It’s Memorial weekend!
Summer is “officially” started … with sun, fun, cookouts, camping, swimming if you’re lucky some vacationing and adventures with friends and/or family!
Remembering those who gave their lives should not stop at those who died!
As you are enjoying life this summer, not just this weekend, remember those who have put their life on the line over the years for our freedom to enjoy life!
Even those who “never saw a real war” at the very least put their life on hold for years in order to serve and be ready to potentially see a “real war”.
Many who “never saw a real war” were still in areas with plenty of awful going on and have things they simply can’t wipe from their minds. Those of us who haven’t been there, can’t fully understand!
While many service men and women are fortunate to never be in a horrible situation …. they were still WILLING!
Thank every Veteran you can, but not flippantly, think on it and truly mean it! Regardless if you agree with the politics of the war they were sent to …. they still put there life out there, many losing friends … so you didn’t have to and so you can have the freedom to disagree 😉
While enjoying time with family, remember, right now, there are many service members stationed overseas not having time with their family, so you can have time with yours!
There are many more service members, past service members who while home in the US can’t spend time with their family because of damage done while serving, physical, mental, emotional to the point they can’t face their children … to where they can’t cope with being with friends and family. They may be living on the outside but they lost their life during service as well!
Over the last several years I had the opportunity to get to know a number of disabled veterans/retired veterans etc … who are completely amazing strong people but when they close their eyes, they are in hell being tormented! A word, a look, a sound and they are a completely broken mess. No words can describe the pain and helplessness of simply observing this … let alone living it!
I don’t have permission to share their stories or I would …. but please, this summer, keep the love and respect for those who give their lives(physocally and mentally) so we can enjoy ours … at the forefront of your thoughts!
These men and women and my undying respect and appreciation for them is WHY Find the Dream was started. Our goal is to help as many of these veterans as possible, who can’t deal with “normal life” (like that’s a real thing lol). To help them get to where they can run their own homestead, live self sustainably, interact with others when and how they are able but be able to live a GOOD life, with purpose, respect, appreciation as they should have!
We plan to have 20 tiny houses, to house 20 veterans, while they learn as many angles of homesteading/farming as possible as well as various methods for power, water purification, methods of gardening etc so they each can find what they feel is best for them.
We also aim to work with area craftsmen who may be willing to mentor if a veteran is interested in learning something … maybe leather working, forging, knife making, woodworking, fly tying and probably thousands of other things! To give these veterans opportunities to have things they can do for added income while not necessarily needing to punch a clock or lose the job, when they really need to just shut down for a few days. Having a meaningful thing to work on helps give purpose and keep away the feelings of depression, worthlessness and so much more that comes along when one is left with nothing to do!
We also aim to work with local restaurants and other markets so some of the veterans may be able to contract to sell produce they grow once on their own homestead, or products they make, increasing the buying local as well as supporting a veteran options around Maine and potentially beyond!
Many studies show this lifestyle is great for veterans as well as others who deal with things like PTSD, severe anxiety and/or depression.
I hope you’ll continue following us into this journey as well us keep us in your prayers! Plans are laid, things are in motion(watch for an update coming hopefully this week!!!)
If you think you have anything to offer for the veterans, please reach out we are busy building a network to offer as many opportunities as possible 🙂 Thanks so much!
To everyone who has served THANK YOU!!! To the spouses who went without your other half for years THANK YOU!!! To the kids who got put on “hold” while Dad or Mom served, trained etc. THANK YOU!!! To the Dad’s and Mom’s who watch your baby go off, so proud of them, not knowing if they will return again or not, THANK YOU!!! Every one of these sacrifices are incredible!
Side note, to anyone who may be tempted to try to pretend to be a veteran … don’t disgrace our veterans like this! They don’t deserve that disrespect and it does not make you look good for long.