HEAD OVER TO OUR NEW OFFICIAL WEBSITE:
Hey, Army!
You and I are so similar in our journey to find the boys and the impact they have had! There’s that part of you that camps out in the back of your mind and continues to wonder if you’ve lost your mind. All reason. Like, is this a mid-life crisis and I’ll snap out of it at some point? Do I just need a serotonin boost in this phase of life and they naturally give it and eventually I’ll move along?
That’s what my husband expected. That this was just another phase. Another thing that I would throw myself into, but the interest would quickly fade. Like my cookie decorating phase. It came and went with the holiday season and all I was left with were a ton of cookie cutters that would never again see the light of day.
But this. Them. They will stick with me. The seven. I’ve emotionally connected not only with them but their messages and who they are. As people. Not as entertainers. Not as good-looking boy band members. As people who have so sacrificially shared so much of themselves with us.
And Army. So yeah, some are off the rails and make me roll my eyes, cringe, or shake with anger when they put the guys in peril with their ridiculous airport antics. But for the most part, I adore the people who also appreciate the seven for the amazing people they are.
With so many people reaching out to me in private messages, emails or even comments on TikTok, I saw that there were so many like me. I wasn’t alone in this. There were others who “got” me and completely understood this love and appreciation for the seven. And the more people reached out sharing their stories of feeling alone on this Army journey , and the more content I consumed, I had a realization: We (as lonely whale type Army) witness these seven men connect. Constantly. They connect with each other and they connect with us. They have relationships we all envy. They understand the importance of belonging and being fiercely loved, celebrated and accepted. We see that. We want that. We need that. And the people around us don’t necessarily get it so we sit in that place of knowing, understanding, needing and wanting and having no outlet to find it, absorb it and thrive.
Until we meet other Army who are just like us. Those we can connect with. Those that walk beside us. Celebrate a part of life that others don’t. That grieve in moments that we also grieve - when others may think we’ve gone off the deep end.
What Army find in each other is exactly what the seven model for us and develop a thirst for. Love. Connection. Friendship.
So yeah, I’m going to stay connected. I’m going to continue to find ways to swim alongside the lonely. To be that person they can share a thought about what a lyric meant to them. Or how they are exceedingly missing Yoongi in the moment, or need to hear Hobi’s laugh. Because I get it. I need those things too.
We aren’t crazy. This isn’t a faze. And we aren’t alone. There’s a huge Army out here and hungry to share this journey of life that can’t be fully explained but can be completely felt.
Love you, Army!
Let’s make the most out of our time away from the seven so when they return, the entire world feels the explosion of our joyful reconnection.
The future’s gonna be okay. We’ve got each other. Our boys have trained us well.
Borahae.
Stefne
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74 comments
Thank you for this! I have no one irl that appreciates our 7 members like my online ARMY crew (JK Heaux, Sisters of the Order of Yoongi~you know who you are!). I look forward to learning and sharing more of our faves together. Apobangpo!!💜💜
I love this! As a new ARMY, as of March 2023, when I just randomly discovered BTS (more they found me when I needed them most) I was so happy and anxious to find an online community. No one in my real life understands my love for BTS, except maybe for my husband, he supports me but it’s different sharing BTS things to someone who understands. I’m excited for this!
This is so beautifully said. I have been an ARMY for the last 8 years and it’s been the best 8 years of my life. I’ve mostly stayed quiet ARMY social media bc anxiety but since Jinnie left I’ve been getting more and more involved. When he and Hobi left it felt like two pieces of my heart were taken and I’ve just never felt whole since. So, I decided to finally actually engage in ARMY social media and it has been the best decision of my life.
I always tell people that if I could split my heart into 7 equal pieces and give each piece to our guys I would. They literally saved my life, they are a part of me and will be for the rest of my life. I hate that they will be apart and away from us for so long, but it will only make the reunion that much more special and fun.
There are so many things I wish I could say to them personally but that will likely never happen but I know they know our hearts and I am okay with that.
No one in my family understand why I love the Tannies like I do, but they wouldn’t even begin to understand if I explained. When Yoongi left I was so broken because it felt like one by one, piece by piece, my heart was being picked apart. And then Joon, Tae, JM and JK decided to all go together and I haven’t felt like myself since then. But I am so grateful to them for creating this community with ARMY so we can get through this together. It will be hard, no doubt, but we can make it through this as a family. The way our 7 men would want us to. When I first started my Bangtan journey, I referred to them as the 7 wonders of my world, and here I am 8 years later, and they are still the 7 wonders of my world. That will never change. This is a strange time in Boraland and it is DIFFICULT. But the doors to the Magic Shop will always be open for us all. And we will walk in to see our boys in no time.
BORAHAE ARMY 💜💜💜💜💜💜💜
I don’t know what else to say except thank you Stef. I’m a relatively new Army & I initially thought I was ‘crazy’ at how much these 7 Korean men had invaded my life but you’re right, I’m not crazy & it’s not a faze and I’m so excited for Project 529 and staying connected with Army around the world until the guys are back. Being part of this community will make the next 18 months bearable. Thank you for your hard work. Love from an Irish Army 💜💜💜💜💜💜💜
My daughter became ARMY in 2017. I thought I was “too old” and wasted so much time, missed the opportunity to go to 2 concerts. 😭 Apart from her noone gets me. 😅 Most Swedes don’t even know who they are. 🥺 But the teenagers do and my students like my Tiktoks. 🤣
We have ARMY meetings in Stockholm🇸🇪 but very few (can) come. My ARMY friends on especially Tiktok and Stationhead make me feel like I’m not Crazy. I’m old, but having so much fun!! 🤪💃🏻🫶 Like Yoongi said (I think): When something makes you happy noone else needs to understand it.