Experiment #5 – Find your happy place. This tip is important because it’s about you and you only. In this life, we do so much for others that we forget to invest in ourselves. Find something that fills you up inside, feeds your soul. For me, it’s tennis. I find a tennis club and a tennis team with every new PCS. It has nothing to do with what my husband does or being a military spouse.
For me it’s a sport, but for you it might be a running club, a scrapbooking club or cooking club. It could be volunteering at the homeless food kitchen, the local animal shelter or working for Habitat for Humanity.
I know spouses that find their happy place at their new job, away from life at home. It is whatever works for you, but it has to be about you and not your spouse or children. Whatever your “happy place” may be, you’ll find others who are like-minded, friendships will bloom.
Experiment #6 – You must leave your house. Yes, we must get dressed, run a brush through our hair and put on a smile. No one is going to knock your door with a glass of wine in hand. OMG, wouldn’t that be fabulous though if they did? Whether it’s finding a new church or going to the local pool, your possible new friends are out there. Cast a wide net so you don’t limit yourself.
Below is a list of ideas from seasoned spouses on where you can find your support system. Anything that is worth is something is hard work. Get uncomfortable, try something new and go explore.
- Join LOTS of Facebook groups in your area – spouse clubs, garage sales, women studies, sports clubs and book groups.
- Enlisted Spouses Clubs
- Officer Spouses Clubs
- Parties or squadron picnics at your spouses work
- Invite your spouses work friends over for dinner
- Meetup.com groups
- YMCA’s, Recreation Centers and local fitness clubs
- Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) www.mops.org
- Find a local church and join a bible study or fellowship.
- Protestant Women of the Church (PWOC) – mostly always on military installations. Contact your base/post chapel. www.chapnet.army.mil
- Benefit Runs like Race for Cure, Air Force Marathon, Diabetes Walk
- Habitat for Humanity
- ASPCA or Love For Paws Rescue
- United States Tennis Association – www.usta.org
- United States Golf Association – www.usga.org
- Runners Club of America www.rrca.org
- Parent Teachers Association (PTA) or Parent Teachers Organization (PTO)
- Girl Scouts of America
- Boys Scouts of America
- Local community college for cooking, photography, film studies, art and pottery classes.
Thank you to a few great spouses for passing along their tips and tricks to me. The spouses at Wright-Patterson AFB have a wealth of compassion and knowledge. Thank you!
Kimberly Dobbs Becky Harris Shelia Mcarrier Ana Benson Jacqueline Herrinen Heather Brag Kerry Cooley Cory Luby Rhonda Stagner Tara O’Meara Melly Schwenn Herlinda Tallent Andre Bindewald Susie Sincock
Do you have any great suggestions? Spread the word! Leave your advice in the comments!
