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This week I had the honor of having Tulsi Gabbard on the show to talk about her life, her passions, and her new book, For the love of country: Leave the Democratic Party behind.
From her early days as an environmental activist to her illustrious military career and subsequent political journey, Gabbard’s life has been marked by commitment to public service and embracing the transformative power of personal growth.
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His journey began with his passion for environmental activism. As a teenager, she co-founded the nonprofit Healthy Hawai’i Coalition, but she says it was her military deployment that really shaped her perspective and instilled in her the values of adaptability and critical thinking. She enlisted in the Hawaii Army National Guard in 2003 and was deployed to Iraq in 2004. Military service taught her the importance of being open to different ideas and perspectives, a lesson she says she has carried with her himself in his political career.
“I enlisted because of 9/11 like many other Americans and volunteered to be deployed to the Middle East,” she says. “During my nearly 21 years of service, I cannot put into words how grateful I feel to have served alongside such incredible people from all walks of life, from all parts of the country – people who not only love our country but they love each other.”
As he explained during our conversation, he believes that respectful conversations and the exchange of ideas are essential to progress and unity in American society. Gabbard stressed the need to bridge the gap between different opinions, encouraging citizens to engage in meaningful discussions rather than resorting to divisive rhetoric. By prioritizing people’s well-being over political agendas, she says we can create a more inclusive and cohesive society. “Self [politicians] they are not focused on serving the people, therefore [they] they’re focused on the wrong things,” he says.
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Grassroots movements and collective action are also at the heart of Gabbard’s vision for positive change. He believes that true transformation can only be achieved when citizens actively participate in the democratic process. Gabbard encourages people to be informed, hold leaders accountable, and engage in civic activities that drive grassroots change, no matter how difficult it may seem.
Her life of military and political service taught her a valuable lesson in how to remain calm and in control in difficult times. “Stay spiritually rooted [your] purpose,” he says. “Know exactly who you are and know that, by and large, those who are attacking you are doing so based on their own insecurities and fears.”
At a time when political polarization seems to be the norm, Gabbard’s journey reminded me of the importance of being open to different ideas and remaining active in the community. As we face the challenges of our time, I believe we can all draw inspiration from Gabbard’s leadership principles of humility, compassion, and spiritual grounding. “Be humble,” he advises those in leadership positions. “In order to lead, one must truly do so with the heart of a servant who cares for, inspires, and teaches those he or she has been charged to lead.”
From The Jeff Fenster Show
Serial entrepreneur Jeff Fenster embarks on an extraordinary journey each week, delving into the stories of exceptional individuals who have challenged the norms and charted their own path to achieve extraordinary success.
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