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
I should arguably preface this post by stating that I completely and entirely recognize that not everyone has siblings, and further, there are some of us who have tarnished relationships with our siblings. I do not mean to generalize, but rather, I wish to orchestrate this post in a manner that is relevant to those … More Here’s why you should spend more time with your siblings
Allow me to begin this post by stating that I am not, in any way, a mental health professional. I do not wish for this post to suggest otherwise, and, as always, please consult with your physician prior to making any major decisions regarding mental or physical health. Anyone who deals with anxiety themselves is … More Here’s how to help someone dealing with anxiety
I’ve mentioned before in some of my blog posts that finding and further sustaining friendships in early adult years can be tricky. For a lot of us, once we enter our 20s and 30s, the friends we made when we were younger, for example, friends from high school, slowly begin to trickle off of the … More A moment of appreciation for timeless friendships
Emotions are, in my opinion, a blessing and a curse at times. They undeniably serve a purpose, and a rather important one; they’re a means to express and communicate how we are feeling about something to someone, and without them, life itself would arguably be a pretty confusing thing to navigate. Despite the significance of … More Here’s why you shouldn’t resist sharing how you’re feeling about something
There are things in life that are, inevitably, beyond any means of our control. Whether it be a situational outcome, a relationship, a familial dynamic or a job position, there are things we will come across while walking our path of life that cannot be altered, like a fallen tree blocking our way and forcing … More The significance of accepting what we cannot change
We’ve all been there. You’re having a somewhat heated conversation with someone about an issue of some sort, and while things may begin relatively calmly, after a while, the discussion takes an entirely new direction. Shortly thereafter, you’re dodging inanimate objects being launched at your from across the room. This is a rather dramatic example, … More Read this to learn how to deescalate a situation
We will all, at some point or another, likely experience a ‘falling out’ in a relationship we have with someone who is of importance to us. The relationship may be a friendship, a romantic one, or a familial one; regardless of the origin of the relationship, life isn’t perfect, and shit can occur to cause … More Making amends to find happiness
About a year ago, a couple of my good friends and I lost touch. There were multiple working components to the situation which complicated things when we initially lost contact, and over time, things became more obscure as a result of miscommunication and false narratives. Recently, I was able to reconnect with both of them, … More Finding freedom in confrontation
I’m willing to bet that just about all of us know someone in our lives who is a complete and total unjustified asshole and lives their life abiding by the “I’ve been this way for this long so I’m not gonna change now” mantra. Often times, this narrative applies to older folks, but not necessarily … More Here’s why we need to stop changing ourselves to appease others
Some good friends of mine recently welcomed a beautiful boy to the world. This is their first child, and these two people happen to be the first friends of mine to have a child, so it’s been a rather exciting process overall. Their son is just over one month old, and I was able to … More Recognizing the superpowers of new moms
ontheedgeofeverything 