As a combat veteran who served two decades in the armed forces, and came back home to an ungrateful nation, and went to a private catholic university to find solace and redemption, I adapted to change, from wearing a uniform to wearing a backpack full of schoolbooks, I smashed my associates, bachelor's and master's degree (MSW), from being thrown to the wolves of education to leading the pack. For all this to happen, I believed in myself, I took the first step to nurture and embrace the confidence that I needed to put one foot in front of the other, to keep moving forward, going around, and sometimes through all obstacles. Knowing myself, knowing that I do not have limits, helped me lay out the path to the finish line, and that line is never ending, it may stop at one completion of one goal, but then off to the next one. Self-empowerment is all about taking control of your life, it's like a ship, being controlled by the waves, going in the direction it does not want to go...

  As a veteran, Autumn is my favorite season. Picture the crisp, cool air, replacing summer's heat, a welcome relief, much like the calm after a storm. Imagine leaves transforming into vibrant hues of red, orange, and yellow, painting a picture of change and resilience, something that every veteran understands deeply. Think about the sounds of leaves crunching under your feet, a symphony of nature's strength and endurance that resonates with a veteran's spirit. And let's not forget about football season, a time of strategy, teamwork, and camaraderie, that mirrors that of a battalion's unity. Autumn, a season that is more than a transition, it's a reminder of change, resilience, unity, and endurance, mirroring a veteran's journey. As the daylight hours start to dim, many people naturally spend more time. This can be a great opportunity to look inward, focus on yourself, and prioritize self-care. With the holidays soon approaching, this is the best time to foc...

  Morning meditation is not just for hippies. Like me, if you spent a large portion of your life serving in the military, the only calmness that you may have experienced is the calm... before the storm. A meditation morning routine is   a great way to clear your mind to enhance your ability to remain focused throughout the day .  Because regular practice allows you to develop your sense of awareness, it can help you refrain from distractions. You can be more decisive as well when you minimize a wandering mind. Goals of Meditation-  The two goals of meditation are :  Focus your attention Support a heightened state of awareness Mindfulness meditation is different from concentrative meditation is all about tuning out all the noise and distractions around you and focusing on one specific thing, like soothing music or your breathing. Mindfulness meditation is about being aware of and being in that present moment, so it is not so much about tuning out, it's more about...

  I love Thanksgiving, my favorite holiday, but it's not all about Aunt Sally's, upside-down double rubble pound cake, or Uncle Bob's potato salad. It's about the gratitude we feel, and it increases our happiness and reduces depression. Being thankful and expressing gratitude consistently, can be a positive impact on the important areas of your life, such as emotional well-being, physical health, and connectedness in relationships. Even in the process of cooking and baking your Thanksgiving dinner, you can find your sense of solace, it could be calming and distract you from everyday stressors and put you in that happy place, being grateful in that moment. Being thankful is a positive emotion and may help more in making meaningful connections with others, and reduce feelings of disconnectedness. Being thankful is just not designated for Thanksgiving, you can be thankful 365 days a year, being thankful for being alive, for friends and family, and just being thankful for t...

  Being in the present, living in the here and now is a gift that you give yourself and others. It gives you the ability to be fully engaged, in all aspects of your life, in return grass will not grow underneath your feet, and there will be no missed opportunities. But when you are on your phone, in that la la land, or on that video game with a jet pack on saving Mars from mass destruction, it can lead to feelings of regret, disappointment, and disillusionment. To be fully present, you must be engaged mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually at a moment's notice. Sometimes we are there, but our minds are elsewhere, being in the present, we are soaking up the sights, sounds smells. The present is a natural state of being, the continuous arrival of the now, lets us recenter, and regroup ourselves, coming from a place of authenticity. One of the best tools in your toolbox for staying present is mindfulness, it is an accepting, open, nonjudgemental, and curious focus on one...

  We all have our mountains, overcoming that obstacle. Back in the day I literally conquered a mountain, which was Mount Fuji, it is an active stratovolcano located on the Japanese island of Honshu, with a summit elevation of 3,776.24 m (12,389 ft 3 in). It is the tallest mountain in Japan, the second-highest volcano located on an island in Asia, and the seventh-highest peak on an island on Earth. I was stationed out there in Japan, me and my rag-tag team had the opportunity to climb Mount Fuji, I felt positive I could climb that mountain, but as we climbed we noticed that some others didn't make it halfway and gave up, when I would follow up with these same people in modern times, they also gave up on life, it is not just a mountain, it is about conquering the trials and tribulations of life. It took me and my rag-tag team of misfits 7 hours to climb that mountain, it felt good, we finished what we started, we believed in ourselves and each other, and this attitude of perseverance...

  A role model refers to an individual whose achievement, behavior, or way of life is emulated by others who also aspire to be at the same level as the person. These role models may be already established in their particular fields, and others want to emulate that success. You can use a role model to identify which skills and behaviors you strive for and what achievements you aim to accomplish. Just knowing that if he/she can be who they want to be, that means I can too, and this ain't no private club. Role models can be anywhere and everywhere, someone that you admire, have something in common with, and who you want to aspire to be, envision your potential, not a clone, your uniqueness put into the mix. Adapting these qualities to our unique circumstances and values, integrating them in a way that aligns with your individuality and personal growth. When we observe role models that have overcome their trials and tribulations and made the impossible possible, it is inspiring to beli...