The Secret To Success? A Good Support Bra

by Lori Bell, 2010 Military Spouse of the Year

In the flurry of schedules, emails, places to go and people to see on any given day, I take a moment of silent appreciation of my support bra. It's the one piece of the puzzle that always holds things together, keeps ME together, and at the end of the day is like Old Faithful. It's so well-worn I don't even remember the circumstances that made us such a perfect fit, but thank goodness we found each other.

Am I talking about my Playtex? No. I'm talking about the support system that has been and remains crucial to my success, and I bet when you take inventory you'll realize you have one too!

In May, four fabulous women and I—the other Military Spouses of the Year, representing their branches of the military—were honored with a red-carpet VIP luncheon in Washington DC.  As our accomplishments were broadcast to the audience by the distinguished guests who introduced us, I was overcome with emotion as I reflected on what was the make-or-break factor that earned me the right to sit among them. 

Certainly my accomplishments were noble.  But so were everyone else's. And we were all dressed to perfection and looking our most divalicious, so that couldn't be it. I realized that for me, it was my husband Kenyon, whose supportive hand at my back has always pushed me forward to succeed. It was my mom Patricia and sister Kia who could be counted on to always tell me the truth, no matter how ugly. And it was the countless friends and relatives in my blood family and across the Air Force (and now the entire military) who always say with their actions "I'm here for you and it's all good."

They are my system of support, a coordinated group of pieces that make up the whole. They are my safe place to just "be" when I need to, and to keep me in check when they need to. And I am honored to be kept by them, and now to represent them. Because no matter what title we wear, we represent somebody, and are a reflection of the love, respect, and lessons learned from them over the years.

So as you scurry about your day and sometimes wonder how you'll get it all done, remember your bra. Honor and cherish your support. If you don't have a bra, well, you know what happens to the girls who go off willy-nilly without support. Everything eventually falls down.