Welcome to AWN’s Monthly Recon Rendezvous link up! We are so glad you’re here. As the name implies, Recon Rendezvous is a place of community and connection. It’s an opportunity to explore and learn about our fellow military supporters’ lives, victories, trials, and experiences.
Each month, we “rendezvous” here to provide information, resources, and encouragement. So, do some “reconnaissance,” link up, swing by your “neighbor,” and leave a comment.
We live in a world where slogans and mottos rule the roost. It is the way that companies, politicians, and organizations create their brand and subsequently promote it.
Don’t believe me? Test out your motto knowledge with the following (I bet you get most, if not all, of them correct on the first try.)
Just do it.
Have it your way.
Eat fresh.
I’m lovin’ it.
Save money. Live better.
It keeps going and going and going.
When you care enough to send the very best.
Ready to see how you did? Here’s the answers, in order: Nike, Burger King, Subway, McDonald’s, Wal-Mart, Energizer, and Hallmark.
Kind of cool (or scary?!), huh?
Well, those of us here in the milspouse community also have mottos that keep us going when times get tough to help us gain perspective when our last ounce of patience seems to be dripping away.
I did an informal poll on Facebook to gather up some of the most popular and unique milspouse mottos that help us rock this military life.
Here are some of our favorite milspouse mottos:
1. Semper Gumby: Always flexible.
I love this one, because 1.) It’s true/necessary and 2.) It’s a fun play on the the motto of the Marine Corps, Semper Fidelis, Always Faithful.
Another friend chimed in on this one and said “Gumby is flexible. Gumby always smiles. Be like Gumby.” So let’s just do it. (Sorry, Nike.)
2. Hurry up and wait.
Great words to live by, because that’s what we seem to be doing at least 90% of the time. Waiting for them to leave, waiting for them to come home, waiting for orders… And we’re in a hurry to make it happen! (Good luck with the hurrying-it-up part though.)
3. Don’t pack the corkscrew.
I hadn’t heard this one before, but I totally love it because it’s hilarious—and practical. You never know when you’re going to need to break out the Pinot Grigio in a Motel 6 somewhere in the boondocks of Montana on a cross-country PCS. (Please excuse me while I go add this to my PCS no-plan plan, in case things go a bit backward next month during our travels.)
Credit for this motto goes to one of our experience bloggers. Hilarious gal. Good stuff.
4. Home may be wherever the military sends you, but happiness is where you choose to find it. Choose well.
Does this one really even need an explanation? This screams milspouse motivation! I’m gonna get this one tattooed on myself. Like, my forehead.
5. Suck it up, Buttercup.
I’ve used this motto since the day I said I do. (Although my husband is not allowed to say it to me, unless he’s ready to rumble. #SomebodyHoldMyEarrings) It’s so easy to get sucked into the milspouse self-pity pit of doom, so having a motto on hand that helps us pull ourselves up by our bootstraps might be just what we need.
6. This too shall pass.
Great for perspective and obviously not just applicable to milspouse life. Sometimes, when things get hard, it seems like the deployment/PCS/unknown future is going to last forever. But it never does. We’ll get through it. Hang on until then.
7. Embrace the suck.
Let’s be honest. There’s a lot of awesome things that come with milspouse life, but there are also a lot of things that just downright suck. (“What do you mean you’re leaving for deployment before the baby is born?!”) So, in those moments, we have two choices: pout or embrace it. (Refer to the “Suck it up, Buttercup” motto if needed.)
8. Bloom where you’re planted.
I’ve heard this one from a variety of sources, and it’s a goody. Because we rarely get to choose where we’re stationed, we might as well do all we can to flourish in the current season, in our current duty station/location.
9. The only thing you can count on is that plans are going to change.
Yes. Just, yes. As a slight control freak who still, after all these years, struggles with flexibility, I gotta keep this one nearby.
10. Everything happens for a reason.
This one is true, but it makes me itch a little bit. (Probably because of my control-freaky nature; see point above. I like to know the reason when it happens.) But hey, something about higher powers, faith, fate, destiny, whatever you believe in—there is a reason for everything. And eventually, we might just find out what that is. Just not today.
These are just our first 10. Which one was your favorite? What else would you add? Don’t be shy—jump in and leave a comment below.
And be sure to tune in on the first of next month for Part 2 of this series!
Oh, and one more thing: Be sure to enter our giveaway below as well… And link up if you are feeling extra salty.
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