Celebrate the Struggle

Scott Grotbo joins me on Celebrate the Struggle today. After 28 years of service in the Air Force, this retired veteran now owns and leads a veteran retreat called Moraine View R & R where he is working to provide a space for veterans to come for physical, mental, emotional and spiritual strengthening. He didn't get there easily though folks. He had to stumble and fall first to realize that he had to help himself before he could help anyone else. He identified his challenges and what he wanted to do and went on to help others help themselves. https://www.facebook.com/MoraineviewRR https://www.moraineviewretreat.org moraineviewretreat@gmail.com Watch this episode on my Youtube channel https://youtu.be/md1jmwKmJZ4

Emily joins me on Celebrate the Struggle today as she shares how her journey unexpectedly changed her plans for the future. After 20 years working as a nurse, Emily's path shifted to coaching others in areas of health and wellness. As a child, Emily learned a lot of tools from her relationship with her mother. Those tools were necessary for her to recognize the toxicity, guilt, and bullying her mother was inflicting on her. As Emily began her journey as a Transformational Health & Wellness Coach, she started to recognize similarities in other women's lives and stories that looked a lot like her memories and experiences. Identifying that there were many other women that had experienced similar toxic relationships, she continued to hear others encourage her to write a book about her experiences and the tools she gained from it.  Read all about it in her newly published book, Live Your LIfe For You, Not Your Mom.  Check out this podcast on Youtube: https://youtu.be/EqeofEad9lE Website: www.dremilyjacobs.com Email: Emily@dremilyjacobs.com Instagram @dremilyjacobs Link for exclusive book info - sign up https://www.dremilyjacobs.com/signup FB group - Live Your Life For You

Del Saam joins me again on Celebrate the Struggle to chat about the affects of PTS and how it can resonate in the form of anger. Anger is a common characteristic in individuals who struggle with the affects of trauma. Del tells us about his journey to work on learning new tools to reshape our thinking and our actions. 

Del Saam joins me today on Celebrate the Struggle to discuss how his struggles with post traumatic stress have led him on a journey of healing. The journey continues as Del, an Army Veteran, now dedicates his life to serving others as he continues on. his post traumatic growth journey. Del is a Mentor Coordinator for Veterans Treatment Court, a Nation-wide program working to help veterans actually treat the issues that have caused problems resulting in consequences from the criminal justice system.  After three deployments, Del didn't exactly recognize the affects that PTS until his anger resulted in a domestic violence charge. It was then, that the invisible wounds started to become present through Del's eyes.  Del talks about different programs and resources he has tapped into that have since helped him to learn how to sleep and find the right combination of strategies to help him.  https://justiceforvets.org/what-is-a-veterans-treatment-court/ https://www.moraineviewretreat.org/ https://strengthathome.org/

Cawvey Day is a day that we remember our fallen sister and NUMBER 2, Jessica Cawvey. We love you Cawvster! 

Jilly Riley joins me today on Celebrate the Struggle to share her story. Abandoned twice in two different countries, the trauma started at a young age. Jill learned how to put on a face that wouldn't allow others to know what was really going on in her life. After being adopted, her adoptive father molested her and her sister. Meanwhile, Jill's mother was dealing with her own struggles that resulted in vicious physical abuse even to the point where Jill would have to check her clothing to make sure blood wasn't showing through her shirt for others to see. After years of masking the trauma, Jill's life comes to its breaking point. Sharing her story has helped her on her healing journey and continues to keep her going. She continues to share her message and help others as well on her podcast Post Traumatic Faith.  www.jillriley.com  jill@jillriley.org To check this interview out on Youtube just visit https://youtu.be/TmMeFNp6XPY

What are the things in your life that hold you back the most? What self-limiting beliefs to you carry with you that you haven't even identified that you are hanging on to them? For me, I am my biggest adversary. I am the one that I battle with the most to get out of my head. I see that. I know that. I'm going to continue doing something about it! What about you?

“Legacy is not leaving something for people. It’s leaving something in people.” Peter Stople

Jennifer "Taz" Vazquez joins me on Celebrate the Struggle today to chat about her journey and how she has grown stronger than her inner critic. After dedicating over twenty-five years in a successful military career, Taz continued to battle depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress. She is now a Life Coach, EFT Master-Practitioner, Fitness Instructor, and a writer. Listen to her story to hear how Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT-tapping) has been incredibly helpful for resolving the challenges in her life. These days she is on a mission to let others know they are not alone and help them with their own challenges.  "I suffered from a lifetime of PTSD, depression, and anxiety. At my lowest point, I had the courage to take that first tiny step on my healing journey. Please know you are not alone. You can heal, experience post-traumatic growth, have more peace and calm in your life, and live a lit-up, soulFULL life!"- Jennifer "Taz" Vazquez View this interview on YouTube: https://youtu.be/PCpFcNmLChk Taz's Cell: 360-591-9256 Email: dancingdogs2@hotmail.com Calendly: https://calendly.com/tazvazquez Website: https://tazvazquez.com Facebook: Jennifer Vazquez https://www.facebook.com/jennifer.chandler.10 LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/jennifer-vazquez-9a358a39

Air Force and Army Veteran, Cory Schidler, joins me on Celebrate the Struggle today. After two decades serving in the military Cory now continues to serve others as a Behavior Change Health Coach. Cory is the owner of Core Fitness AZ. After getting the courage to open up his own gym, Cory was deployed which left his wife and father-in-law to "hold down the fort" at his new gym.  After he returned from deployment Cory had to dig himself out of a hole, but he didn't quit! He persevered and continues to help others through coaching using the trans-theoretical model of change approach. Cory discusses how he believes one of the most important stages in this process is "relapse". For most of us, it is going to happen. Failure does not mean you quit. "Give yourself grace if you relapse rather than just returning to the bad habit for a lifetime."- Cory Schidler  Check out the interview on my YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/4OY5USPXmPI https://instagram.com/coryschidler https://www.facebook.com/cory.schidler https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwq3IYvZEAKRQd-cdIUNIZA

Jeremy Wells joins me on Celebrate the Struggle today to chat about his journey to becoming a business owner of Wells Firearms & Training. Wells is an Army Veteran whose passion for weapons and teaching others has led him down a path to doing just that. Wells educates others on firearms safety, but also continues to prioritize ongoing learning himself. He has created a business in the community that brings people together. A place where people can connect and share that camaraderie. One thing that Wells says he always wants to make a priority is keeping that human connection with his clients. Check out his story! https://youtu.be/2n1wij1zxS8  https://www.facebook.com/wellsfirearms http://wellsfirearms.com/?fbclid=IwAR0yrcwphq76ujQg_qClyPgwxBmVErTTUC2S22IOl8IxcnuXGwCrIfymz-g wellsfirearms@gmail.com

I think by now we have all heard the term "post traumatic stress disorder" or PTSD, but have you heard about post traumatic growth? Post traumatic growth is the journey that one can take after trauma that comes to them. To connect with me more about this or my podcast Celebrate the Struggle just visit www.thejenniferhobbs.com or email me at jennifer@thejenniferhobbs.com  Be sure to subscribe if you want to hear more! Check it out on my YouTube Channel https://youtu.be/k3P6oMCGdBo

Sometimes things in our lives that we are hoping and praying for, don't happen as quickly as we would like. Remember to stay true to yourself and stick it out. Sounds cheesy...but follow your heart!

Things are going crazy hay-wire in our world and that doesn't mean things slow down at home or in your personal/professsional life. Remember to breathe and take time for yourself. Take at least 30 minutes for a little bit of self-care because that is the priority!

Life is not linear. It is full of ups and downs. I encourage you to focus on the strength that got you to where you are today rather than your shortcomings. I challenge you to not focus on other's shortcomings all the time. "It is not so difficult to develop a loving attitude toward yourself and others. Rather than searching for shortcomings, love watches for any sign of light and strength. It sees how far each one has come, not how far he has to go." EDGE Keynote

We don't always have to know exactly where we are going. However, it is best that we take time to pause and allow ourselves to just breathe and JUST BE. As Anina Blankenship mentioned in my very first episode of Celebrate the Struggle, let's be "human beings rather than human doers". After taking time to breathe and just BE, trust the conviction you feel on what to do next.

 At twenty-two Jared Diehl was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder and joins me today to share about how he has not allowed his struggles to keep him from making an impact in this world. Jared shares about his suicidal ideations and his attempt to take his life which left him in a coma. Seven days later he woke up. After five months in recovery, he couldn't figure out why he was still sad even after SURVIVING a suicide attempt.  Jared's journey goes on as he works through the processes that come with life's challenges and learning more about mental health. He is not now working to use his struggles to make an impact in this world, sharing his voice and getting involved in other organizations. Check out his blog and podcast LOUDER NOW to learn more about his journey and what he has learned. I admire you Jared! Keep up the good work and thank you for coming on to get comfortable with the uncomfortable.   Check out this interview on YOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/AVUkr5yqEC4 Jared's Blog: https://loudernow150982498.wordpress.com/blog/ Louder Now Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/jared-diehl-the-louder-now-podcast/id1454818946

Inspired from the words of a friend, remember today that you are doing good!

Wildman joins me on the show to chat about something we never got to because we got off on a tangent. Check it out as we chat more about Care in the Community.

Anthony joins me on the show today to chat about growing up as a military brat, then on to becoming a Veteran himself. We chat about his perseverance as he juggles being a full-time student, working part-time, and caring for a new baby.