Well the holiday season has officially begun with the kick-off of the first holiday weekend after Thanksgiving. I hope everyone out there was able to spend some great time with family and friends. For those men and women that served our armed forces, or are still in the service of, I want to pay extra special thanks to. As we drive towards Christmas and New Years it is important to focus on safety. Sometimes the battlefield we navigate in our daily lives dwarf any we fight on in the line of duty.
The holiday season can be a very trying time to troops deployed or stationed away from family at this time of year. Studies have shown that this period of time is when depression and suicidal thoughts or acts increase significantly among our servicemen and women. That is why it is important to not only take care of your family but yourself as well. You need to stay mentally and physically fit to carry on in your duty.
For those veterans that are only separated from family during the time you go christmas shopping I have different advice. You still need to take care of yourself when navigating all the bargains and deals. Even at a discount you need to keep your spending in control and be careful of other shoppers. If you turn on the news you will see stories about people getting trampled at store openings in pursuit of bargains. Try not to be that woman or man that gets trampled or be the one trampling others. If you see someone getting run over by bargain crazed shoppers do not be afraid to lend them a hand up. Saving a few bucks is not worth the cost of another.
If you are braving the elements by sleeping overnight outside your favorite retailer for a bargain I suggest you take a buddy with you. Not only can they help you keep your place but with someone watching your back you have no excuse for not sleeping. You can never underestimate the benefit of a battle buddy. This could also be a good time to bond with a family member or friend. Ask your girlfriend/boyfriend or spouse to join you. Of course if you do that make sure the bargain you are waiting for is not meant to be a present for them.
I hate to harp on safety during the holiday season and come off as a major downer but when I was active duty my NCO always told me to focus on safety first so you could party hard later. With that said be sure to eat, drink, love, party, and laugh. We spend so much time worrying about all of our troubles and what could possibly go wrong, that we ignore the concept of just stopping to smell the proverbial roses. This is especially true of anyone on active duty. As you fight for our freedom please make sure you are still enjoying life. Cherish those moments and reflect on what you are fighting to protect. Thank you for your service!
