Each day as I build my business, I’m constantly making decisions that take me out of my comfort zone. You learn things as you go in less-than-perfect conditions. You feel inadequate, afraid, insecure. There’s no guarantee you’ll succeed and that can feel scary.
Courage is a mindset that when nurtured earlier in life, allows you emerge from obstacles in a more resilient way. At age 19, volunteering for the Israel Defense Forces, was undeniably, the most “tragic” thing I’d ever done, but at the time, it was necessary.
I was still reeling deep, quite deep, from the shame of being a college dropout because I wasn’t finding myself. More importantly, I was troubled by the “what-if” question. What if I don’t succeed in the IDF? But I had to stay fearless. I had to prove that the decision and fight to leave my worry-wart of a Mom in New York City was worth it. You see, Israel youngsters have 18 years to get ready for the army from the day they’re born. I immigrated to Israel in 1990 with just 3 weeks to get mentally prepared and ready for service. THREE WEEKS!
This knowledge however, had always made me feel inadequate. Next to these “sabras” or first-born Israelis as I call them in my memoir, “war machines,” I felt meek. They had the military language and lingo to fit right in. That’s why I kept having doubts about my service. I could handle working on a kibbutz or a settlement, (there was no harm in pulling lumpy tomatoes on a desert settlement or taking care of children) but serving in the Nahal Brigade 931, was three notches up crazy scary. And yet, somehow, something told me that since I’d already made the trek, I might as well be up for the challenge.
Main Lesson: Have the Courage to Learn the Army Lingo “Scared”
As part of our service with the Nahal Brigade, we were sent to our first army base just a kilometer away from the Lebanese-Israel border. In addition to my job as a records clerk, I was assigned to work in the communications room and that meant, being able to successfully communicate in a special code to ensure that the “enemy” would not understand.
Anyone who’s immersed in the culture and language of a foreign country knows how important it is to be able to communicate and in that communications room, I had no choice but to communicate. I couldn’t just opt-out and stay silent. No way, Jose.
Granted I was serving in the military, but in my post IDF world, “scared” means accepting the fact that you have no choice and you’re going to do your best no matter what.
Excerpt from my Memoir Accidental Soldier – which you can pre-order now.
I quickly learn that “flowers” in Hebrew means “guns” and “a slanty situation” means “sleeping.” I find these things funny, which makes it easier for me to learn this new code.
I soon get the chance to apply my new knowledge at our small communications room. For hours no one talks, and the only sound in the room is that of the flies swarming under the bright lights. Finally, though, there’s a voice:
“Kod-kod, kod-kod . . . come in please.”
I grab the receiver in nervous anticipation. It’s my first time communicating in army code.
“Yes, this is Kod-kod,” I say, pushing a small button on the right-hand side of the bulky receiver I’m holding. My voice rings strongly on the system. It’s me—American Dorit from Greenwich Village, New York City—speaking on an army radio. I can hardly believe it.
There’s a raspy Israeli voice on the other end. “How many ‘flowers’ do you need?”
I pause. I remember a commanding officer of the Nahal brigade at Eshbal who once said, “You can endanger your army base if you reveal too much information or if the information is inaccurate.” I haven’t been instructed on how to answer this question, so I need to find someone who knows the answer.
“One minute,” I respond, and I put the heavy black receiver down, turn the volume button down on the main system, and eagerly run out to find someone with the authority to answer this question.
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There are no guarantees that we’ll succeed, but after your service in the IDF I can’t believe that you would ever be afraid of anything again. 🙂 And you have so many important life lessons to share. Thanks, Dorit.
Very true – no guarantees indeed. Thanks, Barbara for that bit of encouragement. I DO appreciate it. Life lessons really can make a difference.
Thank you for sharing that great excerpt. I think you were very brave to leave your home and travel into such uncharted territory.
I can’t fathom myself doing something like that now. I guess it’s easier to do these things when you’re young! Thank you so much, Francene.
Dorit,
It sounds very challenging! Was this code in English or is it a translation of the Hebrew. I’ve heard of the term Sabra from when I taught English at the Defense Language Institute at Lackland AFB!
Thanks for sharing this lesson.
Amy
Hi, Amy, Good question! The code was entirely in Hebrew, no English! Very challenging, indeed!