In my own life, I’m also going through a season of change. I’m coming off of a long dry season of unemployment thanks to military orders and embracing new challenges as they race into my inbox. I’m grateful for this new season of abundance, but I also know it’s a good time to reflect on the past season and learn from it.
This week, as I do some writing and reflecting, I’ve been thinking about the changes in my life (employment and otherwise) in conjunction with the Navy. I know, it may not seem like a natural leap, but stay with me.
In my new role with CASY & MSCCN, I’m constantly looking at calendars. Team calendars, my personal calendars, blog calendars… One item on our calendar this week is the Navy’s birthday.
As of Saturday, the Navy will officially be 243 years old (or should I say young?). In celebration of that fact, I decided to do a little research to see what the Navy could teach me during this season.
The U.S. Navy has conquered every sea, and if anyone knows how to get through troubled, turbulent waters, the Navy certainly does! If you find yourself in the middle of a rough patch, employment or otherwise, take heart and a little advice to get through it all with courage and dignity.
As of October 2018, the U.S. Navy is the largest in the world with 328,267 active duty members. While you don’t need to build your own fleet of nearly half a million, tough times are easier when you have a flotilla of friends and advisors to get you through hard times. Some days, you don’t even need a flotilla… you just need one good person in a dinghy.
When you feel overwhelmed and uncertain, resist the urge to hunker down on your own. Reach out, and you’ll find that a problem shared is a problem halved.
The U.S. Navy has a set of three core values that they live by each day… Want to take a guess what they are?
If you’re in a whirlpool and looking for a lighthouse to help you reach land, keep paddling and hold on to these core values. It may feel tempting to jump ship or accept any offer, but remember that your choices matter—even when you feel like you don’t have many options.
When you’re unemployed or underemployed, not every opportunity you’re presented with will be worth pursuing. When you want a particular season to end, it can be tempting to accept any offer that comes your way.
Maybe you get an offer from a company… but you don’t like the way they treat their employees (you’ve done your research online).
Maybe you’ve been offered an interview… but you know deep down in your gut that you really want to be starting your own business.
Maybe there’s a training available… but your kids just started a new school, you’re your mom’s primary caregiver, and your spouse’s deployment schedule is up in the air. You know you want to learn the information, but there just aren’t enough hours in the day.
Life is full of choppy waters, whether you’re still balancing the demands of military life or navigating the currents post-transition. While storm-season can make things seem hopeless, there’s always the prospect of relief just over the horizon. Whatever season you find yourself in, I hope that you can find a moment at the end of this week to drop anchor and reflect on where you’ve been, and where you want to be.
In the meantime… Warmest wishes for a Happy Birthday to our Navy. Thank you for protecting our nation, and showing us how we can act with a little more integrity in uncharted waters.
Story by Zaneta Padilla