Milspouse, Your Story Is Important

Hey, you. The one with the story.

(That’s you.)

Every military spouse has a story. But so many spouses I’ve met think their stories–good or bad–aren’t important.

I’ve got news for you. (Ready for it?) THAT’S NOT TRUE.

Your story is important. It’s part of you. It’s part of what you’ve experienced. What you’ve been through. It’s shaped who you’ve become. Who you will be.

That’s why you need to tell your story. Because if there’s one thing I know it’s that when military spouses put their heads together, great things happen.

They shift the conversation.

They make people listen.

They get things done.

And if you don’t think military spouses can (or do) do this, you need to meet my friends. Because they get it and they get things done. That’s why I’m proud to serve on the advisory board of the Military Family Advisory Network, a nonprofit that strives to get awesome resources into the hands of military families.

Just a few months ago, the military community was in an uproar. The media and politicians suddenly started focusing on the heinous. unhealthy, and dangerous problems with military housing. Mold, insects, environmental hazards… the list goes on and on because that list was created by military families who told MFAN their stories. MFAN took those stories and held them up to the people who make policy and who listen. Those stories–your stories–helped to make things happen. They propelled lawmakers and storytellers into action.

But maybe your story isn’t about housing crises. That’s okay. Maybe your story is about your difficult PCS last summer. Or your frustration at trying to desperately maintain your career through your spouse’s deployments and moves. Maybe it’s about the lack of access to adequate, safe, available, affordable childcare. Maybe it’s about how you’ve navigated life with EFMP. Maybe you want to share your own story as both a military spouse and a service member. Perhaps it’s a story about your family’s transition from active duty to veteran life.

Even if everything is totally awesome in your life and you are nothing but pleased with your military journey, you still need to tell your story. Because the good and the bad, the uplifting and the frustrating, the perfect and the broken…. these stories are all important and they deserve to be told.

No matter what it is–no matter how you tell it– you owe it to yourself and to the community to take twenty minutes and share your story.

You need to be part of our programming survey because your story matters. (And don’t let anyone tell you any different!) People can’t make better resources, fix things, or change things if they don’t know your story. This is your chance. Now until November 11, find 15 minutes to take this survey. When you do, you’ll be part of a group of military spouses working to make things better for everyone. Take the survey now.