Veterans Day Perspective

By Katie Miller, US Navy (2009-2019)

When I am with my military friends, everyone is much less polished, much less politically correct, much more open and honest than we are with our civilian friends.

Filters are nearly non-existent. Opinions feel less judged. Conversations feel less strained. Nothing is taboo or off-limits.

An inherent feeling of trust and safety that I feel with other veterans. Like we all know a secret that no one else knows.

There is no way I would be the person I am today without having served in the Navy.

The Navy forced me to grow up in a way that I doubt I ever would have if I'd never joined.  It changed me in ways that I have not even realized yet.

It humbled me.

I got to to travel the world, go to places I'd never heard of.

It made me realize how blessed we are. How lucky we are to live in a country where we have so many opportunities.

I am more aware, more organized, more regimented, more confident. I am not scared to try new things. Before, everything scared me. Now I seek out new people, adventures and opportunities.

I am not sure everything that changed is “better.”

I am more stubborn. Much more than before.

I am much less patient with laziness and incompetence than I was.

When things are out of order, it drives me mad.

On some level, I am colder, less emotional, quicker to cut ties than I was before.

When I think of the type of parent my children have, I see the good, the bad and the ugly. I am better equipped to handle stress and disasters, to make decisions.

I am quick to action, to help, to heal. But the rigidity and orderliness that is ingrained in my being, doesn't always mesh well with toddlers and their messes.

My whole life I've always been told that I could be anything that I wanted to be; I don't know that I ever truly believed it until the military instilled that confidence in me.

I want the same sense of confidence to shine through in my children.

The military made me better, I hope I am doing the same for them.

We take instilling in our girls a profound sense of patriotism very seriously. We want them to always know, always understand, that despite the problems, we are lucky to be American and it is okay to be proud of that.