THE AMUSED LIFE BLOG

It's a routine I've known for at least 30 years. I know it like I know the feel of each bump on my skin as I rub my arms. A familiar 8 count of part self-flagellation, part-curiosity it's a dance I do in the wee hours of the morning when my mind is still running around like a kid on pixie sticks at a birthday party rental at the dance studio. I point my toes and leap, deep diving into the familiar dance routine and steps...search google, look up "XYZ" and just tap dance through posts to see how life is treating them.  It's when you stumble trying to remember dance steps that you did when you were in your twenties that you realize you're getting too old. The bones hit the floor harder these days and when you come across a post dated 2015 where you are referenced as a "much-needed and much-desired divorce", you realize that the old wounds from your early years still throb a bit every now and then. Mind you, I wasn't completely floored by that ...

If this 2020 taught me anything, it's that what happens in my four walls are 1001% my responsibility. I've allowed overworking and over-engaging in distractions to keep me from participating in some small way from bringing the holidays into my home. I mean we do the traditional food basics on the high-holy-holidays of Thanksgiving and such; but no decoration. No specific traditions. Something that I realize now was a gift my mother gave me as a child. What I mean by that is, the creation of household traditions and decorating for a holiday gave this growing girl a sense of wonder. Holidays were extra special because the person I loved so much made them special. The traditions were steeped in family and home. The sense of love was so real and now reflecting on everything I and others have survived in this year, it's time for me to forge some beloved traditions of my own.  I think I didn't do this sooner because I've been silently grieving the reality that having a ch...

I woke up today very early. My significant other and I have a young puppy so that's part of the life at this time. Disturbed sleep. I woke up and just thought well, it's Thanksgiving, let's just be thankful today. I was in a good frame of mind. I had made the decision to just be present today as much as possible. But...in the wee small hours of the morning my always present depression and anxiety had other plans. I went to message a friend of mine. I connect a lot on Facebook so I went into messenger to just let her know I was thinking about her and I couldn't find her. At first I didn't worry, I figured that she and I were both struggling with the election stress and maybe she just went dark for a bit. I get that. I understand taking the mental health break if need be. Alas, she didn't just go dark.  Upon investigation I came to understand that I had a friend in real life that I care about deeply. I would try hard to check on her and send Erik over with various...

I'm taking some time just to be me for me as I keep evolving into a hopefully better and better version of me.  Not to entertain but to just get my projects promised this year but not yet accomplished because of my accident, my covid and instead take time to catch up.  To move all my posts from my former blog to this blog.  Just to get my world ready to hopefully go very mindfully and intentionally into 2021.  With that...there will be no new episodes of AUTHENTICALLY YOU until 2021 as I have some great interviews lined up in December and will debut them in the brand new year. No I don't think new years are magical panaceas but they do allow you to set intentions and try to hit those intentions. I just want to take this time to reflect on what went well this past year, what I'd like to see change and how I can see more of my friends while still being safe. It's been one helluva year y'all. One that's changed all of us in ways we can't fully explain. In some ...

This episode of Authentically You we introduce you to the incredible human being, comedian and voice-artist soon to be that is JENN SNYDER, who is actively helping to keep us a little more sane by being exactly who she is and sharing her brand of humor with the world. Let's connect! RATED R FOR LANGUAGE Learn More Here: Jenn Snyder Website www.jennsnydercomedy.com Jenn Snyder Facebook https://www.facebook.com/jenn.snyder.9 Jenn Snyder Instagram https://www.instagram.com/Jesterjenn13/ Jenn Snyder Twitter https://twitter.com/JesterJenn13

Today's Spiritual Sunday presented me with a childhood friend requesting a card pull...of course, I would do anything from people who are important to me and I'm honored to do so. So I meditated on her and the blessings that we've reconnected through the positive aspects of Facebook and this is her card pull.  PLAYFULNESS The playfulness card reminds us of our childhood, when we were more free from worries about any impending doom. We built sandcastles in the sand without worrying when the next wave would come and destroy our creations. We remember a time when we knew and realized that life was more of a game than we realized and we chose to life it unashamed without thinking of what anyone else thought.  When this card shows up in your world, it's a sign. It symbolizes that you are ready for something refreshing to come into your life and your world. Something is on the horizon and you are prepared to face it with innocence, joy and clarity...when you proceed in that m...

  This episode of Authentically You we introduce you to the dynamic voice and visionary that is KATHRYN FRADY, who is actively helping to change the cultural landscape of Knoxville, TN and is an artist's artist. Let's connect! Learn More Here: Kathryn Frady Website www.kathrynfradydirector.com Marble City Opera Website www.marblecityopera.com Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/FradyKatSoprano Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/MarbleCityOpera

Each Sunday, I am going to put to use my Master's in Pastoral Counseling and Divinity to good use and actually open myself up to helping others who just want either one of the things I am good at. Reading Tarot (I'll get to your judgement on this in a second), and Prayer. Now before you get all high and mighty on me. Yes, I have my roots planted firmly in my Lutheran upbringing as the parables and storyline I connect with most as a human in my faith. However to say I'm 100% Lutheran is inaccurate. In every way, I am truly more Unitarian Universalist and that knowledge came from my years of learning in a Catholic-Founded graduate school known as LaSalle University.  In my first class towards my master's degree, I remember stepping outside and calling my mother on break. "Mom, I'm not okay and I don't like this."  What's wrong? "Well they want you to actually really think about your faith in this class, like break it down and understand what...

I'm Anna. Pronounced Ahhhhnah. I am an American woman. With a naturalized citizen, born German Father and an American-born and raised Mother. I have a Master’s Degree in Clinical-Counseling Psychology from LaSalle University with an emphasis in grief and loss, pastoral counseling/religion and human sexuality. Before that, I got my Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Women’s Studies from East Stroudsburg University, and am a proud high school graduate of Easton Area High School (Go Red Rovers!). I’m a Fur Momma only and that is okay. But in the end, I’m just a girl with some ideas who appears to be foolish enough to try to make them realities. I’m flawed in lots of ways. However, I’m also fabulous at the same time and I work hard and learn a lot along life’s journey. Life is a work in progress and I embody that and I am proud of it. I’m a dancer, an amateur cook, a lover, a teacher, a music buff, a film fanatic, a pop-culture vulture, an existentialist, a dreamer and I tend to be fu...