Recently my husband and I were chatting, and he jokingly said, “The two things the Navy has taken from me are my singing voice and the freedom to wear a hat inside.” It was a lighthearted comment, but it did make me pause and consider it for myself.
What has the Navy taken from me?
I promise this is not a doom-and-gloom sort of blog post, but I do think it helps to think about that question if your family is actively serving. It’s not all sunshine and daisies. As some might say, “it’s a walk in the park! …Jurassic Park that is.”
We have officially been in the Navy for over a decade, and I can quickly list some things that military life has taken and left me with…
- I am now cautious of being comfortable. I know that typically when I start to feel comfortable, change is coming (time to move, a friend is leaving, change in spouse’s schedule, etc.)
- I feel guilt from not being more present as a granddaughter, daughter, sister, auntie, and friend.
- I mourn for my boys and the birthdays and celebrations that they have missed with their grandparents and cousins.
- I envy my friends who have homes that they get to change and decorate.
I could continue, but I promised this wasn’t one of those blogs, so let me hit you with a big ole’ BUT.
YET.
HOWEVER.
*Pick your favorite conjunction word, and say it with some oomph*
The Navy has gifted me with more things than it has taken away from me. When I look back at the past decade, I remember my days and moments of feeling the loss, but those days are quickly overshadowed by the days of joy, adventures, friendships, experiences, and growth. These are some gifts from the military…
- Travels to 30+ states
- 7 different homes
- COUNTLESS amazing friendships
- A passion for visiting national parks
- Ability to adapt
- Traversing coast to coast and seeing everything in between
- Strengthening our family unit
- Learned to take the plunge and just jump in
- Embrace change
- Asking for help
- Knowing hardships are temporary
- Creating a community and watching it grow
- The true joy of a long-awaited hug
These are some of the things I have gained. And while I mourn for what I’ve “lost”, I fiercely celebrate all that I have gained from being a military spouse. I know it can be easy to stay stuck on the “what-ifs” and “should have been’s”, but if I zoom out for just a moment, I see it. I see the neighborhood campfire nights, the trips to the beach, park hangouts, my kid’s firsts _____, and the average days made special by some of our favorite people. My mind is flooded with so many wonderful people and amazing adventures that I may not have been able to experience had we not joined the Navy. To take this a step further, I am currently typing all of this while we wait *patiently* to be told where we are moving to in 6 months–so you know I have to truly mean what I’m writing if I’m able to say it during this waiting period. IYKYK.
