It's All In How You Look At It...

Recently, I had another Army wife who lives here in town tell me that there's nothing to do here and she really doesn't like this town. I was a little in shock. I think there's lots to do here and I love living here. If real estate prices weren't so completely insane, I would really love it here! Later that week, I took her downtown since they were having a festival on River Street. We also parked close to Leopold's Ice Cream and then walked through City Market. She was completely in awe. She kept telling me how awesome this was and she couldn't believe she had never seen this part of town. So I asked her what she had based her earlier judgment on? The mall? The grocery story? The clinic on post? LOL! And she couldn't really answer me.

This is not the first time I've run into this attitude. Either in real life or through the website via emails, it seems to be rather popular to hate where you are. I read a post on a message board once that said there was nothing to do in Jacksonville, FL. WHAT?! There's so much to do there. We used to go there on the weekends before my husband joined the Army so we would have something to do!

I realize its not easy as an Army family to always have to be moving, starting over, leaving friends behind and the comfort of knowing your way around where you live. But before you judge your new place, GET OUT THERE! Explore the town...beyond the gates of the post. Go to the visitor's center and pick up every brochure you see. Find out what your new town has to offer and then look at it with an open mind. Maybe your favorite activity isn't offered there but what about branching out and trying something new? It's a shame the store you always shop at or the restaurant you always eat at isn't in your new town, but rather than sulk about it...try something new!

Part of the joy of being a part of the military is that you do get to experience new things, new people and new places. Take advantage of the fact that you get to live there. The town we're in now is a hot tourist destination...there has to be a reason for that, right? So go out and find out what all the fuss is about, then make up your mind.

Keep in mind as well that you will seek out what you want to make true. If you decide ahead of time that your new place sucks, then you will subconsciously look for things that reinforce your belief and ignore things that go against it. But the same is true when you tell yourself that it is going to be a positive experience. Let's face it, the Army won't move you just because you decide you don't like the new town. So why not find a way to be happy about it and not waste time being down in the dumps about something you can't change? Isn't it better to be positive?

Think about it...

Comments

[Debbie]

it almost sounds like you are in Savannah or Charleston. We lived in Savannah for a year and I loved it. There was always something to do or somewhere to go and the best part was most things were free. When we wanted a change we'd drive up to Charleston for the day. Loved that town also.

Deb

[Kasey]

People drive me crazy talking about Fort Hood like we are in the middle of the boonies or something! There is plenty to do here for me, but I can't from a very rural part of Ohio where we had to drive and hour and a half to the mall. You are right, it is all what you make it.

[Lacey]

I just wanted to say Thank you! I'm getting ready to move for the first time with the Army and I was so nervous but reading what you wrote gave me the courage to think, you know what this is going to be great!

You're doing a good thing here! Thank you!

[Julia]

You really should write a book Stacey. I love your perspective on things.

[Kristin]

Haha! Stacey, I can only guess you're at Ft. Stewart...my hubby recently deployed from there, so I spent the first 3 months of my marriage in Savannah with no map and none of my own friends. You're right- it is all perspective. Being from Dallas, I didn't like Savannah- thought it too small, not a lot to do while my husband was at work (shopping during Christmastime was not fun!), and traffic was AWFUL! I enjoyed downtown, but mostly just for the historic aspects. It's a nice place to visit, but I hope I don't have to live there again for too long! Your advice is great, but please just remember that people from all perspectives are in the army- and sometimes, we're simply not going to like where we are for certain reasons!

Keep up the good work! I love your website and tell everyone, including my Army-wed mother-in-law, about it!