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personal growth

Experience Household 6 

Food For Thought

Anastassia Kennedy 1 Comment , ,

When was the last time you truly connected with yourself? When was the last time you took a few moments to remember what makes you, you? We as humans need to take time (even if it’s just five minutes) to connect with our souls and remember what makes us genuine and unique. It’s a little bit of food for thought for all of us because it’s hard to focus on that part of ourselves at times when we’re wrapped up in so many other things and/or focusing our energy somewhere else.

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Expert 

Standing On My Leash

Just Moved Ministry 1 Comment , ,

Recently, my husband, Doug, and I walked to the nearby Starbucks with our dog, Billy. Seated on the patio, we tethered Billy to the leg of a chair and sat back to enjoy coffee, scones, sunshine, and people watching. Billy caught sight of another dog tethered only a few feet away. His leash was long enough for him to approach this new canine friend, but there was one problem—he was standing on his leash. Billy’s plight was out of Doug’s field of vision, so, with a chuckle, I said, “Billy wants to meet that dog, but he’s standing on his leash!”

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Experience Household 6 

Too Much Toxicity

Anastassia Kennedy 1 Comment , ,

For quite some time, I’ve noticed some disturbing trends across social media. It seems as if toxicity and the people who spread it have been in full force like a wildfire. One topic I’ve seen consistency is bashing women. For example, stay-at-home moms, women who like to wear make up and pretty clothes, women who work, and women being comfortable in their own skin.

Life is hard enough without people intentionally making it miserable for others. 

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Experience Health & Fitness 

Tuning Your Radio: Part 2

Retired Blogger 0 Comments , ,

Let’s be real—if something has to be done, what is the point of letting it cause us anxiety? That won’t make the task any more enjoyable or help us be complete it any faster.

And if I am lucky enough to read a chapter or two of my personal development book before my family wakes up, I squeeze that in too.

Starting my day off right is only the beginning.

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Experience Health & Fitness 

Tuning Your Radio: Part 1

Retired Blogger 0 Comments , ,

Every month, without fail, I struggle to think of what I should write about.

What kind of profound piece of enlightenment can I possibly share with AWN readers?

My personal Jiminy Cricket strikes again, offering a moment of clarity (usually, right after a moment of absolute chaos). Lately, I have noticed many of my decisions and reactions are hugely impacted by what kind of environment I am surrounding myself with, as well as the useful or harmful voice in my head. What shows am I watching? What books am I reading? What music am I rocking out to?

And most importantly, what people am I allowing to infiltrate my tiny spot in the universe? Each answer can have a precise impact on how my mood, mindset for decisions, and general outlook on life.

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Experience Household 6 Military Life 

A Toast: To a New Year and You

Anna Larson 8 Comments , ,

Today we all woke up with 365 new days ahead of us. Happy New Year!

I like to start each year off in my pajamas. I’m talking about a pj party all day long.

This party of mine includes lots of leftovers from the holidays that my family can munch on (so I don’t have to cook!), piles of cookies and treats, a fresh notebook with no writing in it, my favorite orange pen, a warm sherpa throw, crackling logs in the fireplace, and a lot of reflection on the past year.

2019.

I’ve heard from a number of people that they are looking forward to the end of last year. It’s almost like with the clash of pots and pans, the flash of fireworks in the sky, a glass of champagne, and a midnight kiss, all their troubles will end. All the negatives were left in the past and the future suddenly looks bright.

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Expert Military Life 

Reflecting on Life with Blue Highways

Retired Expert 0 Comments , ,

As milspouses on the move, we don’t often have a specific physical place where we build up years of memories. It isn’t like we have a favorite path we can walk daily and then reflect on how it (and we) can change and grow over the seasons and decades. Since we are by nature nomadic, we have to come up with other benchmarks to use when we reflect on our lives. For me, the book Blue Highways has served as my tool for reflection.

I am about to re-read the book for probably the 20th time. Blue Highways is a book I bought at the college bookstore before . . . everything–before becoming an Army wife, before finishing growing up, everything. The author was a professor at my university, and I remember wondering at the time if I should take one of his classes, as I had not met an author before. Instead, I knew them through their writing.

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