Brian L Gordon

Thank you so much for having me. My early life in Barstow, California was the best thing that could have happened to me. It was fun, rough at times and basically a survival of the fittest type of life. Gangs and drug activity. It could go from you being at football practice or class with a person and, the next day, they are either dead on in jail. I stayed in sports, which kept me out of trouble. Not wanting to get caught up in all the foolishness, the drive for better and my Father is what shaped me for the better.

I would say the most challenging was going to War, but I would be lying. Technically, it was going to War a second tour. Simply because my mindset was that, I served. I did my part. The War was declared over. 23 years old, not really knowing or understanding that War pretty much an ongoing thing. The US is still in every territory that we basically quarreled with. Mentally, going back that second term really took a toll on me. I was able to overcome by focusing on the mission and making it home safely.

Well joining the military was never the plan. The plan was to be this big NFL football star playing running back and or cornerback for any team that would take me. When I realized that plan wasn’t in my future and to be on your own you need money and I didn’t have one. I joined the Army.

Yes, I was a professional boxer. Not the typical boxer. Growing up in Barstow, it was sink or swim. There I had a lot of fist fights. One that was bad, I hurt a guy in a fight at school who ended up getting stitches in his face. The authorities thought that I used a weapon of sorts but in actuality, it was my fist. I was almost expelled from school. After that, my Mother said that’s it, and purchased a boxing heavy bag and gloves. She said, I can hit the bag and not get into trouble. All the while, I’ve been studying every move from Mike Tyson since 1985. I took up boxing and fell in love with it. Mimicking Tyson, Ali, Sugar Ray Robinson and other boxing greats. Wanting to be like them. Became an amateur Texas State boxing champion when I was in Texas in the Army and fought on ESPN Friday Night Fights in Vegas. Having the discipline to know your own strengths and weaknesses, physically fit, and mental toughness translated in civilian and military life.

Well I took up psychology with the desire to want to know why and what makes people tick. Aka snap. I wanted to know why I would get so angered quickly. I became obsessed with wanting to know that. My education in psychology helped me find a voice that I knew I had inside me, but was afraid to share. I was able to discover myself, knowing and finding out the why. Thus leading me being able to talk and share stories.

I would have to say Law Enforcement. Although sounding cliche, it is the most fulfilling. I loved fixing Military vehicles and vehicles and equipment in the oil fields. Knowing that, that’s my work going on the next mission and being proud that I put quality safe work back onto the battlefield or streets. But, getting dressed in that uniform, not knowing what to expect each day. Gave that sense of adrenaline I was missing from the Military. It fills that void. Plus, helping people. It is not just arresting people. Seeing kids faces when they see you. Give stickers or take pictures. It is fulfilling in several ways.

Yea, I mean we all have a duty to serve in some capacity. You see something, say something. Being a Federal Police Officer, someone is always asking for help. Someone is always pointing out something that is suspicious. My perspective is that, many need to be more educated on certain aspects of the law enforcement job. And many law enforcement officers need to be more knowledgeable on laws that they want to enforce. There are so many constitutional rights and laws being broken on every encounter. It is on both the public and law enforcement to bridge that gap with community policing.

People ask this all the time and the say the same to my kids. You have 24 hours in a day, what will you do with your time. Time something that we can’t get back. Use your time wisely. Meaning, I have to be in shape as a police officer. Yet, I have to work, study, parent, coach youth soccer etc. I make time. I would say that, most things like working out or studying, don’t really acquire a lot of time. Most of it effort. My approach to parenting is, lead by example. Kids see and then they do. It starts at home. Do what is needed now. Work hard play hard with a WIN (What’s Important Now) mentality.

Just to think about setting yourself up for future success. The struggles will always be in the now. Work hard now for tomorrow. More so, having the discipline to do the right thing when no one is around. Having integrity and a sense of pride in your name. To always be a leader and not a follower. To always stand out and not just fit in. These are what will make them successful in the future.

Getting out and enjoying nature is one thing. Getting away from the social norms gives your mind and body a relief. When I am out on that lake fishing for hours, it is like catching a boat load of fish with the relaxing atmosphere. I don’t even care if I catch a fish. Catching fish is icing on the cake. It clears your mind from any negative thoughts, feelings or energy. I feel that it is important to have an outlet of sorts to take up and I feel rejuvenated when I return.

Each day dealing with the public, I try to use my psychology skills or verbal judo in situations all the time. I find that when you just listen to people, most times, that is all they needed. One experience that sticks out is. When my partner and I went to a call. The call was a guy being irate in a social security office. When we arrive, my partner went in a bit aggressive and the man said, why are you coming in all cop on me. You didn’t care to know to know how I was. This stuck out to me. Most times, you can assess the situation and decide how to approach. When I spoke to the guy he was calm and thanked me for understanding his issues versus coming in hot as he stated.

I can remember not writing for about three months. I wanted to give up. I guess it was writer’s block. I couldn’t formulate anything to paper. The motivation went out. I can’t explain it. I was at a giving up point in the project. It felt too far away. Then I found motivation and to get it done and completed the project with a goal. I didn’t have a goal at first. Once I came up with a goal, the ending point became a clear and attainable.

Probably stopping. It was hard to get back in that mode during those three months of inactivity. For any other project, learning from then, I would not stop. Just get it done and enjoy product when it is completed.

Nothing. I had a few ideas but haven’t really found that itch to go all in on one.

It has been great. I am glad that I was introduced to AllAuthor. I wish I would have known earlier than I did. It is a great platform for Authors. Networking and exposure at its best.