Struggle for Happiness

            One thing that all people struggle for all their lives to achieve and keep is happiness. A person can fight so hard to “finally be happy”, but then soon that happiness is gone. A lot of people say, that’s how life works. A lot of people have yet to realize that happiness comes with sacrifice. To be happy, you have to be willing to give up something. The world always changes and change is needed to get out of the “happy one minute and sad the next” gutter.

            I learned my lesson in sacrifice at a young age. I learned that being a military spouse is like being a single parent. My parents never divorced or separated, but for long periods of my life, my father was gone. When a person becomes a soldier, they sacrifice so much for their country. They sacrifice their families, they sacrifice their freedom, and they sacrifice certain joys of life. Those lazy days spent curled up watching Netflix, soldiers don’t get. Those vacations your whole family takes together, soldiers work through the holidays. Those family meals where everyone sits at the table talking about their day, soldiers don’t work nine-to-five.

            I learned to sacrifice things to maintain my happiness at a young age. The first time my father deployed overseas, I didn’t understand. Not only did I not understand, I didn’t want to. I didn’t want to know why he was over there and I didn’t want him away from me. It was a long fifteen months, but he came back and I was happy. When he deployed again, a part of me wanted to be that little girl who was ignorant, but that little girl had learned what I didn’t want to know before. It was still hard to let him go, but I knew I had to let him do his duty because he made his sacrifice the day he joined the Army.

            Some military children had to learn the hard way what it takes to be able to be happy when their parent is gone. What I learned in the four times my father deployed was that you’ve got to give a little to get a little. There’s a song written by Toby Keith that perfectly expresses what I learned. To this day, I cry every time I hear the song “American Soldier” because of this.

And I will always do my duty, no matter what the price.

I've counted up the cost, I know the sacrifice.

…I don't want to die for you,

But if dying's asked of me,

I'll bear that cross with honor,

'Cause freedom don't come free.

I'm an American soldier, an American,

Beside my brothers and my sisters I will proudly take a stand,

When liberty's in jeopardy I will always do what's right,

I'm out here on the front lines. Sleep in peace tonight.

…I'm an American soldier.

            The Army taught me sacrifice.