“You can’t stop the waves, but you can learn to surf.”
Jon Kabat-Zinn
There are parts of life we cannot control. But we can learn how to meet them. We can learn to adjust our footing and respond to the moment as it unfolds.
For couples within Special Operations, that kind of adaptation is woven into everyday life. Operational demands can shift quickly, disrupting routines, limiting communication, and requiring continuous adjustment. Plans change, responsibilities shift, time together can be uncertain, and periods of separation often place additional demands on the family carrying life at home. Over time, the constant need to adapt can take a toll on the health and wellbeing of SOF families.
Like waves, these moments cannot always be predicted, but couples can learn how to navigate them together. Interwoven Camp Lejeune recently offered couples the opportunity to put that idea into practice on the water.
Throughout the morning, there were missed waves, laughter, encouragement, and victories. Surfing gave couples a chance to practice adapting in the moment — encouraging one another through uncertainty, recognizing what their partner was accomplishing, and celebrating the moments when things came together.
Those lessons extended beyond the water. Through shared experience, couples explored communication and emotional connection in ways they can carry with them as they navigate the changing circumstances of life together.
The Leaders Behind Interwoven Camp Lejeune
Creating experiences like this begins with leaders who understand the realities these families are navigating. At Camp Lejeune, that support is led by Lauren Case, outStation Director, and Chelsea Severino, outStation Facilitator. Both SOF Spouses and Station alumni, Lauren and Chelsea bring not only their professional experience to this work, but the perspective that comes from having walked the path themselves
“For so long, I searched for where I belonged, both in the world and in my career,” Chelsea shares. “This work gave me that answer.”
Lauren’s journey reflects a similar sense of purpose: “The Station Foundation changed not only the way I see the world but the way I choose to move through it. I work with The Station now because I believe the greatest gift of our own transformation is becoming part of someone else’s.”
Together, Chelsea and Lauren create opportunities for SOF families to connect, strengthen relationships, and build practical tools they can carry into everyday life. Through mindfulness practices, relationship-building activities, and authentic peer connection, they help create a community where families are understood, supported, and equipped to navigate what comes next.
To learn more about supporting The Station, email Shannon Stacy at: sstacy@thestationfoundation.org
