles. Most importantly, remember this:
Matthew 22: 37-39:
“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
It’s been an incredible journey so far and I have done so many ridiculous things that I never thought I’d get a chance to do. I know this is only the beginning. And so, cheers to another awesome year of adventures, love, and growth.
If you would like to send me a BIRTHDAY gift, nothing would be better than being fully funded for this trip. If I can get $29 from 100 people… or $100 from 29 people, I will reach my total fundraising requirement. I can’t think of anything more rewarding than knowing that you were able to help someone touch the lives of so many others. We will be in a remote hill tribe village starting this afternoon and not returning until Monday, but your prayers, donations, and well wishes are very much appreciated. https://www.adventures.org/give/donate.asp?giveto=worldrace&desc=For%20Dave%20Smith
Take care and God bless,
Dave
