Ideas, Thoughts, and Experiences
I just finished reading Hatchet by Gary Paulsen. It's a fictional story about a boy who crash lands in the wild left to his own devices to survive. It's a great story of inner and outer resilience focusing on only two main characters: Brian (the boy) and nature. His very real plight is coupled with … Continue reading How I Jumped Back Into Reading Fiction (and the hidden benefit)
The state of current affairs is pretty intense, to put it mildly. Conversations, social media, politics, and the news are all intensely set on the new seemingly daily stresses of our everyday lives. It's the topics of choice that everyone talks about everywhere you go. It's near impossible to get away. In response, we become … Continue reading How the Push for More Negativity Has the Opposite Effect
Raising children isn't for the faint of heart, impatient, or selfish. It goes without saying that being a parent comes with not only responsibility on all levels, but also serves as an intense and unassuming learning experience. As all children are uniquely different so are parenting styles. With a plethora of books, blogs, and experts … Continue reading Parenting Through Experience
When I was 17 years old I joined the Louisiana Air National Guard. I was whisked away to San Antonio, Texas for Basic Training and then bused up to Wichita Falls for Tech School. Afterwards, I would spend the next 21 years with some of the greatest men and women I'd ever meet. With numerous … Continue reading An Important Reminder
As I've written before, the quarantine did have a few benefits among the hardships. One in particular was the calm I cultivated. It was both induced by me, by taking advantage of the circumstances, and proverbially allowed by nature. It was the closest I've been to calm in a very long time. Unlike others I … Continue reading This is What Peace Felt Like
The family is an amazing combination of happiness, fear, exhilaration, and, at times, unabridged worry. Wife, kids, jobs, practices, school functions, appointments, and anything else that likes to crop its unexpected head up in our day-to-day is a lot to juggle. It's what being a Dad is all about. There was a time when we … Continue reading Husband Goals in a Crowded House
We are distracted. One quick look around and it's evident everywhere you go. It's in line at the store, in waiting rooms, and even at traffic lights. Our noses are permanently affixed to our devices. Humans are addicted to knowing, to being in the loop, and wanting to be the first to know. Our minds … Continue reading Are Your Distractions Good or Evil?
As husbands, we asked first. We were the ones who got down in one knee, professed our love, and asked the "big question." No one forced us into it (well, maybe most of us), we exercised free will. I try my best to keep this in mind during stressful times life can hand to us. … Continue reading How to Keep Being a Husband in Perspective
One Saturday morning I was slowly trying to wake up to some episodes of The Office. In my eyes this is a perfect way to start my day. During one commercial break I saw ads for streaming news services. Phrases like "Get your news anytime and anywhere," "Always on," and "Be the first to know" … Continue reading For More Happiness Do Less of This
Growing up in a disciplined household entering into Air Force Basic Training as a green 17 year-old wasn't too much of a shock. I was used to being organized, responsible, and aware of my surroundings. Most of the other airmen adapted rather well also. Even though your average teenager thinks they know everything, they're pretty … Continue reading What the Military Taught Me About Individualism
