The Dark Side Comics - Dr. D. Leitner

The Dark Side Comics

Moments during my journey

Apr 6

There comes a point when you just want to give up.

Don't.

I have those days. A lot.

CRPS is known as the world's most painful incurable condition. And it comes with something called Allodynia - pain from touch. Which means that every touch on my legs is an electric shock with an added blowtorch just for fun. (https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Complex_regional_pain_syndrome)

EVERY TOUCH.
Every bounce of my wheelchair.
Every move that rubs my pants on my legs.

And that is only one part of the pain.

The only way forward is to NEVER give up.
To push on.
To make sure that whatever the obstacle is, you define it, set it's boundaries, and figure out the best way around/over/through.

Constant pain can make that difficult - what are the boundaries of something that may never end.

But I can't let that stop me.

I've got a life to live.

I am still going to do everything I can to move the needle. So I can't get over the pain. But I can push through it. Continue on. Fight to make today another day where I change my world a little.

It might take time.

It may take a lot of trial and error.

It may hurt (A LOT).

But don't ever. EVER Give up.

#BeCourageous. Aim High. Shoot for the stars. Live life.

#NeverGiveUp

Thank you for listening to my self-motivational talk today.

You can invite me to give it to you in person if you want. I'm happy to oblige.

Feb 16

היה לי את העונג וכבוד להעביר הרצאה הערב כחלק מפברואר יוצאים מן הכלל לנוער בנתניה. המסרים העיקריים - שלהיות יוצא מן הכלל זה עניין של מנהיגות פורצת, חסידיות פעילה, שליחות, ומוכנות ליזום שינוי בעולם - לא נכות.

I had the pleasure of giving a lecture to the Netanya teens as part of "Exceptional February". What were the main points? That to be exceptional is a function of emergent leadership, courageous followership, personal agency, and the willingness to engage to improve our world - not disability.

So #BeCourageous and exceptional.

Feb 16

Sometimes you just have to take aim and shoot for the moon.

It isn't about the strategy or tactics.

It isn't about vision, objectives, or goals.

It's just about dealing with whatever is in front of you, NOW, and getting through the next few moments.

#BeCourageous and don't let anything stop you!

Dec 11

Thank you to Elbit Systems for hosting me at an all hands online meeting in honor of Veteran's Day here in Israel. I got to tell my story and share how Elbit and their team of volunteers helped create a special one of a kind shield for my legs through the Makers-for-Heroes program run by Restart - ריסטארט .

תודה רבה לאלביט על ההזמנה להרצאות לרגל יום ההוקרה לפצועי צה"ל. נתנו לי במה לספר את הסיפור שלי וגם להודות ולשבח את צוות מתנדבים מאלביט שהצליח לייצר את המגן המיוחד שלי דרך תוכנית מייקרס-פור-יהירוס של הארגון ריסטארט.

#crpswarrior
#idfveteran
#VeteransDayIsrael
#AimHigh

Nov 24

Sometimes pain wins. It's 04:30 and my body cannot relax. It's been this way for over an hour. My legs are throbbing and feel like they've been dipped in ice water and lava at the same time. My throat hurts from hacking and each breath is a conscious attempt to not cough and throw up from the pain.

It feels like a 🧨is going kablooie over and over again.

This too shall pass. Being a #crpswarrior never ends, though the nature of the challenge is ever changing.

I want to thank the many people who support me. But I need to single out the wif. Lala, thank you for being with me through these crazy days and nights. For your guidance, caring, and love. For the middle of the night teas even when you have to be out early in the morning. Thank you for the 🫂 and backrubs to try and ease the tension that swarms through me as I face these challenges.

Thank you for making it a little easier to #nevergiveup

I hope you sleep well. ❤️

🔥&🧊 and so much not nice that's what this pain is made of. 🤢

Could really use some 💤

Nov 8

English Follows
יותר מ50 חיילים וחיילות הגיעו היום לבי"ס לקומנדו לשמוע את הסיפור האישי שלי וללמוד על מנהיגות והחסידיות, על שליחות, התמדה ונחישות. אבל בעיקר על החיילים הבודדים.

מכל המסרים החשובים שהעברתי היום' המסר הכי חשוב היה רמת ההשפעה שיהיה להם ולהן על החיילים הבודדים. התעמקתי ברמת היכולת שלהם לפעול באופן ישיר ולעזור לחיילים בודדים להצליח ולהגשים את חזונם בצה"ל. זה מסר שמאוד חשוב לי.

בסוף ההרצאה יותר מ 20 חברי באו לשבח ולהגיד לי כמה הם למדו והתרשמו מההרצאה. אבל יותר מזה, באו ואמרו לי שעכשיו הם מבינים יותר טוב את התפקיד שלהם והיכולת שלהם להשפיע על השירות של החיילים הבודדים.

בסופו של דבר דרשתי שיתגייסו לחזון של החיילים הבודדים והסברתי שדרך החזון הזה גם הם יצליחו להגשים חזון של שירות מלא משמעות.

I met with more than 50 soldiers today who came to hear my story and learn about leadership, followership, agency, perseverance, and grit. But more importantly, they came to learn what it is like to be a Lone Soldier in the IDF.

Out of all the important topics I've discussed, this one is in many ways closes to my heart. I explained to them, in-depth, about the direct impact they will have guiding the Lone Soldiers success and future trajectory as they seek to fulfill their vision of meaningful service.

This is a message which is extremely important to me as a former Lone Soldier and IDF veteran - how do we help the soldiers who do not have family and support systems here succeed or even better excel.

At the end of the lecture, more than 20 of the soldiers came over to give praise, tell me how worthwhile and inspirational they found the talk. Many asked questions for clarification or to dig deeper. And almost all of them told me how much they learned, Many of them expressed thanks for clarifying for them how important their jobs will be and they told me that now they better understand their role and their ability to influence the lives and service of the Lone Soldiers.

At the end of the talk, I urged them to ascribe to the vision of the Lone Soldiers who chose to move to Israel and serve in the military. And I explained that by joining them in fulfilling this vision they too will succeed in have a meaningful and worthwhile time in service.

Oct 26

Just closed my first two lecture dates for pay!

Going to be giving the talk "Politics Everywhere" in early November and the talk "Leadership Rising" in early December.

Both use my story to teach.
Both to be given in Hebrew.

I've been giving both these lectures for awhile. But I always did so on a volunteer basis.

This. This is something new.
And it feels AMAZING!

סגרתי את שתי הרצאות הראשונות שלי בתשלום!

אני מעביר הרצאה על "פוליטיקה בכל מקום" בתחילת נובמבר ועוד הרצאה "מנהיגות עולה" בתחילת דצמבר.

שניהם מבוססים על הסיפור האישי שלי כדרך לימוד.
שניהם ינתנו בעברית

אני כבר זמן מה נותן את שתי ההרצאות הללו - אבל תמיד היה בהתנדבות.

זה. זה מהשהו חדש ומגניב!
הרגשה מדהימה!

#newdirection
#crpswarrior
#idfveteran

Oct 24

דעות ורעיונות על הפלייר. מה אתם חושבים? מה טוב. מה כדאי לשנות?

Thoughts and opinions on this flyer? What's good and works? What needs to be changed?

Quick translation:
Title: Leadership Rising
Bubble: Lecture on leadership, followership, and teamwork from a former special operations lone soldier with a fascinating, motivational personal story.
Bullets: Determination, Perseverance, Trust, Agency, Hope
Bottom panel: Dr. David Leitner
15 years lecturing, researching and advising on leadership and strategy.
20 years accessibility and inclusion adviser.

#newdirections
#crpswarrior
#idfveteran

Oct 21

Over 200 soldiers from the commando brigade. Over 15 officers and commanders. Learning about leadership, followership, trust, and the responsibility of command. Many of these young men are future team commanders, sergeants, and officers.

75% of them raised their hand when I asked if the are interested in a command position.

So today they learned.

About lone soldiers.
About the fundamental responsibility of command - creating trust for effective teamwork.
About the difference between command and leadership - and how these concepts work together.
About followership and the different types of followers.
And how leaders and followers are agents of change - creating a future.

And they listened to my story. But more than listening, they heard my story. And responded to the core message - create your world. Be the agent of change.

As a leader and as a follower.

Have a great weekend.

#crpswarrior
#idfvetera
#leadership

Oct 20

Range time is good time. The new season has started. I've been doing some technicals, but today was the first day of full practice - from dry fire through warm ups and then some stages.

Nothing too complex. Got the new gun all zeroed and figured out.

Now it all about spending time bringing some speed and keeping the tactical awareness up.

Sep 21

This is how we roll! No speed limit. Nothing going to stop us.

Just met a new IDF vet. And he understands that the choice is his. He's not letting anything or anyone stop him.

Keep it up @nitai_shenhar!

#idfveterans united.

Sep 19

Who wants to play catch?
Trial under fire!!!
Ladies and Gents the shield works!!!

#makersforheroes2022
#crpswarrior

Sep 19

Carbon fiber is sooooo cool!
It's coming together.
Shield day!!!

#makersforheroes2022
#crpswarrior

Sep 19

First peek at the front of my new shield. The guys from @elbitsystems did their homework.
#starwars for the win.

#crpswarrior

Sep 19

@natasharaquel from @i24news dropped by to chat and hear about the #makersforheroes2022 projects. Looking forward to her take on the @restartglobal_il program and our projects.

#crpswarrior
#idfveterans

Sep 19

Here we gooooooo!!! Today's the big day. Makers for Heroes 2022 final event is here and I'm super excited and hopeful that today I get a shield to protect my legs. Working with the team from @we_are_elbit_systems has been amazing. We've met up throughout the year and this is the culmination of all out work.

Thank you to @restartglobal_il for their spectacular work with disabled veterans.

#makersforheroes2022
#crpswarrior

Sep 6

02:45 my legs are blowing up my brain. This is the price of an evening out. And it was worth it.

Met new people. Learned new cool stuff about hyenas in Israel. Saw beautiful pictures of hyenas in their natural habitat.

Spent quality time with the wif.

Totally worth every moment of burning pain and clenched jaw. Beyond worth it.

Desperately need a long rest to bring my HP and exhaustion points back to a point of functionality.

Ah the life of a #crpswarrior

😣🤕🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🤘🏼🤘🏼🤘🏼

#keeponlivin'
#dontevergiveup

Jul 26

Meet Team David!

I'm participating in a program that connects disabled IDF veterans with soldiers doing a unique basic training that includes additional development training. These young men were not supposed to be inducted at all but demanded they be given the opportunity to become IDF soldiers and serve their nation.

They visited our house and listen intently as I told them my story. They asked great questions. They were interested in why I chose to serve and how I deal with daily excruciating pain. They understood that there is a price to success - hard work, sacrifice, and determination.

And they understood that they will have to push through and strive - especially when things look grim, they are in pain, and the going gets rough.

And I made very clear that on Team David we watch out for each other - that I am my brothers keeper - and that we do not leave anyone to face a challenge alone.

And that no one - but NO ONE - leaves my team without talking to me first.

Yalla Team David! Rise up and Serve with Honor! All success to you!

תכירו את צוות דוד!

אני משתתף בתוכנית שמחברת בין נכי צה"ל לחיילים שעוברים טירונות והכשרה בבסיס חוות השומר. אלו חברי שלאו דווקא היו מגייסים אך ברצון כוחם הם דורשים לשרת את המדינה והעם.

החברי הגיעו אלי הביתה לביקור ולשמוע את הסיפור שלי. שאלו שאלות מצויינות. התעניינו למה בחרתי לשרת ואיך אני מתמודד אל מול הכאב המתמדת. והבינו שלהצלחה יש מחיר - עבודה קשה, הקרבה ודחף פנימי.

הבינו שיש צורך לדחוף קדימה להמשיך ולשאוף גם שקשה או כואב. הבינו שבצוות דוד אנחנו דואגים אחד לשני - ששומר אחי אנוכי - ולא משאירים אף אחד לבד אל מול האתגרים. לא משאירים אף אחד מאחור.

ואף אחד, אבל אף אחד לא רשאי לוותר או לעזור מבלי לדבר איתי.

יאללה צוות דוד עלו והצליחו!

Jul 6

I had the pleasure of presenting to another group of amazing young warriors this past week. This time I got to discuss leadership and shlichut (acting as an emissary) with two teams from Duvdevan (Cherries) at the Commando Training Facility and School.

These young men are about to face the most difficult weeks of their training. They are working to achieve a dream – to be declared combat active as members of one of the most elite units in the Israeli Defense Forces.

I was given the opportunity to tell them my story. About how I chose to join the military as a Lone Soldier. How I chose to join Maglan (another of the Commando Brigade units) and about how I got hurt.

Along the way, I got to use my story to teach.

I got to educate them about #leadership and #command. How these two are opposite sides of the same coin and must work together to create the framework for successful teambuilding. I went in depth about how leadership isn’t the rank on your shoulder, but the ability to get others to follow you and act as emissaries to create vision.
You can check out my website to learn more. https://www.drdleitner.com/about/

#crpswarrior
#leadershiptraining
#teambuilding
#military

May 11

Had the pleasure of giving another talk at the IDF School for Infantry Corps Professions and Squad Commanders.

Apparently, the education officers at the base have been passing around my contact info. 😁

Thank you to the 17th Battalion "Golan Lions" support staff for hosting me. You guys were great!

Once again got to discuss how I went from being a #lonesoldier to a #crpswarrior. And, of course, I have to include a bit of #leadership, #followership, #situationalleadership, and #teambuilding as a part of the underlying message.

Looking forward to the next time I have this opportunity.

#idf
#

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