The Choosing Brave Podcast

Anne Villano is an artist on a mission. She is a military spouse and social work grad student who is passionate about the power of creative therapies for the military community. Anne believes that being brave right now is “perseverance” and takes our listeners through her journey of creating the social action mural for military mental health. She shares: “Mental health knows no age or race. It doesn’t know active or veteran, it doesn’t know branches- it encompasses us all and that’s what the mural does- it puts faces to the statistics.” She also gives listeners great tips to make an eraser-free sketchbook, give ourselves grace in the journey, and claw our way back to creativity. Connect with Anne on Instagram @milartmom Anne Villano Art   Connect with host Lindsay on Instagram @upliftinganchor. She sends out her Hope Notes newsletter seasonally, you can sign up for it here. You can read more of her writing on her website: http://www.upliftinganchor.com

“When your dreams change, it’s a sign that there’s something better out there...you have to push forward and believe in yourself.” Stephanie Cuepo Wobby served as a combat medic for seven years in the Army, and is now dreaming forward as a writer. She is pursuing her M.F.A. in writing at Columbia University. Stephanie is the editor-in-chief for The Line Literary Review, which is a unique publication from Columbia University that features “artistic works for and by the military and veteran community.” Stephanie is no stranger to embracing bravery in her life. She shares that “(being) brave to me is doing something that’s right even though it’s hard and pushing forward even when you don’t want to.” You can connect with Stephanie on Instagram @s_cuepowobby The Line Literary Review on Instagram @thelineliterary Read The Line Literary Review  Connect with host Lindsay on Instagram @upliftinganchor. She sends out her Hope Notes newsletter seasonally, you can sign up for it here. You can read more of her writing on her website: http://www.upliftinganchor.com Resources mentioned in this episode: Voices from War Warrior Writers Empowered and Thriving Wrath Bearing Tree

“I’m passionate about breaking military spouses out of imposter syndrome because all it’s doing is holding us back as a community. We are all truly connected by one thing: our spouse chose to serve...and we are just trying to do our best alongside them.” Not only does Jayla Rae Ardelean offer insights into breaking free from imposter syndrome, she also speaks on the challenges and unique perspective late career milspouses face, and advocates for how the military spouse community can utilize mentorship. She shares, “the process of coming back to yourself is the hardest thing to do. Sometimes you need a mirror to show you how much you’ve grown.” You will leave this episode with tangible steps you can take to walk forward with purpose as a military spouse. Connect with Jayla Rae on Instagram @mil.spouse Jayla’s webiste The Heart of a Milspouse Podcast  Just for Listeners! Access Jayla Rae’s 3 Steps to Getting Started with Personal Development Guide here: jaylarae.com/choosingbrave Connect with host Lindsay on Instagram @upliftinganchor. She sends out her Hope Notes newsletter seasonally, you can sign up for it here. You can read more of her writing on her website: http://www.upliftinganchor.com

“(I realized) none of my feelings would challenge the truth of who God is.” This conversation with Amy Grass is an honor and an inspiration. She unpacks the story of her miscarriage during the pandemic for listeners and invites us into a journey of walking in both hardship and faith. “Grief isn’t linear. I like organization, expectations, and control...but (grief) ebbs and flows. You don’t just get through it. In other trials in my life, there’s been an endpoint, but this will never go away. (Our baby) River will always be part of our story and we will always carry that grief. I think accepting that has been big for our family.” Amy is also a brilliant writer, podcaster, and baker. She has found that “my purpose in writing is to tell what is true and make others feel less alone...Bravery feels a lot like faith to me.” There is so much laughter in this conversation, and the strength to search for truth and hope in God. You can connect with Amy on Instagram @amyegrass Amy’s Newsletter: Monthly Mercies  A Good Word Podcast by Amy Grass and Molly Flinkman Amy’s outdoor challenge: #janueverydayoutside Exhale Community Love, Jessica Organization Connect with host Lindsay on Instagram @upliftinganchor. She sends out her Hope Notes Newsletter seasonally, you can sign up for it here. You can read more of her writing on her website: http://www.upliftinganchor.com

“Once the stretching season is over it is going to bear fruit...but only if I work on my self-control in the process.” Join host Lindsay as she reflects on a season that is stretching both her and her family. Reflection Questions for Listeners: What extras are we doing? What extras am I doing? How can I find peace in present chaos? How do I want to feel at the end of this season? What fruit of the spirit am I being called to work on? The nine fruits of the spirit are as follows: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control The book mentioned in this episode is Mitten Strings for God: Reflections for Mothers in a Hurry by Katrina Kenison Connect with host Lindsay on Instagram @upliftinganchor. She sends out her Hope Notes newsletter seasonally, you can sign up for it here. You can read more of her writing on her website: http://www.upliftinganchor.com

“Am I behind if I’m the one setting the pace?” Join host Lindsay as she unpacks how to set ourselves up for a break.  A break that we do not have to earn by endless toil, but can be embraced as freely given. Reflection Questions for Listeners: Why do you fear taking a break? What does a “break” look like to you? How/When will you schedule your next break? How will you come back from your break? Mentioned in this episode: The Choosing Brave Podcast S2 E2 How We Rest with Erin Strybis Read Aloud Revival Sarah Mackenzie Kimberly Knowle-Zeller’s Walk and Talk Newsletter @kknowlezeller Connect with host Lindsay on Instagram @upliftinganchor.  Lindsay sends out her Hope Notes newsletter seasonally, you can sign up for it here. You can read more of her writing on her website: http://www.upliftinganchor.com

Becky Hoy shares with us that “there is a distinction between intentional self care and crashing. Intentional self care means that we are creating a life that we don’t need to hide from, a life that feels fluid, feels good for you, that you have set boundaries in your life that leave space for you to BREATHE.” You will be getting out your pens and paper for this episode! Take notes as Becky breaks down  how to: Establish our rocks in the river, which are critical for our own family’s well being, and they help to make everything else optional. Reframe a deployment. There can be a paradox of finding JOY in a painful season. In Becky’s experience, “Deployment forced me out of my comfort zone and forced me to create habits, systems, and routines in my life that transformed me and transformed my relationship.” Approach reintegration as a season of dating. Becky also answers the question of when to begin or when to wait as a budding milspouse entrepreneur. This conversation will give you courage to look at your life with new eyes. Or, as Becky puts it: “Being brave for me means taking a hard look at the reality I’m living in, embracing it, and stepping into that unknown to make a way forward.” Becky Hoy is the Founder and CEO of Brave Crate- the deployment countdown box for military spouses, where she curates unique monthly deployment countdown boxes to support military spouses throughout their deployment countdowns. In addition to her work with Brave Crate, Becky is the co-founder of PILLAR- the Digital Retreat for Deployment Countdowns. Connect with Becky Hoy: @bravecrate on Instagram and Facebook @pillardeploymentretreat on Instagram and Facebook Connect with host Lindsay on Instagram @upliftinganchor. She sends out her Hope Notes newsletter seasonally, you can sign up for it here. You can read more of her writing on her website: http://www.upliftinganchor.com

Host Lindsay Swoboda chose the word DELIGHT to represent her year. But is she anywhere close to finding and feeling delight on a daily basis? She is working on it, by making small changes which include: reimagining her morning routine, adding beauty every day, and being able to evaluate and choose something different depending on her and her family’s needs. Reflection Questions for Listeners: What is one place in your life that you can decide once about? (thanks Kendra Adachi!) What are some routines that aren’t working for you? What are some ways you can add beauty to your day? What is one thing you have lost that would add a flicker of delight if you brought it back in some way? Mentioned in this Episode: Writer/Teacher Ellie Roscher Exhale Creativity Community Books: Devotions by Mary Oliver The Lazy Genius Way by Kendra Adachi Bright Dead Things by Ada Limon Connect with host Lindsay on Instagram @upliftinganchor. She sends out her Hope Notes newsletter seasonally, you can sign up for it here. You can read more of her writing on her website: http://www.upliftinganchor.com

“Being able to create art out of peoples’ lives is very meaningful to me.” Melissa Sheridan is an Air Force spouse, mom of two daughters, and runs her own portrait and wedding photography business in Charlottesville, Virginia. She shares how developing her photography business was a challenge. “The first step is the hardest...everything starts with a one step.” The height of her business grew out of a time where her husband was getting deployed, and yet the military community came alongside her in support. Continuing her business has meant constant re-evaluation and leaning into seasons of life. She has learned that “it’s easy to think (that when) you’re not going from point A to point B in this exact rhythm that you had planned that something is off, but let things happen to you and do not be so hard on yourself for the things that did not happen.” This conversation will help you take stock of your big dream, and give you permission to be in the season you are in. You can connect with Melissa Sheridan at https://melissasheridanphotography.com/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melissasheridanphotography Instagram: @melissasheridanphotography  Connect with host Lindsay on Instagram @upliftinganchor.  She sends out her Hope Notes newsletter seasonally, you can sign up for it here. You can read more of her writing on her website: http://www.upliftinganchor.com

“Sometimes when you allow yourself to be brave, even the tiniest bit, it gives someone else the permission to do the same.” Melissa Collazo is a makeup artist based in the DC metro area. From her work on the runways of New York Fashion week to bridal and commercial projects, her approach to beauty is that it is “not about looks, it’s about feelings.” Melissa shares the wisdom she has learned on her journey of transitioning careers. “As scary as it is, being brave enough to suck at something new means you are investing in yourself, and you are always going to be your best investment.” She is a champion for community and runs The Real MC which is a safe space online that spreads a message of empowerment and encourages women to set their OWN standards in beauty, motherhood and beyond. This conversation will remind you to keep growing and to keep going. You can connect with Melissa Collazo at: www.melissacollazomakeup.com www.therealmccollective.com IG: @melissacollazo_makeup & @therealmc.collective FB: www.facebook.com/melissacollazomakeup LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/makeupartistmelissa/ Connect with host Lindsay on Instagram @upliftinganchor. She sends out her Hope Notes newsletter seasonally, you can sign up for it here. You can read more of her writing on her website: http://www.upliftinganchor.com