I had a long talk with a fellow Navy spouse today, and my heart just filled with . . . recognition. Confirmation of our shared experience. I don't know why, when I have so often told others how important it is to find support among people in the same boat, I continually forget it myself. Why do I have to be hit head over the head to be reminded that we struggle with the same stresses, and obstacles, and pitfalls.
I may manage to keep moving forward, just barely handling my load, but always, always there are women just like me starting the same path, with no answers. Stumbling at the same blocks I did. With no map.
Why are we always, always reinventing the wheel? This is not unchartered territory. Why are we so timid about sharing the load?
I guess I feel like I haven't got all the answers. Not sure that I have any wisdom to share. But I do know a couple things.
1. Knowing in advance that the path we choose is hard, is no reason to give up searching for a way to make it easier.
2. Narrowly focusing on always bearing our own load can prevent us from noticing when another's load is slipping.
I've missed it a couple of times. I can't let myself miss another. Especially not if it's me.
