So Let's Talk About Support Systems...

I truly believe that the best way to go through this process is with and excellent support system. I have some great friends and family members who encourage me greatly and I have chosen to surround myself with those positive influences. When Bill was deployed it made me realize how important this is. I had both positive and negative experiences when he was gone and even needed to remove a few negative influences in my life in order to move ahead. Unfortunately that also included ending some relationships that I had felt were strong but found were merely friendships in word and not in deed. I really took to heart something that someone told me, "if people readily talk about others to you, it makes you wonder what is being said about you"... Lesson learned! Move on and keep going... I'm just in a different place than some people are emotionally and mentally. That is not to belittle anyone, it's just that I don't have to be afraid to speak the truth or be confident in who I am. For whatever reason, that intimidates people and then there is a need or a desire to attack. From rumors to outright lies and I'm not having that in my life. My grandmother Rosalie used to say, " Those who matter know the truth, and those who are shallow, don't care!"... Good advice!!!

I have some great friends who appreciate me and encourage me including my friends Patty, Julie, and Andrea. They all have come at times when I needed a good friend the most. Patty
knows the " skinny me" from college and has weathered some of the same storms from relationships to kids. Julie stuck by me through deployment and having Chloe. She also has known how important this is to me because of Bill and Chloe. Andrea and I went through pregnancy together and found that we not only have toddlers in common, but many things in regards to weight loss and being healthy. She encourages me daily through texts and I appreciate that.

I would be remiss to not mention Beth and Lynn. Beth has gone through the process and is my wise sage. She encourages but is firm with me. She tells me what is acceptable and what isn't.
She also keeps me in line and realistic about the journey. She is also a former military spouse and understands those challenges as well. Lynn has a " to heck with em" attitude which is good especially when my feelings get hurt. She has known me since 8th or 9th grade and her cousin Matty was one of my best friends.

So why did I mention all this? Because who you surround yourself with MATTERS!!! Sometimes people and things need to take a backseat if they are not encouraging or supportive. Thankfully Bill is Super supportive and not that I'd get rid of him if he was wasn't. :) But his support and love is a huge factor. Even Chloe is a support to me. After getting sick the other night she came over and held my hand and said, "You okay Mommy?"... That melted my heart...

So what's the point: supportive friends equal a safety net. People who live you warts and all and who are genuinely Happy when you succeed and there to pick you up when you don't, rather than kick you while you are down. I am sooooo blessed but it did require me to be wise and discerning in my choice of supports.