During our time in the Washington, D.C., area, I practiced the power of saying “no.” Those three years were a time for me to focus on myself and my career, including going back to work full-time for the first time in a long time. After returning to the United States, after three years overseas, I needed to take a breath. I was burnt out and had some grief packed away that I needed time to process. Between the end of the long workday, shuttling my kids to various activities and going to sleep, I had no interest in getting involved in anything. The fact that we weren’t conveniently plopped next to a base helped. “Out of sight, out of mind,” was the only way I was going to keep my focus on home, on my career and on me.
When the Deployment Countdown is Taking Forever
Deployment can feel like a roller coaster with many emotional ups and downs. When you finally hit the halfway mark, it’s a celebration. Yay — you made it halfway! The next moment, …