Life as a Veteran: How to Get Started on a Meaningful Second Act in Life

Your career in the military might have drawn to a conclusion, but that doesn’t mean that your life is over. No matter what age you decided to hang up your combat boots, you have a second act of your life just waiting to begin. If you accept the past and embrace your future, this act could be just as meaningful as your first.

There’s no denying that life as a veteran is never going to be easy. By putting the advice laid out below into practice, however, you have every opportunity to enjoy a happy and prosperous military retirement. To find out how that can be achieved, be sure to read on.

Accept help

As stated, life as a veteran is never going to be easy or straightforward. You have seen and done things that no civilian will ever be able to comprehend, which will make you different to everybody that you meet and work with going forward in every way. Throw in the fact that you’ve never known another job but serving your country, and everything about entering the world of work becomes that much more daunting. With all of these conflicting emotions and thoughts inside you, it’s no wonder you’re afraid to walk back into ‘normal’ life.

Fear not, however, as there will always be people out there willing and waiting to assist you. Whether these people are your loved ones or they are professional entities that have dedicated their career to serving people that have served in the military, just know that there will always be someone out there for you to lean on for support. One type of professional that you could turn to for assistance, for instance, is a veteran consultant. With an expert VA accredited claims representative by your side, you will stand a much better chance of claiming the veteran benefits that you are owed. This partner will empower you and help you to get your second act in life off to the best start possible.

Forgive people

If you were forced to vacate your post as a military individual, then you will no doubt harbor a lot of anger towards the individual/group of people that mandated your leave. No matter what this third-party did, whether they injured you in combat or let you down in some way, it won’t do you any good to carry your hatred for them. If you want to find peace in your second stage of life and make it is as meaningful as you possibly can, you need to find it in you to forgive those that have wronged you.

Should you struggle to forgive whoever it is that hurt you in the past, be sure to put the following advice into practice:

• Reconnect to your spirit and forge a new agreement with yourself
• Switch your focus from blame to understanding
• Never go to sleep angry
• Be kind instead of right

If you put all of the advice laid out above into practice, your second act in life will no doubt be just as meaningful as your first.