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Veteran Transition Support: If You’re Not Changing, You’re Choosing
- Kaitlyn Stevenson
- Sep 16
- 3 min read
There’s a saying that’s been rattling around in my mind: “If you’re not changing, you’re choosing.” Simple, right? Almost too simple. But the more time I spend out on the trail, around the fire sharing stories, and checking in with veterans after trips, I see how much truth is packed into those six words.
And how often we forget that truth when life gets heavy.
The Myth of Standing Still in Transition
No one is truly standing still. Even when you feel stuck—spinning your wheels in grief, addiction, trauma, or burnout—you’re still making choices. You’re saying “yes” to something, whether it’s comfort, familiarity, or avoidance.
Choosing not to change is still a choice. And it comes with consequences.
The danger is waiting for the “perfect moment” to change. That moment doesn’t exist. Real transformation happens in the middle of chaos, not outside of it.
Why Veterans Know Change Best
Change is wired into military life. Every veteran knows what it’s like to adapt in real time—shifting gears under pressure, adjusting to new missions, new roles, even new identities.
But when service ends, so does the constant order to adapt. Suddenly, change is no longer demanded. It becomes a choice. And that’s when it gets harder.
In civilian life, no one is telling you when to move, where to be, or how to grow. You have to want it. Or at least want something different than the rut you’re stuck in.
That’s where this truth matters most: if you’re not changing, you’re choosing.
Choosing Numbness Instead of Growth
Many of us numb out—whether through drinking, endless scrolling, overworking, or isolating. Numbing isn’t weakness. It was survival. But survival habits can become cages.
Numbing is still a choice. And if you want something different, it starts with recognizing that you’re choosing to stay the same.
Choosing the Known Pain Over Transition
We often stay in misery because it’s familiar. The unknown feels scarier than the pain we know. But ask yourself: what’s worse—stepping into the unknown, or looking back in ten years realizing you chose not to try?
Real Change in Veteran Transition Looks Small
Change doesn’t always look like a 180-degree turnaround. Sometimes it’s as small as:
Showing up to a group hike when your brain says stay in bed
Apologizing to your child
Choosing water instead of alcohol
Setting a boundary
Saying yes to a therapist
Turning off the TV and going for a walk
The veterans who show up for Montana Vet Program hikes and float trips don’t all have it figured out. Some are hanging by a thread. Some are skeptical. Some don’t know why they came. But they chose to do something different—and that’s the start.
You Don’t Have to Be Ready—Just Willing
Readiness is a myth. Willingness is what matters. It doesn’t have to be loud or confident. It just has to move your feet.
Willingness might look like signing up for a hike, reaching out to a buddy, or finally admitting you’re tired of carrying it all alone.
Reclaiming Power Through Veteran Transition Support
Trauma tells us we’re stuck, broken, or finished. That’s a lie. The truth is that you have agency. You can’t change the past, but you can shape what comes next.
Every time you choose discomfort for the sake of growth, you reclaim power. Every time you take a step toward connection or healing, you weaken trauma’s grip.
Veteran Transition Support in Montana
You don’t have to climb a mountain today (though you can if you want). But stop pretending you’re just waiting for the right time. You’re choosing something right now.
The question is: is it leading where you want to go?
If not, there’s another way. Lace up. Show up. Take the first step with us.
The Montana Vet Program exists to provide veteran transition support—helping veterans embrace change, reconnect with themselves, and heal in the outdoors. Change doesn’t wait. It starts now.
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