You're Steppin on My Toes

This morning as I caught up with my Facebook friends, I came across a "note" that was titled "Frustrated" written by a friend I went to high school with. He now serves in the Army and recently came home from a year long deployment. Basically his note was chastising women (without naming anyone specific) for using their husbands absence for their own personal gain. Stating that he was tired seeing women use deployments to gain sympathy and attention for themselves. At the end of the note he went on to criticize those associated with the Air Force for having any ill-feelings or issues because their deployments are only six months at best.

At first I was angry at his words. I reacted removing him from my friends list. I've had a few hours to digest and reflect on what he wrote and my initial reaction. It was a knee-jerk reaction to remove him as a friend, he has his right to his opinion and he has the right to publish it, just as I do. Sad truth, I'm human and sometimes act before I think.  Why was I angry? It forced me to stop and consider my own intentions, especially with this blog. Am I writing for attention? Am I looking for sympathy? Why did I take it so personal? My conclusion, I'm stepping out of my comfort zone publishing my thoughts and feelings for other to see. I'm vulnerable, which means I'm going to take things personal....because THIS is personal. I have no idea if the "note" was intended for me, even if the egocentric thirteen year old inside me is convinced it was. I appreciate that it made me stop and self-assess. I'm writing for me. I'm writing to let those that I love see and understand a part of me that is rarely exposed.

As for his comments regarding my beloved Air Force, I have a great deal of respect for any member of the Armed Forces. I feel for the Army wives who live without their husbands for twelve to eighteen months at a time. The best way to explain it is to compare it to Americans and our friends from England. We speak a similar language and can understand each other for the most part. However, there are still cultural differences, we have different customs and courtesies. I joke about  the Air Force being superior but it's all in fun. Like school spirit, everyone thinks their branch is the best and sports their "pride gear". Lucky for us the Air force really is the best :)