From Trauma to Triumph: Percy the “PTSD” Platypus & the Power of Mindset Rule 18
- Bruce Schutter
- Jun 11
- 5 min read
It started like any other downtown afternoon. I was walking back from the coffee shop—book in one hand, Mental Health Warrior Challenge Coins jingling in my pocket—when I heard someone mutter behind me:
“Three feet? I barely made it across the street without flinching at a squirrel.”
I turned to find a platypus standing there. Not just any platypus—Percy the “PTSD” Platypus.
“Percy?” I asked.
He nodded, eyes heavy with the kind of stare that says he’s seen some things. “Marvin sent me.”
Of course he did.
I Meet Percy
Percy had the look of someone who didn’t blink unless absolutely necessary. Dry humor clung to him like duct tape on a battlefield first-aid kit.
“I read your book,” he said, motioning toward 53 Mindset Rules of a Mental Health Warrior. “The way you talk about PTSD in your story… felt like someone finally spoke my language. Marvin said you’d understand.”
I nodded. “Yeah. Mine came from years as an EMT during high school and college. I saw a lot of people die way too young… and I wasn’t ready for any of it.”
Percy’s eyes softened. “Mine came from a desert halfway across the world. You never forget certain sounds. Smells. The way adrenaline plays tricks with your brain.”
“Exactly,” I said. “Different wars. Same battlefield upstairs.”
He gave a half-smirk. “Marvin says I should talk to someone who knows what it’s like to flinch at loud noises (i.e. sirens in my case) and still want to find joy.”
“Well, he’s right,” I said. “And there’s one mindset rule that’s helped me more than almost anything.”
Mindset Rule 18
I pulled a folded page from my notebook and handed it to Percy. At the top, it read: Mindset Rule 18 - “Focus 3 feet in front of you, with occasional glances up to ensure you’re on track to your destination.”
“It sounds simple,” I said. “But it helps warriors to cut through the noise PTSD throws into your brain. It helps keep you grounded, focused on today—not lost in yesterday or terrified of tomorrow.”
He read it again and nodded. “I like that. Three feet is manageable. The past… not so much.”
I smiled. “Exactly. This rule helps me stay in the present, learn from the past without being consumed by it, and take steady steps toward the future.”
I paused. “Want to know how I use it every day?”
Percy grunted. “Hit me. Figuratively of course.”
Three Ways I Use Mindset Rule 18
1. Ground Myself with a Daily Reset Routine
“When I wake up and feel the fog starting to roll in,” I said, “I ground myself—feet on the floor, slow breathing, one small action.
Sometimes I clean the kitchen. Sometimes I journal. I don’t try to tackle the whole day—just what’s three feet ahead. That helps me focus and feel in control.”
Because when you live with PTSD, mornings can bring an immediate sense of unease—your nervous system wakes up already on high alert. A daily reset routine gives your brain a predictable, calming ritual that says: You’re safe. You’re in control.
By narrowing focus to one small, doable task, it reduces overwhelm and anchors you in the present moment—before the spiral starts.
Percy’s Takeaway:
Percy scratched his bill thoughtfully. “So, focus on an immediate action. I can do that. Every morning I feed my fish. Maybe I start naming the emotion while I do it. ‘Hello, dread. Here’s your breakfast.’”
“Exactly,” I laughed. “Make it a positive ritual. Something that anchors you in the present.”
2. Plan My Day in Small Chunks, Not Big Mountains
“I used to overwhelm myself,” I said. “Trying to fix everything at once. Now, I plan three feet at a time—maybe 90 minutes ahead.
That’s it. I work, I walk, I breathe.”
With PTSD, even normal tasks can feel like climbing a mountain blindfolded. Your brain’s constantly scanning for threats, which makes big-picture thinking overwhelming.
But breaking the day into small, focused chunks helps quiet that inner alarm system. It shifts your brain from survival mode to structured momentum—one task, one step, one breath at a time.
Percy’s Takeaway:
Percy nodded. “I started a woodworking project last week. Got mad halfway through and nearly smashed it.
Maybe I just focus on sanding one side at a time. Like ‘Operation: Smooth Left Panel.’ Small, achievable steps—that’s what leads to progress throughout the day.”
“Now you’re speaking my language,” I grinned. “That’s Warrior strategy.”
3. Reframe the Flashbacks
“When a flashback hits me, it feels like I’m right back in the worst moment—heart racing, senses hijacked. That’s when I lean on Mindset Rule 18.
I remind myself: Just focus three feet ahead. Not the past. Not the full day. Just right here, right now!
I also touch something near me—a table, a coin, a wall—anything to physically anchor me. Then I breathe and say, ‘I’m safe. I’m here.’
It’s like grabbing a mental rope and pulling myself back from the edge.”
Percy’s Takeaway:
Percy nodded slowly. “There’s a sound that used to trigger me. I’d freeze up—body tense, mind gone.
Lately, I’ve been carrying a Mental Health Warrior Challenge Coin—Marvin gave it to me. Never thought to use it like that… but yeah. I can hold it, focus three feet ahead, remind myself I’m not back there. I’m here. In this moment.”
“That’s exactly it,” I said. “We use the present as our anchor—and the rule as our compass. Three feet of clarity at a time. That’s how we take our power back.”
The Battle We Share
Before we parted ways, I handed Percy a copy of my book 53 Mindset Rules of a Mental Health Warrior.
He held it with care—like it was a field manual for the next chapter of his life. “You know,” he said, flipping to Mindset Rule 18 again, “for a book without camouflage, this might be the most useful gear I’ve carried.”
I smiled. “Thanks. It’s helped me learn to respect and celebrate each day—especially for those who didn’t get the chance to see another one.”
He nodded solemnly. “I lost a few brothers overseas. I get it.”
Wrap-Up: Different Paths, Same Battle
As we stood under the fading afternoon sun, Percy tucked the book into his backpack. “Truth is,” he said, “I’m tired of fighting ghosts. I want to live again.”
“We both do,” I said. “And we will as Mental Health Warriors.”
We bumped fists—or… bill and fist, technically.
Because whether PTSD came from a battlefield, a backroad ambulance run, or any trauma life throws our way, we both knew this truth: trauma doesn’t get the final word—we do!
And Mindset Rule 18 helps us claim that power—One day at a time. Three feet at a time.
Because we are Mental Health Warriors—and we don’t walk alone!
Bruce Schutter
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