Last year I went through my first deployment with my husband of two years. Looking back, in the eight months he was gone I went through the greatest personal growth I have ever experienced. It started one Sunday morning, when I thought for the first time in my life, maybe I will download some classical music. Then a few days later – maybe it would be fun to take some golf lessons this summer. Before you knew it, I was calling my mom for advice on how to start a container garden. Then, I was using my fresh herbs to make homemade tomato sauce with vegetables from the organic produce co-op in which I was enrolled.
By the end of last summer, I had officially become a “new experience junkie.” For someone who admittedly is not too keen on change, I embraced discovering new hobbies, habits and happenings. And by the time my husband came home, I was a more enriched and confident partner. So, if you’re going through a deployment this spring and summer, take advantage of all the potential new experiences that surround you. Here’s somewhere to start:
- Learn to meditate (I recommend Pema Chodron’s audiobooks)
- Organize a girls weekend with old high school or college friends
- Buy into an organic food c0-op
- Take cooking lessons
- Cardio tennis classes
- Golf lessons
- Completely makeover and organize your closets (I recommend Huggable Hangers!)
- Home improvement
- Start blogging
- Start a container garden (If you don’t know how to do this, go to Lowes. They were really great about helping me get started)
- Coach tee ball at the Boys & Girls Club
- Learn to knit
- Join or start a book club
- Photography lessons
Photo by: miroslavgeorgijevic
