Little Blessings Veteran & Community Outreach - their part in my story
- melissasargentobrycki
- Oct 29, 2020
- 3 min read
“When asked to describe Little Blessings Veteran & Community Outreach my immediate response is always...it’s home.”
It has been a little over seven years since I returned home bright-eyed with a fresh DD214 in hand.
What the military does is breaks you down as a human being into a number with no individuality; it enforces discipline, demands respect and creates character while it builds you back up throughout the 8-10 week time in boot camp. What you are left with in the end-is a clean slate to become whomever it was you wanted to be. Uncle Sam knows you to be nothing but another billet that is fill by human flesh; yet the hardships most of us service members acquire along the way can create problems back in the mainland. The military provides purpose and you do what it is that needs to be done to protect those you swore under oath to defend with honor; your life however, does not belong wholeheartedly to you while serving. There is bond formed with your brothers and sisters you serve with that can’t be put into words, but it’s something you are unable to find in any other place anywhere else
So What Happens After?
After my four years of enlisted service within the United States Navy, it didn’t really hit me, until it was almost sudden and all at once that I was no longer needed to complete a mission bigger than what some could comprehend and was replaced likely months before I began to transition into the civilian world.
“Little Blessings brought back familiarity to my life.”
“Having found Jamie when I did, renewed my faith in there being strong female leadership in our military. She goes above and beyond for her Vets; like I know she did during her 25 years serving”
The Farm
Life still hasn’t let up on me yet and keeps throwing me curve balls here-but then there’s the F A R M.
Anytime I feel alone, I have a place to go and people who I find strength in sharing my story with. In addition, Little Blessings helps not only the Veteran but their spouse. My husband, prior to filing for divorce, was welcomed and supported within a network of other spouses who are married to the Military.
The Farm and my Son
Little Blessings has been many things, but one of my most favorite parts of their chapter in my life, is something I have yet to talk at length with. For as long as I can remember my three-year-old has always loved horses and barnyard animals.
The farm has brought so much happiness into his life and I now have this space to raise him up on. My son was a huge reason I decided to come forward with my story, sought treatment for my PTSD and began the search for peace because-he deserves a mommy that is alive, happy and present in his life. On some of the more trying days, him and I will go up to the farm and it’s there I am privy to some of my most truly “in-the-moment” moments; watching him laugh in the hammock, hearing him recite the names of all the animals, taking a simple walk around the vegetable garden and watching him light up when he sees the flags. The farm my son goes to with his mommy isn’t just a farm. To her-It’s a safe space to acknowledge the hardships she went through serving her country, the aftermath of trauma and the affects PTSD made on his parents marriage. Its in the moments I bring my son alone and am taking it in all in and watching him take it all in as well. Those are some of my favorite moments that were made possible because of Lil Blessings and all it provides to the community.
While I know trauma isn’t just combat related, anyone who has served and is looking for services or has questions please feel free to contact me for more information regarding Little Blessings Veteran and Community Outreach or visit their website at http://littleblessingsveteranoutreach.com/
You can also find them on Facebook as well as email director Jamie Paxton directly at jamie@littleblessingsveteranoutreach.com
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