Military Deployment • 11min read

Finding Purpose: A Soldiers Journey Through Heartbreak and Healing

Homecoming

The hum of the airplane engines sounded like a lullaby to the soldier as they drifted off into a fitful sleep. They had been dreaming about this moment for months and it was finally here; their homecoming. The idea of seeing their spouse again made them giddy with excitement.

As the plane landed, the soldier couldn’t help but fidget nervously in their seat. They stood up quickly as soon as they were allowed, grabbing their bag from overhead storage and rushing to get off the plane. Everything felt surreal; they could hardly believe that they had made it back home.

As they walked through the terminal, anticipation bubbled up inside them like a shaken-up soda can ready to burst open. Their heart raced as they thought about what awaited them at home. A welcome party? A surprise gift? A romantic dinner?

But when they reached baggage claim and saw no familiar faces waiting for them there, disappointment gnawed at their insides. Had something gone wrong? Did their spouse forget about them?

The journey from the airport to home seemed interminable as every passing minute only increased the soldier’s anxiety and confusion. Eventually, though, they arrived on their street only to find that something was different - very different.

Their house looked nothing like how it used to look before deployment: overgrown shrubs hid most of its exterior; dry leaves littered its porch while some remained piled up against its doorsteps even after weeks without rain; mail overflowed in its mailbox - unsorted letters spilling onto one another and slipping out under its lid.

What’s going on? wondered the soldier with foreboding growing inside them.Did my spouse move away while I was gone or did something happen to him/her?

Empty House

The soldier walked up the pathway to their front door, feeling an overwhelming sense of joy and anticipation. They had been away for so long, fighting in a far-off land, and all they could think about during those long, grueling months was the moment when they would finally return home to their spouse.

As they stepped through the doorway into their house, however, that joy turned to confusion. The place was eerily quiet; no sound of footsteps or movement echoed through the halls.

“Hello?” called out the soldier tentatively.

Silence was the only answer.

Neighbors’ Revelation

Feeling increasingly uneasy, the soldier started frantically searching for any sign of their missing spouse. At last, they decided to consult with their neighbors next door – perhaps someone had seen something while they were gone?

Unfortunately for them, what they heard wasn’t exactly what they wanted to hear.

“I’m sorry,” said Mrs. Johnson hesitantly as she looked down at her feet. “Your wife left a few weeks ago.”

The words hit like a ton of bricks – it seemed impossible that everything could fall apart so quickly while they were away fighting for their country.

“What do you mean ‘left?’” asked the soldier desperately. “Is she okay?”

Mrs. Johnson shook her head slowly before murmuring something unintelligible under her breath. For a moment there was silence between them until finally she spoke again:

“I’m not sure where she went,” said Mrs.Johnson gently.” But I know it wasn’t with another man.”

Struggling to Cope

The days turned into weeks, and the weeks turned into months. The soldier tried to go about their daily business as if nothing had happened, but they began suspecting of emptiness that was consuming them from the inside out. Every morning felt like a struggle, every night felt like an eternity.

As much as they tried to keep themselves busy, nothing seemed to help; work became more and more of a burden with each passing day. They started taking longer breaks during their shifts, spending hours at a time sitting in their car or wandering aimlessly around town. Their coworkers noticed that something was off but didn’t know how to approach the subject.

At home, things were worse. The house felt empty and sterile without their spouse’s presence. Every corner held memories of happier times when they were still together - cooking dinner in the kitchen, snuggling on the couch watching TV, sleeping side by side in bed every night. Now all that remained was an eerie silence and a sense of crushing loneliness.

To dull the pain even for just a little while, the soldier began drinking heavily every night after work. At first it was just one or two beers while watching TV alone on the couch; then it turned into half a bottle of whiskey before stumbling up to bed alone in complete darkness.

Their boss called them into his office one day and expressed concern over their recent behavior: missed deadlines, sloppy workmanship, showing up late or not at all…it wasn’t like them at all.

“Is everything okay?” he asked gently.

The soldier stared back blankly for a moment before shrugging noncommittally and mumbling some excuse about “just going through some stuff.”

Finding Comfort in Others Who Understand

The soldier walked into the support group meeting with a sense of trepidation. They had never been to anything like this before and didn’t know what to expect. But as they looked around the room, they saw faces that were all too familiar - men and women who had shared similar experiences during their time in service. Suddenly, they felt less alone.

As the meeting got underway, the soldier listened to others share stories of their struggles with PTSD, depression, and anxiety. It was difficult to hear at times, but also reassuring to know that there were others out there going through similar challenges.

When it was their turn to speak, the soldier found themselves opening up more easily than ever before. The words poured out of them - about how hard it was being back home after deployment, about feeling lost without a clear sense of purpose or direction. They spoke honestly about their battles with alcohol and how it seemed like nothing could shake them from this downward spiral.

But as soon as they finished speaking, something miraculous happened: people started nodding in agreement and offering words of encouragement. They shared tips on things that had helped them overcome those same struggles - meditation practices for calming racing thoughts; exercise routines for getting rid of pent-up energy; therapy sessions for dealing with past traumas.

By the end of the meeting, the soldier felt lighter than they had in months. They knew that there would still be tough days ahead, but just having this network of support made everything feel more manageable somehow.

On the way back home from the meeting in a crowded bus looking at other passengers’ faces lost deep within themselves or scrolling through social media endlessly ,the soldier smiled knowing now that he belonged somewhere again where he can talk freely without any judgements or criticism..

Rekindling Old Connections

It had been years since the soldier spoke to some of their old friends and family members. The deployment had forced them to put aside any social life they may have had before, and it was time to do something about that.

With a list of names in hand, the soldier began making phone calls. It wasn’t until the third or fourth call that they got an answer, but when they did, it was like no time had passed at all. They spent hours on the phone, catching up on everything that happened since they last spoke.

The next day, the soldier received a message from one of their cousins who lived nearby. They hadn’t seen each other in years, but now seemed like as good a time as any to change that.

When they met up for lunch later that week, there was an initial awkwardness between them. But soon enough they fell into easy conversation about everything from work to relationships. The soldier felt lighter than they had in months after talking with someone who knew them so well.

Over the following weeks and months, more connections were rekindled. Some meetings were brief - coffee breaks squeezed into busy schedules- while others involved lengthy catch-ups over dinner and drinks.

As these gatherings became more frequent, what struck the soldier most was how much things changed yet stayed the same in equal measure.

Some friends were married with children now; others moved away or started new careers entirely. Still, every conversation felt familiar - comfortable even - despite all those years apart.

Rediscovering A Sense Of Belonging

Reconnecting with loved ones helped fill a void left by years of isolation during deployment. For too long this veteran has been cut off from civilian life – except for occasional visits home between deployments – leaving behind friendships and familial bonds built over many years. These reunions provided reassurance for him/her after feeling lost upon returning home alone. Telling stories about the past and making plans for the future reminded him/her of their place in the world they had fought to protect.

It wasn’t just a matter of catching up, though. The soldier felt like they were starting to rediscover who they were before deployment - what mattered most to them, what made them happy, and even how they saw themselves.

For example, one friend asked if they wanted to go for a run together. The soldier was hesitant at first; it had been ages since he/she worked out regularly. But after that first jog through the park, something shifted inside of them.

As the miles ticked by, the veteran started feeling alive again - invigorated by the simple act of moving his/her body and being surrounded by nature. For all those months spent on deployment worrying about things beyond his/her control – this was an opportunity to focus solely on oneself.

By reconnecting with old friends and family members during these difficult times post-deployment, soldiers can regain lost connections as well as gain new ones that will help them feel grounded and supported once again.

Finding a New Purpose

The days were long and empty for the soldier. They’d wake up late, lie on the couch all day, drink themselves into oblivion at night, and then pass out in bed. The cycle had become their normal routine since they returned home from deployment to find their spouse gone.

One day, while aimlessly scrolling through social media, an ad caught their eye. It was about volunteering at the VA hospital as a mentor to other veterans who faced similar struggles with adjusting back to civilian life.

At first, the idea seemed daunting. The soldier hadn’t been able to face another person without feeling anxious and overwhelmed - how could they help someone else? But something inside them pushed them forward; it might have been curiosity or perhaps just desperation for any distraction that could make them feel like they mattered.

After applying online with some hesitation and going through a background check process that reminded them of their time in basic training camp, they received an email inviting them for an interview at the VA hospital.

They arrived early on the designated day but found themselves waiting nervously outside of a nondescript office door until someone finally opened it and welcomed them inside. The team coordinator greeted them warmly before asking questions about their military service history and why they wanted to volunteer as a mentor.

The soldier shared stories of personal struggle and loss during active duty while recounting how lost they felt after returning home only to learn that everything had changed without warning. Talking about these experiences felt cathartic somehow—like shedding off layers of heavy armor that had weighed down on them for too long.

By the end of the interview, both parties felt hopeful - there was something meaningful here worth pursuing together. A few weeks later came news: The veteran’s administration approved their application!

And so began this new chapter in which our soldier discovered what it means not only finding purpose but also giving back by sharing hard-won knowledge with others who could benefit from it.

Moving On

The soldier had finally accepted that the marriage was over. It was a difficult realization, but it brought with it a newfound clarity about themselves and the world around them. They began to see things in a different light – their past mistakes, their struggles with PTSD, and their journey toward healing.

For too long, they had been holding onto something that was no longer there – trying to repair a relationship that could not be fixed. But now, they felt free from those burdens. They were ready to let go of the past and move forward into a new chapter of their life.

It wasn’t easy at first. There were still moments of sadness and regret. But as time went on, they began to realize that this was an opportunity for growth and self-discovery.

They started exploring new hobbies and interests – things they hadn’t had time for before because they were so focused on the relationship. They traveled to new places, met new people, tried new foods.

As they looked deeper into this newfound freedom, they discovered parts of themselves that they never knew existed – parts buried deep beneath years of trauma and emotional baggage.

And slowly but surely, as these pieces came together like a puzzle forming a complete picture - hopeful signs appeared- The soldier found the energy and strength to move on towards his bright future with joy in his heart - letting go off all bitterness- embracing only love & positivity towards himself & others!