MilSpouse LifeIt’s no secret around here that I was fairly reluctant to travel the road of military spouse. At least initially, I struggled to envision myself as a woman capable of handling all the ups and downs of military life.
I don’t think that is an unusual perspective though. Military spouses are a teeny, tiny fraction of the U.S. Population. Approximately 0.34% to be exact. Yes, out of the 320 million people in the United States, only about 1.2 million are military spouses.
It’s also no secret around here that I’ve fallen in love with military life over the years. I’ve embraced it and this life affords us so many opportunities and blessings that would otherwise be missing.
So whether you are a military spouse passionate about military life or a spouse who is struggling to find the hidden treasures in your journey, you are traveling the road less traveled.
Here are a few ways I found new roads as a military spouse and how you can too:
Less traveled doesn’t equal less important.
Your military spouse road is perhaps the most important road you will ever take. You are the corner stone of your military family. You are the person keeping your family woven tightly together on this military life journey. So even though you are taking the road less traveled, it is definitely an important road to take.
Change your path when life seems impossible.
Taking the higher road sometimes means taking a road you never intended. That’s okay. I think years down the road, you’ll look back and feel grateful that you did. One thing that felt impossible to me was to continue my nursing career during our time stationed in Japan. It could of course be done, but we knew it was going to put a lot of stress on our family.
So I left my conventional job and started my own work from home business as a writer and direct sales manager. It certainly wasn’t a path I ever envisioned before, but when life seemed impossible and challenging, I was encouraged by other military spouses to simply re-invent myself and find a new way to make it work.
Dust the road off, lay the pavement.
There has to be a first for everything, right? If it doesn’t appear like anyone has ever driven down the road, just clear the way. Actually, just bulldoze through all that stuff. Lay the ground work to do something never done before in the military community and then invite a few military spouses to follow along.
Learn to ask for directions.
If you ever feel lost in military life, ask for help. No really, ask for help. So many of us (me included) don’t ask for help enough. We only make a phone call when the house is burning down. Don’t feel like you have to wait for something major to happen before you ask for help. Make one wrong turn? Pull over and ask for directions.
When the road gets bumpy, just keep going.
Military life is hard. It’s not the hardest or the worst, but it is hard. When your military life road feels more like off-roading than the express way, keep plugging along. You will find a smooth road before you even have the chance to get car sick.
One deployment my husband went through was especially dangerous, challenging and grueling. It was hard on the both of us. We kept going through that bumpy road though. And once it was finally over, our relationship was stronger and more fulfilling than ever. Just keep going.
Finding new roads.
All this talk about finding your way as a military spouse makes me think about how Chevrolet offers the best military discount program of any car company during Military Appreciation Month. True story.
Chevrolet is proud to extend their military discount to Active Duty members, Reserves, Veterans within one year of discharge date and Retirees—including their spouses—of the U.S. Air Force, Army, Navy, Marines, National Guard and Coast Guard.
This great value gives you a special discounted price below the MSRP. Plus, you can combine this discount with most current offers to save even more. USAA members also receive an additional $750 private offer.
Wait there’s more.
Wednesday May 27th at 9 pm EST @NextGenMilso and @ArmyWives101 are hosting the #ChevySalutes Twitter party where you will have the chance to win 2 iPAD minis and 4 $100 Visa gift cards. Awesome, right? All you have to do is tweet during the party for a chance to win!
Join them for great conversation, prizes and fun as they talk about supporting our military community members who find new roads after military service.
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Chevrolet via MSB New Media. The opinions and text are all mine.
This is so impotent for new military wives they need to understand what it’s all about . nothing like this was available back in the 1970’s/80’s when I was a new wife not only did I fall for a USAF BUT I was from the UK so I had to learn about a new way of life and a new country. I had to understand that what I did reflected on my husband understand he was responsible for me and my actions and move with him when he got new orders. I was an amazing life I feel very honored and proud to have been a small part of it and I would not change that part of my life for all the world. sadly the marriage (another woman Turkish) I wanted him to be happy so I let him go, and came back to the UK he passed away in 2007 these things happen but for all the pain and heartache I would not change my life with the USAF for all the world.