Oblivion is My Enemy

Facebook

Comments Box SVG iconsUsed for the like, share, comment, and reaction icons
Cover for National Police Credit Union
Congratulations!! Stay safe!Image attachmentImage attachment+2Image attachment

Congratulations!! Stay safe! ... See MoreSee Less

2 weeks ago

Comment on Facebook

Thank you for your service, Congratulations and God Bless

Congratulations, Stay Safe

God Bless all First Responders and Military personnel.

Congratulations and stay safe

Congratulations!! Stay safe!

Congratulations!! Stay safe!The Williamsburg Police Department would like to introduce the three newest members of our police department along with the new Williamsburg Chief of police, Chief M. Timmers! Congratulations and welcome to the team! (From Left to Right - Officer Reynolds, Officer Dearing, and Officer Hamiel) ... See MoreSee Less

2 weeks ago
Congratulations!! Stay safe!

Congratulations!! Stay safe!Welcome to SPD, Class 853!

If you like helping people, and would like to be a part of the fabulous work we do, here's information on how to apply to become a Seattle Police Officer: fal.cn/3wC2A
... See MoreSee Less

2 weeks ago

Comment on Facebook

Congratulations and stay safe

Thank you NO!

Congratulations lord PLZ keep them safe as they do their jobs 🙏🙏🙏💙💙💙🙏

Congratulations!! Stay safe! ... See MoreSee Less

2 weeks ago

Comment on Facebook

Congratulations!! Praying 🙏 for your safety and security

Congratulations to all of you on supporting your community. It is a very demanding and important career. Stay safe and make sure to express your love for your family as they wait for you to return home safely. I will keep you in my prayers.

Congratulations, Thank you for your service and God Bless

Congratulations. God Bless you and your family's

Congratulations and stay safe

Congratulations!! Stay Safe out there.

Congratulations besafe out there

Congratulations but be aware, wolves. Police walking out quitting for a reason.. Stay close to God, lawlessness.

Congratulations 🎉 and Blessings 🙏

🎉🎉🎉🎉

Congratulations may yall b safe as you do ur jobs 🙏🙏🙏💙💙💙💙💙👍

THANKS HEROES

Good bless each and every law enforcement officer

GOOD LUCK. HOPE YOU MAKE IT TO RETIREMENT !!!!

View more comments

#Heroes

#heroesWhen three LAPD K9 officers were shot last week, LA County Sheriff’s Department did not hesitate to offer their services, by providing their own K-9 unit to help with LAPD K9 callouts.

Two agencies. One county. One goal. Protecting and serving the community.

Thank you Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.
... See MoreSee Less

2 weeks ago

Comment on Facebook

Go Blue!! Thank you for all you do!!!

Deepest Sympathy to LAPD K9 Officers 💙💙💙 with eternal thanks to LA County Sheriff Dept ❣️ praise and prayers to all of our Law Enforcement Warriors 🙏🏻

This should not be happening and the criminals getting away with it .Pray for our police,Pity these politicians dont show as much respect for these officers as they did george floyd Back The Blue

Sorta hoping for some perps... Eliminated 💥💥💥

Ty

View more comments

Great job! Thank you!Image attachmentImage attachment+1Image attachment

Great job! Thank you! ... See MoreSee Less

2 weeks ago
💙🐾Image attachmentImage attachment+1Image attachment

💙🐾 ... See MoreSee Less

2 weeks ago
Rest in Peace. Thank you for seven years of service, K-9 Indi!

Rest in Peace. Thank you for seven years of service, K-9 Indi!The DeKalb County Police Department is mourning the loss of one of our canines. Retired K-9 Indi served for 7 years, 2013-2020. He served his entire career with his handler, Sgt. N.R. Larsen. During their time together, they gave outstanding service to the police department, the citizens of DeKalb County, and the Metro Atlanta area. #WeAreDKPD ... See MoreSee Less

2 weeks ago

Comment on Facebook

Rest In Peace and thank you for your service 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🚓🚓🚓

Rip big beautiful boy. Thanks for your service. Go run free. ❤️🙏

So sorry for your loss. RIP

Rest in Peace.Thanks for your service.

Thank you K9 Indi for your service. Fly with the angels sweet pup. Back the Blue 💙

Sorry to hear. Thank you for your service. RIP. prayers to handler and family

Prayers always 🙏 ❤

K9 Indi 💙 RIP and thank you for your service 🙏🏻 prayers for your loved ones left behind

So sorry for your loss. Thank K9 Indi for his service to his community. Condolences to the family and friends

Our condolences 🐾💐

God bless him

Rest in Peace buddy

God bless

Rest In Peace

Rest in Peace K-9 Indi 🐾🐾🐾👮‍♂️💙🖤

So very sorry! RIP HERO!

Rip K9 Indi

Awwwhh, RIP.

INDI, A HERO THAT WAS LOVED💙

RIP

RIP

Rip

RIP 🖤💙

You are beautiful so sorry for his loss

Prayers for him!🇺🇸🙏🌹

View more comments

𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐁𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐊-𝟗 𝐀𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐞!!!!Image attachment

𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐁𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐊-𝟗 𝐀𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐞!!!! ... See MoreSee Less

2 weeks ago

Comment on Facebook

Happy birthday

Happy Birthday 🎉🎊🎈

Happy Birthday K-9 Archie

Happy Birthday LEO 🎂🎉n many more 💙💙💙💙💙💙🙏🙏

View more comments

Great job, K-9 Groot!!!! ... See MoreSee Less

2 weeks ago
Thank you for 7 years of service, K-9 Jacquo!!!!Image attachmentImage attachment+1Image attachment

Thank you for 7 years of service, K-9 Jacquo!!!! ... See MoreSee Less

2 weeks ago

Comment on Facebook

AWESOME HAVE A GREAT LIFE OF LEISURE

Awesome! Enjoy your retirement and thank you for your service 👍💙

Beautiful. Happy Retirement. Thank you for your service and God bless you and watch over you

Thank you Officer Jacque stay safe 🇺🇸🙏❤️👮‍♀️🐕

Happy retirement

Thank you for your service K-9 Jacquo. 💙💙💙💙

Enjoy your retirement

♥️♥️♥️

Enjoy ur retirement n thank you for ur service 💙🫡🫡🫡🫡

K9 Officer Jacquo 💙 happy retirement and thank you for your service 💙❣️

View more comments

Thank you, #Heroes!Image attachmentImage attachment+1Image attachment

Thank you, #heroes! ... See MoreSee Less

2 weeks ago
#Heroes 💙🐾Image attachmentImage attachment+1Image attachment

#heroes 💙🐾 ... See MoreSee Less

2 weeks ago
Welcome and thank you! Stay safe!Image attachmentImage attachment+2Image attachment

Welcome and thank you! Stay safe! ... See MoreSee Less

2 weeks ago

Comment on Facebook

Congrats God plz keep her safe as she does her job 🙏🙏🙏💙💙💙💙💙

Welcome and thank you! Stay safe!Image attachmentImage attachment+3Image attachment

Welcome and thank you! Stay safe! ... See MoreSee Less

2 weeks ago
Welcome and thank you! Stay safe!Image attachmentImage attachment+Image attachment

Welcome and thank you! Stay safe! ... See MoreSee Less

2 weeks ago
Welcome and thank you! Stay safe!

Welcome and thank you! Stay safe!Chris Schiller joined the Argonia Police Department as its newest part-time officer! He will serve as the interim Police Chief. Chris currently works as a federal officer in Wichita. Prior to this, he was a Special Agent with the Union Pacific Railroad Police and a law enforcement officer in Oregon. Chris is in the National Guard, serving as a combat medic in Afghanistan in 2014. If you see him, feel free to stop for a conversation! Welcome to Argonia Chris! ... See MoreSee Less

2 weeks ago

Comment on Facebook

Congrats Sir b safe out there as so many thugs don’t respect ur badge 💔💔🥵🥵🥵🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

Thank you for 37 years of service! Enjoy retirement!Image attachment

Thank you for 37 years of service! Enjoy retirement! ... See MoreSee Less

2 weeks ago

Comment on Facebook

Congratulations now go and enjoy you deserve your retirement

Thank you for 24 years of service! Enjoy retirement!

Thank you for 24 years of service! Enjoy retirement!Last Thursday we said goodbye and good luck to Lt. Ryan Kwitkin who served for 24 years as he retired. Ryan worked in Patrol for most of his career, but also worked the tactical patrol team. I say retire, but Ryan is heading to another department out west where he will serve as their Deputy Chief. Ryan we thank you for your service and wish you well as you start your new journey. Keep in touch and check in every now and then. Be safe. ... See MoreSee Less

2 weeks ago

Comment on Facebook

Thank you for your service.

💙💙

Thank you for your service!! Enjoy retirement!

Thank you for your service!! Enjoy retirement!Today is the last day of the shift rotation and It is also the last time Sergeant Burkhalter will work an entire rotation. He will be retiring in a few months and moving with his family out of state. We are excited for him but also bitter sweet to see my former partner retire. His shift came together today and presented him with a gift to show their appreciation. I’m honored to work with a good group of people. Don’t miss your opportunity to be part of something special. Join our family www.joinmonroviapd.org. Link is also on our profile. We got your six Sergeant Burkhalter 🤘🏽 ... See MoreSee Less

2 weeks ago

Comment on Facebook

Many MANY thanks to each of you and especially Sergeant Burkhalter 💙 enjoy your retirement Sir 💙

Happy Retirement!!

🙏💙🙏

View more comments

Latest Tweets

ENDING SOON: Our 0% Balance Transfer Promotion ends at close-of-business on Monday, April 3, 2023.
For details, please visit: https://t.co/3rnWY3T1Jv. https://t.co/yKzTYPDbJa
NatlPoliceCU photo
ENDING SOON: Our 0% Balance Transfer Promotion ends soon!
For details, please visit: https://t.co/3rnWY3Tzz3. https://t.co/VoAamYRByZ
NatlPoliceCU photo

I have always been what I consider to be a deep thinker.  When I was young, my deep thoughts didn’t always lead me to logical conclusions or ensure that I could preserve order in my mind.  As I have gotten older, my deep thoughts still tend to swirl around a lot, but I have gotten a little better at identifying where those thoughts lead and figuring out what I can do with them.

To that end, I have come up with some tenets that are front and center in many of my thoughts and ideas. I use them as a foundation to build from so that I at least feel as though I am headed in the right direction as I continue my travels through life.  Three of them are relevant here.

  • I try to never stop learning
  • I work on understanding the world and the people around me
  • I am aware of myself and how I fit in that world and with those people

Each of these foundational planks has a common enemy: Oblivion.

Every day you learn something, your life is richer and more purposeful.  You are exercising your brain and spending time doing something worthwhile even if what you learn doesn’t isn’tt useful down the road.  Learning is essential for forward progress in life and the process of learning is often as important as what you learn.

Oblivion, deliberate or otherwise, is the opposite of learning.  It requires no thought and demands no engagement and it can trick you into thinking that your life is satisfying.  Of course, when you do not have any expectations of yourself, goals to achieve, or people to get to know; you may feel satisfied because you probably will not experience much stress or worry.  All that has occurred, however, is that you have performed down to the lowest level of potential and fulfillment: Zero.

Developing an understanding of the world and people around you is an everyday challenge.  That understanding will constantly evolve as a result of the progression in your thoughts and of the changes in your perceptions as well as the events and circumstances taking place in the world around you.  Just like a commitment to learning every day, your efforts to understand people and society and all the complexities that comprise them will be an-going, never ending process.

Oblivion, on the other hand, will ensure that you have no interest in others or the world.  It will mandate that you stand in one place with no clue of what is happening nor interest in finding out.  Simple?  Yes.  You will fall short, however, on any scale that measures the value you have created for your environment or the contributions that you have made to others.

Self-awareness is essential for you to have a healthy perspective of who you are and what you stand for.  It is also an essential piece of your understanding of the world around you.  You cannot develop a thorough understanding of anything else without being fully aware of where you fit and where you can or cannot relate to the people, places, and events that surround your existence.

Life is infinitely easier to navigate when you know who you are.  That knowledge will help you to develop purpose and direction in your life.  It is much easier to know why you are here and where you are going if you are familiar and comfortable with the person who is asking those questions.

Oblivion prevents you from even considering who you are or how you may be perceived.  Purpose and drive have no place in oblivion.  Being oblivious is a cop out, but it doesn’t have to be a life sentence.

When you set lofty goals, especially ones that require non-stop attention and will most assuredly cause you to fail regularly, you are undoubtedly also signing up for a lot of work and time spent reflecting on your actions or lack thereof, analyzing information, revising your plans, and probably questioning every step you take along the way.

Your rewards, however, will be ample and I have yet to find a more direct route toward living a fulfilling and purposeful life than to make oblivion your enemy and to commit to learning as much as you can, understanding your environment, and determining who you are and where you are going.

Scott Arney
Chief Executive Officer
Chicago Patrolmen’s Federal Credit Union

Share This Post

Recent Posts

I graduated from college many years ago, 30 to be exact.  I was one of the fortunate few who knew exactly what I wanted to do for a career.  In fact, I knew from the time that I was in middle school that I wanted to work in banking.
When our kids were old enough to prioritize and young enough for my wife and I to exercise our influence over them, we simplified our parenting instructions down to one absolute order.
We have a cat.  His name is Catso.  Although he was named many years ago when our kids were much younger, his name still fits his personality.

GO!

Learn more about Strategies for Investing at the Credit Union’s next Financial Fitness for First Responders, a free online virtual educational seminar created for Law Enforcement Officers and their families. For more information, visit our website.

GO!

Learn more about Strategies for Investing at the Credit Union’s next Financial Fitness for First Responders, a free online virtual educational seminar created for Law Enforcement Officers and their families. For more information, visit our website.

Subscribe to our Newsletter

We’d love to add you to our mailing list.