Credit shout-out to Jo, My Gosh.
Hey. You.
The one with the face.
You’re amazing.
Did you know that?
I mean, really? Have you stopped and thought about how amazing you are today? Because you totally should.
Who, me? you might ask. But I’m wearing yoga pants. And a shirt with spit-up on it. It’s not even my own.
Or, you might say, But I haven’t been employed in my career path for the last five years.
Or, But I cried into my ice cream last night… while watching How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days because I miss my guy. I mean, why would Kate intentionally try to get rid of hers?!
But you are. You’re resilient. You don’t take no for an answer– no matter if it comes from a TriCare waitlist or your future employer who doesn’t know if you’re a good fit just because you’re a military spouse. You trek across the country– and world– over and over again. And each time you do, you make your house a home again… and again… and again. It doesn’t matter if that home is in Hawaii or Alaska, Japan or England, Italy or Key West, or some outpost in the desert or a swamp. You send care packages. You wait for communication blackouts to end. You’re the one who has to drive home after dropping your spouse off at the terminal or the ship or the bus with crying kids in the backseat when you want to cry too.
And I don’t mean that that you’re a Stepford Wife (or Husband)– a smile plastered on your face, manning the vacuum, the kids, and home fires during deployments. Sometimes you cry. Sometimes it’s over the dumbest things. Sometimes you make mistakes. Sometimes you’re really freaking tired of the Army… or the Air Force… or the Marines… or the Coast Guard… or the Navy. Sometimes you say things you regret. Sometimes you want to get in the car and drive away and never come back. Or sit in your car and eat a sandwich by yourself and listen to music alone, dang it.
I’m there with you. I’ve experienced it. I get it. Anyone who says they don’t is a liar or is the most well-adjusted person ever. Military life can be hard– just like anyone’s life can be hard. There are obstacles and hurdles. There are ups and downs. Sometimes this life can be really annoyingly unfair.
But it can also be surprisingly wonderful.
And you’re amazing because, for all the faults and frustrations with military life, you capitalize on the good stuff and work to make the bad stuff better. Maybe you take new spouses under your wing. Or roundhouse deployment in the face. Sometimes you own that MWR fundraiser. Maybe you’ve learned how to start your own small business. Or you’ve just finished your degree after eight years of PCSes, deployments, and TAD/TDYs. Maybe you’ve recognized when you need help and have begun therapy or are taking medication. You’ve struck out on your own without your family and friends nearby. You’ve made new friends repeatedly only to leave them behind. Maybe you’ve made it through your first year… or your thirtieth. Maybe you’ve landed a remote job that’s right in your wheelhouse. Or maybe you’ve gotten turned down– yet again– but you pick yourself up and try again tomorrow. And the next tomorrow. And the next tomorrow.
So the next time you have doubts, remember this: You are the sum of your parts, not just one of them. You are worthwhile. You are strong. You are amazing.