11. Feel and express gratitude
You’ll find more joy in life if you express gratefulness for the good things that happen. Make it a point to intentionally focus on the positive and show an appreciation for these things. This can be done by writing someone a thank you note “just because” or showing them you care with the gift of time and friendship. It can also just be something you do mentally by thinking about the positives in life rather than the negatives. Your military life is a gift!
12. Smile more
Smiling is good for you. I find that if I express my happiness outwardly, it’s catching. If I intentionally smile not only do I often make myself feel better, but my kids and husband notice it and mimic it too. It’s really easy for a bad mood to be catching, and the same is true for a good mood. If you’re feeling good, let people know. Smile and show it.
13. Have fun
This is a lot like 12, but is so important. Have fun with your life. I would never be considered “fun mom.” I’m a “get-stuff-done mom.” I sometimes feel guilty about the fact that my kids don’t have a goofy mom who comes up with cool projects (because I find them too messy) or schedules playdates and activities constantly (because I like to have an uncluttered schedule). Just because I don’t fit in the ideal mold of “fun mom,” though, doesn’t mean that I can’t have fun. I’ve worked to find things I can do with my family that I find fun. We play a lot of board games. We do puzzles. We play video games together. I even pushed myself to get out and play ultimate Frisbee a few weeks ago. If I wasn’t looking for opportunities to have fun, I would have just stayed in and taken a nap. My whole family appreciated the fact that I worked to have fun with them instead of staying the natural indoorsy introvert that I am.
14. Be smart online
It’s not quite that difficult to be cautious with what you post online. OPSEC and PERSEC are words you hear and see a lot online lately. Truth is, though, you don’t need to be posting that many of your personal details and information online. You shouldn’t advertise that you’re leaving for a vacation or that your spouse is deployed. You should NEVER post about troop movement dates or strategies. Even if you think your Facebook security and privacy measures are locked down tightly, it’s not wise to go talking about these sorts of things. You might have your security set high, but who knows if your friends have been hacked or what their settings are. Be smart and cautious. It’s better to be overly cautious than targeted because you shared too much.
