5. You cannot be all things to all people.
Over the many decades of being a military spouse, you’ll be asked to volunteer much of your time. From spouses clubs to your military members work place, there will be plenty of opportunities to volunteer. Pace yourself. Burn out can happen fast if you overload your volunteer plate too quickly. Spreading yourself too then will build resentment over time. Do it because of you love it, not because you feel like you have to do it.
Be selective about how you choose to volunteer. Find the one thing or the one place you are passionate about such as local schools, clinics, squadrons, key spouses, new births, welcoming new families, pet sitting, homecomings or deployments – whatever it may be – and throw yourself into it.
Volunteers are just that, volunteers. We are unpaid, time-strapped, multi-tasking, big-hearted, generous people. Remember to be kind to each other, too, because you never know what someone else is managing at home while they’re trying not to disappoint their peers.
The most important job you will have is taking care of yourself and your family – nothing else matters. Put YOU first, then your family…and then all volunteer jobs.
Volunteer for YOU because it makes you feel amazing.
Volunteering will not help your spouses career, it just won’t. Your spouse is on their own when it comes to promotion; being married is no longer on their job performance report. Volunteering makes very little difference to their mission, no matter how many hours you give. However, it will help the military community you call family become stronger and more resilient. Volunteering will make you a better person. Volunteer because it matters to you. And you might find yourself on the Today Show as the next Military Spouse of the Year. 🙂
