Accomplishments

I was over-hearing (okay, ease-dropping on) a seminar that was going on in a room next door today, when I heard the speaker ask the most obvious question to the group, "So, quickly -- Name three accomplishments that make you the most proud."  The room went silent.  Partly because these are military folks and by nature, nobody ever wants to be first to stick up their hand and volunteer -- but more to the point, most of them really had to stop and think ... DO I have any accomplishments in life that make me proud?

Many of us don't ever take the time to realize that there truly are many things that are or could count towards ... goodness.  You know, things that if someone asked, after some thought you could say, yepper, here are some of MY accomplishments ... Okay, want to give it a whirl? Hey You!  Out there at the keyboard -- yeah, yeah ... you in the bunny slippers and the mug of hot coffee ...

Quick -- name 3 of accomplishments in life, that make you proud!  Balking?  Oh, stop it.

Stop.  Put down the mug of coffee and prop up your feet and let's practice getting yourself some credit.

Think.  How much have you been associated with that has turned out well?  Kids?  Taking care of parents?  Going back to school?  Helping your spouse over the rough humps of life?  ... without asking for any acknowledgment?

Hmmmm?  Folks, you know -- you've done good.  Repeat after me,"With my two feet and my two hands, some good luck, and my perseverance, I've made many a thing better.  And I refuse to let anyone, any where marginalize my accomplishments!"

We've met so many of you around the country, that We Know It!  So you have to realize, you truly are doing well.  And I wanted to say ... here!  Catch a ((hug)) ... you've earned it.

Accomplishments.  You probably have many more than you realize; accept them, acknowledge them, and then ... let's keep moving lest our butts start spreading from sitting on all of our laurels.  Yall are great and we love having you around SB.  Over&Out, MaintenanceToadOne

Comments

[Erin]

1. I'm almost done with my MS in SpEd.

2. I've proved that I can be completely independent and take care of myself.

3. I've learned from my mistakes and feel good about the decisions I've made.

[MaintToad1]

Good Evening Erin! Great to hear from you and yes .. great that you CAN say, yep, this is what I've done, and I'm mighty happy with ... ME!

Congrats on the MS ... keep at it -- it'll be WAY worth it. Toad

[Eowyn]

I completed an MSc in Comp Sci.

I taught college for two years.

After moving to the States, I left an unpleasant situation to go back to school.

(And maybe I even stopped lurking here. Not likely, though.)

[MaintToad1]

Oooooo, I've never had or been part of a group that had an unofficial "lurker." What's next? Paparazzi hanging out at SB Lives? (c:]

Eowyn -- another supporter of contining education ... thanks! ... and good luck with the unpleasantness of the situation ...
Toad

[Kel]

1. Giving birth and raising twisn by myself while Dh was deployed and family 18 hours away. all with toddler sin tow!

2.packing an entire house and moving it alone with 4 small ones in tow.

3. Over coming a back surgery to go throw a deployment using a cane half the time to walk. Now finding out anther surgery a worse surgey is in the winds.

[She of the Sea]

Oh, man. (Pun intended.) That is a hard one. And you know what is interesting? If you'd asked me 10 years ago, I could have rattled off a list. Now I feel like any day that everyone gets fed and dressed is an accomplishment. I'm going to have to think about that for a while.

Anyway, back to the subject at hand:

(16 minutes later, still thinking.)

Ummm, let's see....

Okay, I'm sure there is something.

1. Kept alive three children under four, through a deployment, while also pregnant, without the intervention of social services.

2. Sorted through and disposed of 6,000 pounds of stuff so we would no longer exceed our weight allotment.

3. Learned how to deal with all types of people in nearly any situation.

Whew, that's hard.

[angela]

1. child #1 is still breathing
2. child #2 is still breathing
3. child #3 is still breathing

I have accomplished my 3 goals for the day! And I had time to brush my hair that was a bonus

[Reasa]

1. I went back to school and do very well in all of my classes.
2. I met some of of the people who have helped me through deployments.
3. I have given birth to five wonderful kiddos who are the best example to me sometimes.

In a couple of more years I should have more to add.

[dizzylizzie]

1. did not ship child #1 to timbuktu during deployment #3

2. did not return child #2 to the hospital for an exchange/refund during deployment #3

3. did not rip out the jugular of whomever i thought was personally responsible for the 3 month deployment-extension, 22 days before they were due home during deployment #3

4. returned to school to aquire my computer certificates

5. survived a busted water main (weeks of traveling 40 mins daily to MIL's house to shower, do laundry, etc) deployment #1

6. survived a blown transmission en route to work (had to push large SUV off the road without getting run over in atlanta traffic)deployment #2

7. survived landlord from hell (who actually sued us for having to break a lease for a PCS move)deployment #3

8. survived neighbors from hell (who were removed via handcuffs by MP's on an almost weekly basis)deployment #3

9. i did not need to be restrained via straight jacket when DH informed me (4 months after purchasing our first home) that we got orders to korea and oh-by-the-way the doctor called, you're pregnant again.

[Erin N.]

1) Learned to play the violin.
2) Got a volunteer position in my field to enhance my resume during this break in paid work.
3) Found out that I am a lot stronger than I thought I was!

[Tamber]

Three things hmmmmm....
*Still* trying to survive while waiting for my missing husband to be found in Iraq..today is day 56...
Learning *still* how to survive in an empty house with one chair, 2 dogs, 2 birds, NO JOB, NO income *was to move back east on 10/12, however husband went missing 10/8 and here I am waiting to move...scrambling to find money to keep roof over my head, pay for some heat now that its winter, find food for pets...
an last but not least...each day, as difficult as it is, this being my first year as a new Army Officer's wife, and I have been alone all but 2 weeks of marriage, how to keep my husbands words, take them to heart and believe in them, that i am strong, i have a right to be strong, because i have been through so very much this year, with him missing, my family problems (and they all live out of state far away)..I have no one near me for support, which makes everything so much harder to deal with.
Thank god for the diplomat (who is also a good friend of my husbands) who has been diligently searching for him with a team and has promised that he will not stop or go home until he brings my husband home to me...if it wasn't for him and my husbands long time friend in London who has been networking with people he knows to help search for my husband....i think that i would have had a nervous breakdown by now...
Thanks for listening...

[dizzylizzie]

dangnabit, apparently i participate in class but i dont follow directions. the post said 3 accomplishments(not 9) whoops. musta been dat gud publik edumacation i got me.

[airforcewife]

Tamber - you should contact military one source (online or by phone).

No matter what your husband does, they can get you at least to the correct chain of command so that you are paper-worked in to get whatever benefits you are entitled to. That will help a LOT. They can also put you in touch with the appropriate command yourself, so that you will have the correct and updated information on your personal situation.

militaryonesource.com

1.800.342.9647

There is no job so "secret" that they can't help you get more information on your spouse benefits.

[MaintToad1]

Tamber -- AFW is spot-on. We've really kept our eye on the ball as you've written us and we all believe, truly, that you need to call the number that AFW sites in her comment above.
Don't wait any longer. It's a 24/7/365 DoD line. For youself, you simply need to call. Do it now. Toad

[up4hiking76]

..two happy healthy kids,dedication to helping others at work and all around, although most days are tough, Still hanging on to OUR love with hope being apart fro 2 years now..WOW us military women/spouses are pretty tough aren't we... Hoorah for me! thanks for the reminder.