To say I’m stressed the hell out right now is a bit of an understatement. The wedding is less than three weeks away, and the home Blaine and I will be living in is just about move-in ready; throw work into the mix and I’ve got myself a stressed trifecta. Things could always be worse, … More The harsh reality of being reminded of your flaws
Cats get so much hate and I simply do not understand why. I think the dislike for cats stems from their unpredictable mood swings and random bouts of violence, but that’s what makes them so incredibly unique and absolutely hilarious. Cats are like dogs in the sense they have very different personalities from one another, … More Let’s talk about cats
As unpleasant as it is, stress is arguably something that affects each and every one of us at some point in time throughout the duration of our lives. Come to think of it, I don’t believe I’ve ever met someone who claims they are entirely free of stress, and honestly, anyone who proclaims this has … More Read this to learn how to control stress management
Relationships as a concept are a highly subjective one. No two relationships look the same considering no two people are exactly the same, so approaching a relationship with an objective mindset isn’t going to work out well. While relationships are subjective in terms of their composition, there are things within relationships that are, in fact, … More The significance of understanding boundaries in relationships
As most of us are arguably aware, today is Mother’s Day. If you’re just realizing today’s occasion and haven’t yet gotten your mom something to commemorate her special day, allow this post to serve as a prompt to get your ass to the store and get her some lovely flowers. Mother’s Day, if the title … More To all the moms, today and every day
Hardships, among other negative occurrences in life, are inevitable. It’s a bit of a harsh reality, but its validity remains constant; life isn’t a walk in the park for the majority of us, and it is highly probable that we will encounter situations at times we rather wouldn’t. Hardships and obstacles can take many different … More Here is why we need to stop comparing our own hardships to others
I think it is fair to say that the majority of long-term romantic couples struggle to keep the concept of dating alive and well. And, really, it’s understandable; I believe it makes sense that in relationships that have been in existence for a few years the idea of dating becomes one of the past. We … More Read this for some date inspiration
Every now and then I’ll stumble across a saying that seriously resonates with me. I’ll admit that the quote itself has to be rather astounding in terms of the message it delivers for it to remain with me for an extended period of time as my short-term memory is shit, but there are a few … More Need to vent? Read this first
I am willing to bet that all of us, at one point or another, have been in a situation that we sincerely did not wish to be in. It’s inevitable, really; life isn’t all sunshine and butterflies, and sometimes, shit hits the fan. Perhaps shit has hit more than the fan for some of us, … More No, you don’t need to put up with shit you don’t want to
I realize that the title of this post and what it specifically implies is a bit of a given when it comes to relationships, but hear me out. I genuinely feel as though this topic is one that has a lot of prevalence amongst all different sorts of relationships but isn’t necessarily understood. It is … More The significance of being transparent with your partner
A few nights ago, my sister came to me and my parents to chat about an issue she had been keeping from us for quite some time now. I’m not going to disclose the details of the situation out of respect for my sister, but the matter led to her feeling quite embarrassed and ashamed. … More It really is okay to ask for help
I’m sure we have all heard the saying ‘stick to your guns,’ or something along those lines, at one point or another. In essence, the saying suggests the importance of staying true to ourselves, whether it be a specific choice or decision in life, or perhaps something affiliated with a certain sort of relationship; romantic, … More The significance of sticking to your guns
These days, more than ever, arguably, it seems as though a lot of us walking around with a lot of pent-up anger and frustration. And, understandably so. The past couple of years haven’t exactly been pleasant in regards to the pandemic and all of its lovely elements, and there are a few of us who … More Mind your tongue
A few days ago now, one of our dogs went missing. Blue is a male Australian cattle dog (although he more so resembles a dalmatian due to his markings) and is about a year-and-a-half old. We have three dogs, and they sleep in cages in our garage at night. In the morning, when we let … More Finding unity in community
A couple of days ago, my mom and I got into it. She and I bicker every now and then, but full-on arguing is a bit of a rarity between her and me, so when it happens, it ain’t pretty. I won’t disclose the topic that prompted the argument, but at one point I said … More How to stop speaking out of anger
A narcissist isn’t something, I don’t think, anyone should ever aspire to be. Simply put, there isn’t really a single thing about their existence that serves a beneficial or positive purpose to anyone but themselves. There is more to narcissism to that, but I think it sums up the term quite nicely. While narcissism isn’t … More How to spot a narcissist
The concept of combining friendship and business can be a controversial one, depending on who you ask. It’s a fickle verdict regarding the matter; there are folks who have had nothing but positive experiences in terms of mixing business and friendship, and there are others who might say they would never do it again. When … More The risks of mixing business and friendship
I think it is safe to say that the majority of families involved in agriculture work with each other. This is an observation I have garnered over the years through chatting with other folks who work in farming, and a vast majority of those of us who work in the farming industry work alongside family … More The reality of working with family
My mom and I were discussing the concept of traditionalism recently. The topic came up because we received an invitation to an event, and while the invite was addressed to me, my sister and my parents, the wording pertaining to my parents was ‘Mr. and Mrs. Paul Arva.’ I mentioned to my mom how I … More Don’t be afraid to break tradition
I was having a conversation with my mom and dad the other night while having dinner. We were discussing how, since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the majority of humans have taken it upon themselves to become the most selfish version of themselves possible. I realize this is a generalizing and therefore inaccurate statement … More Where did all the selflessness go?
I think it is more than safe to say that the pandemic we have found ourselves navigating for far too long now has revealed some differences in opinion between people. Most of us can agree that this pandemic and COVID-19 itself has upturned our world as we know it, but not all of us can … More Understanding that a difference in opinions doesn’t equate to disrespect
You may be tempted to snicker at what inspired today’s post, but hear me out. The source may be a tad unconventional, but it is one, from my own observations, that most of us enjoy and appreciate; ‘Shrek’. More specifically, ‘Shrek the Third’ as Blaine and I watched it the other evening, and one of … More PSA: there really is only one you
On February 6, my parents will be celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary. It’s a pretty big one, if you ask me, hence why I’m writing a post about it; I think 40 years of a lot of things are worthy of recognition, but especially marriage. I think it’s safe to say I’m a bit biased … More Cheers to 40 years, mom and dad
There is a saying that suggests those who are older than us deserve our respect, unequivocally. It is something that we are taught from a young age and are expected to practice for the remainder of our lives. There is some truth that exists in the concept of respecting authority, and in some situations, it … More Respect: earned, not given
I am a practicing Catholic and have been my entire life, arguably as a result of the influence of my religious mother. She and I attend mass weekly, and have for a while, and I imagine we will continue to do so for a long time. Priests come and go in their designated positions serving … More Challenging expectations in the priesthood
If I were to start this post by preaching to you that a change in attitude can result in a change in your overall life, there is a probable chance you would tell me to shut the hell up. And, honestly, rightly so. We’ve all heard about how powerful a positive attitude can be, and … More The power of shifting perspective
The term Bridezilla is one most of us have likely heard of before. Normally, in my own words, it refers to a person who is engaged to be married who may not necessarily be the nicest in regards to wedding planning as a whole. Some indications that may suggest someone is being a Bridezilla include, … More Challenging the concept of being a Bridezilla
I’m willing to bet that just about all of us have been in a situation in which a conflict presents itself and, as a result of muddled and misconstrued communication, messages were misinterpreted and the conflict became even more pronounced. Things were said, feelings were hurt, and the issue at hand only became more intensified … More The importance of clear communication in conflict
It’s a philosophy that we arguably all have heard at some point or another, but regardless of its prominence, the concept of staying silent when we have nothing nice to say is one that remains absolutely relevant, and likely will continue to be, infinitely. It’s a rather simple yet effective ideology, and I believe it … More The beauty of remaining silent when you have nothing nice to offer
I think it is safe to say that all of us, at some point or another, experience moodiness. It’s a rather normal element in the human composition, thanks to hormones and all that fun stuff, but some of us are more severely affected than others when it comes to not only experiencing moodiness, but further, … More How to deal with moody people
ontheedgeofeverything 