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On this week’s special Veterans Day episode of Motivational Mondays, we’re honoring service and resilience by revisiting our powerful conversation with retired U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Travis Mills. A true warrior of the 82nd Airborne Division, Travis survived a life-changing IED explosion in Afghanistan, resulting in the loss of portions of both arms and legs. Yet, his journey didn't stop there. Through unimaginable adversity, Travis has redefined what it means to persevere, living by his motto: "Never give up. Never quit."
Listen to this week’s episode to learn how you can overcome life’s challenges!
MILLS’S STORY
On his third tour of Afghanistan, Mills was promoted to a squad leader position, making him the third-highest-ranking non-commissioned officer in his unit. During a short hold on April 10, 2012, Mills’s backpack landed on a bomb.
The explosion took off his right arm and leg instantly. His left leg and arm were badly broken and later amputated. Now a quadruple amputee, Mills struggled with his faith, questioning why this catastrophe had happened to him.
Throughout the process of his recovery, Mills’s wife stood by him, and Mills learned to stop asking “why” and live in the present.
A RECALIBRATED LIFE
Once he accepted his new normal, Mills turned his focus to determining how he could recalibrate his life rather than remaining “wounded.”
With that positive mindset, Mills focused on getting to the root of who he was and what he wanted to do in a recalibrated life. He could no longer be a soldier as he had felt he was meant to be. However, after seeing how some amazing organizations helped him and his family, Mills and his wife wanted to do something to give back.
TURNING TRAGEDY INTO AN OPPORTUNITY FOR GOOD
As part of their endeavor to give back, Mills and his wife founded the Travis Mills Foundation. They began by creating and distributing care packages, then subsequently expanded to bringing together families of veterans and amputees for healing and community-building trips. They opened their own facility for the trips in 2017, and now bring eight families there each week.
At the Travis Mills Retreats, they “show them [how] to live life off the sidelines no matter what their injuries are,” encouraging them to adopt the slogan, “Never give up. Never quit.”
The Mills have focused on accessibility in the program: “Barrier-free is what we strive for, and we let the whole family do it as a unit, which is life-changing.”
Tune into this week’s episode to learn more about Mills’s journey and what you can do to overcome obstacles and live for the present!
Interested in learning how other veterans are creating a better world through their service? Check out how this former Navy Seal practices lifelong learning with a warrior mentality.
Listen to this episode to learn about...
- [1:26] Why Mills joined the military
- [2:48] Mills’s injuries
- [6:15] How to stop asking “why”
- [7:34] How to accept a new normal
- [9:59] Helping others see the real Travis Mills
- [12:40] Mills’s thoughts on the VA and veteran resources
- [19:58] Allowing space for others’ grief and struggles
- [23:25] Helping others through the Travis Mills Foundation
Tune into the Members Only episode to learn Mills’s advice for those in physical or emotional battles who want to transition to a better place
Resources:
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Learn about the Travis Mills Foundation and how you can help
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Read about Mills’s story in his memoir, “Tough as They Come”
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Read Mills’s newest book, “Bounce Back: 12 Warrior Principles to Reclaim and Recalibrate Your Life.”
- (The NSLS does not endorse or profit from these products. Any links or discounts shared by guests on Motivational Mondays are provided at their discretion and are independent of the NSLS.)
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