Brenda Knowles's Blog: Space2live, page 9

Acting Our Way Into Feeling: How Action Motivates More Than Thoughts

The majority of my life I hung back and observed. I did not step in and get to work. I let other go-getters take charge, while I watched puzzled by their boldness and energy. There are many reasons why people do not take action. They might be ignorant of the needed action. They might be [...]

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Top 5 Posts of 2019: From Remarrying and Reclaiming Space to the Dark Side of Kind People

This year has been a big growth year. Boy is growth is uncomfortable. From health issues to financial stress to a new marriage and blending families, this year tested me. I did not always pass. I experienced many strong and negative emotions that I had not felt in a long time. That's what long-term relationships [...]

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Christmas a Time of Connection and Disconnection

It's two days after Christmas and I am starting to relax. Today's post is an informal rambling about our Christmas. Since the divorce, my ex-husband and I have divided up winter break. I get the first half with the kids and he gets the second half. The best part of this arrangement is that I [...]

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Top Seven Reads of 2019: Addiction to ADHD to Childhood Adversity

As 2019 winds down, my yearly reading list closes out. I always aim for 25 books a year but seem to always fall a few short. Perhaps I need to read shorter books to reach my goal.;) This year I had ten (out of twenty) books earn the coveted five smiley face Brenda rating. I'm [...]

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Which Do You Really Need More, Alone Time or Community?

I have had two radical belief changes in the last few years. One: I now believe our long term relationships shape our personality and temperament more than introverted or extroverted innate traits. Two: I used to believe I needed alone time to recharge and be at my best. I have recently seen and felt myself [...]

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Things Are Great and I Am Stressed: Every Year Challenges and Support

With Thanksgiving last week, I've been reflecting on what I am grateful for this year. To be honest, it's been a long, somewhat arduous year. I hate to say that because I got married this year. Marriage is a joyful event, right? Yes, in many ways. I am truly happy to be married to Mark. [...]

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Thanksgiving Marathon: Hosting Without Hitting the Wall

      I have never run a marathon but I have hosted many Thanksgiving dinners. Yesterday was the biggest Thanksgiving dinner I've ever hosted, 24 people. Like a marathon, T-day prep starts way before the actual day. The invites go out weeks in advance. The food purchases start the week before. The smaller details [...]

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What Do You Aspire to Be? How Do You Plan to Get There?

Helen Keller Actor and director Edward Norton, described his father as intellectually adventurous and socially contributive. I rolled those words around in my head for a while after hearing them. They resonated perfectly with me. Those words are exactly what I would like people to say about me at my funeral. Intellectually adventurous My [...]

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Creating Growth to Feel Alive: How to Grow in Relationships and In Life:

I listened to author and psycho therapist, Esther Perel, talk about affairs on a podcast the other day. She said in affairs people don't turn away from their partners they turn away from who they (themselves) have become. Esther Perel Esther Perel said when people cheat on their partners, they often say, "I feel [...]

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How to Approach Difficult Situations: Steps to Stop Avoiding

Last week I wrote about avoiding or approaching difficult situations and relationships. I spoke of how we all sometimes avoid challenges by: leaving, going silent, diving into distractions (technology/work/television, etc.) or using drugs and alcohol. This week I want to talk about how to approach the things that scare us. Fortify first First, let's prepare [...]

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