Whenever I am feeling down or sorry for myself – usually when my husband has been gone for a really long time or I go to ANOTHER wedding by myself (raise your hand if you’ve been there) – I remember the decision I made to choose this life. Growing up, I never thought that I would marry into the military but life threw me this awesome curveball and I wouldn’t trade any part of it for the world! I can remember sitting at Chik-fil-a, in Enid, OK, with my husband (then bf) when he straight up asked me if I was open and willing to the challenges that would come with this lifestyle. I said “absolutely!”, not knowing then all the exciting adventures that would come with the challenges of this ever-changing world of the Air Force.
1. YOU WILL CHANGE
If we’re being honest with ourselves, who wouldn’t want to grow and change? Especially in this WAF lifestyle where growth might just be the only constant you have. The times that I have said ‘yes’ to adventures have only added another notch in my belt of amazing memories. Experiencing new things will help you become more connected with the new environment that you are in and therefore, connect you to the people there. Let me be the first to say that this is a tough one. Even the most easy-going of us still struggle with this. Before our first PCS, the furthest away from my childhood home that I had moved was my 30 minute drive to college…talk about eye opening! But to survive in the Air Force and in my marriage, I had to let go of the college, Arkansan Jen. I had to give up my pride in that now I knew no one, I had to strengthen my marriage so that I could trust and rely on my husband when I felt down. And I had to be opened to LEARNING. Oh, that was a toughy. I didn’t think that at 21 (so young!) that I could have been so set in my ways but I totally was. I loved being around people at all times. Coming from living in a sorority house with 80 other girls and 320 more just a short distance away, you can see how I was so used to having a person or some sort of entertainment around at all times. The number one way I would say that I have changed is in my independence. Back then, doing anything on my own seemed like a tragedy (hi, my name is Jen and I am dramatic), but now, I feel like I can take over the world on my own! I love that now I don’t seem like such a transplant out here and that I can (kinda) hang with the locals and not be so out of place.
2. YOU WILL MEET NEW PEOPLE
I’m just going to put this out here, I am not naturally a very outdoorsy person. I love being out by a pool in the summer or a bonfire in the fall but that’s about it. So when I moved out to the PNW, I was in for a rude awakening. Basically if you’re not hiking, you’re wrong. But being open to going on hikes, ski trips, baseball games where tickets came with a free beer (not a big beer gal so this was a stretch) is what led me to meeting and developing my closest friendships. I want to clear up another hesitation that I can already sense some of you might be feeling. “Well I don’t like to hike so if I go on a hike with someone who does like it, we won’t have anything in common”. FALSE. First off, you will find other commonalities, I promise you that. Second, meeting people that are from different backgrounds than you, that have unique passions from yours, who may have different ideals than you, is one of the best opportunities the air force offers us. This is not a first assignment struggle either. As you move from base to base, you will collect solid friendships while keeping yourselves opened to new, surprising ones as well.
3. YOU WILL LOOK BACK WITHOUT REGRETS
Not many people get the “opportunity” to pack up everything and start new at a location that they never would have dreamed about. In our first year out here, we went backpacking, skiing, crabbing, and we went snow-shoeing to a hot spring in the forest. All of those things are not natural to my interests. That being said, I know that what I accomplished in one year is what some people don’t get to do in an entire lifetime! I am now the proud owner of a new set of twin tip skis. I have a fully stocked Osprey backpack that was custom fitted for me. and now I can say that my day spent fly fishing in the heart of Oregon was one of the most fun and beloved memories I now share with my husband since being out here. I want to look back at our time on each base and not think about the things we didn’t do or have a conversation with someone about our time in the Air Force as just another year. My husband and I actually ran into a retired AF couple last night at dinner and listening to them and the exciting ride that they have been on is what inspired me to write this post!
When I moved out here to WA, I was very young and was still trying to figure out who I was and what I wanted in my life. I am thankful for that inner push to connect with the community that drove me to keep saying ‘yes’ to all invitations. If college Jen were to meet me now, she wouldn’t know what to say; and I love that. Because I stepped out and did new things, I now have new skills under my belt, have met and traveled with new friends, and continue to grow my Air Force family around the country and the world <3
