Hey there. It’s Thursday and you are almost to the weekend. Let me re-introduce myself. My name is Annette and I am the CEO of A Wild Ride Called Life. I am also a Retired Army Combat Veteran, Military Spouse and mom to a college sophomore and a high school junior 🤦🏻‍♀️ I am also living with PTSD, Anxiety and depression. I share my story to people all over the world to show everyone that it is ok to NOT be ok. I ain’t crazy. I am just a human who has a mental illness and I

When the PA says “welcome back” every time he sees me it means I am here far too often. Today I am getting my new hip checked out. They need to make sure it is working properly. Never did I think I would have had a hip replacement at the age of 43. Even though it hurts when I get up and walk too far, at least I am still here right? I’m not gonna lie. I am a little tired of this crap. The one year anniversary of the accident is coming up and I am not sure how I am going to fee

You guys. My insides are bursting. These past few weeks have just been tiring yet humbling. I am working so hard at working along side some amazing people who want to hear our story. I am listening to all of you. To us. I want this to be huge. I want us to make a difference. We may be a small little website but we have big hearts and we are being heard. Thank you to all of you for continuing on this journey with me. You help me. Because of God, my family and all of you, I am

It’s been such an emotional roller coaster lately. Today I was asked “do you ever wonder why he kept you here?” This referring to the car accident that happened 10 months ago. The event that replays in mind daily. The intricate details that will never leave my head. I remember about 90% of it. My answer- “sometimes I am not even sure”. Why me? I am sure we ask this quite often when we experience happiness, sadness or grief. I don’t have the answer. My eyes still fill with tea

Guess who’s going to be a speaker at this 👇🏼 event?!!!!! Meeeeeeeee. Thanks to Bee Daring Foundation and Michelle DiMuria this girl right here will be speaking her heart out and I would love for any and all of you to come support us. I can’t even begin to tell you what this means to me. Come see meeee and all of us at this incredible foundation. Read below for more information ..... Let the official countdown begin, for the 3rd annual! Pave the Way: Mental Health Summit. We

Another month down and another pre op checkup. Although I am a little tired of having to make the drive, I know that I am being seen by some great doctors. I am making progress but the hopes of being able to run or even lift anything more than a 5 lb weight is still not hopeful. All those things I took for granted are now yet just in the distance. As of today there is no running or training for that Army 10 miler that I was hoping to not miss out on again....I left with tears

A month ago I had my 6th surgery. Two weeks ago I had 21 staples removed from that surgery. Yesterday I wore shorts in public and tried not to care that I will have yet another scar that can’t be hidden. Today I am trying to not continue to let these scars define me. It is now a part of who I am. It is a continuous reminder that I am still here and alive. I have heard it all and I am listening to all of you. For now, I am just trying to no relive what happened. The incident s

How many times have you second guess yourself ? How many of those times was it because you were unsure of other people’s opinions or reactions. Have you ever stopped to think that maybe the only one you really needed to impress was yourself? I am so guilty of this. I spent too much time focused on the wrong thing. It’s really not about them, it is about me. In the end I am the one who has overcame so many obstacles to get here and I am damn near impressed with myself. So, go

It’s Friday and we made it through the first few days of May 👊🏼. I’ve been taking some much needed “me” time. I’ve been focusing on writing the book, networking, talking about the hard truths and just being grateful for my tribe. As we dive deeper into May let us remember all those who are suffering from mental health. It is not easy to choose to live with it. It takes a lot of hard days to have a good one. It took me years to be ok with it. I had choices but thankfully God

Real life. Mom, Veteran, Military Spouse, Entrepreneur, blogger, motivational speaker, coach. I’m tired. I share my real life drama, failures and successes. When I try and explain what I do and why I do it. It’s all of that and to help people like me who are going through it too. We are human. We make mistakes. One thing for sure is that I love my people. My tribe. My girls and guys. I’m tired some days but I am making it. I am walking. I am breathing. I am living. Nothing ca

It’s hump day. Where did the time go ? Today I am venturing out for some Antique shopping. I had a hard time figuring out what to wear. I used to hide behind jeans and big shirts. Not today frumpy. I am starting to feel good in my skin again. I’m not model material but I don’t care. Sometimes a pair of stretchy jeans that I now to belt is all I need. I have had these @converse for a while now and I am just now able to stick my swollen foot in it. Huge win. I always say this .

Messy hair. Pjs by 630. Sometimes there are just not enough hours in the day. Sometimes the hair is just hair. The mascara will just run. The zits will just appear out of nowhere even when it’s not that time of the month 🤷🏻‍♀️. Does your teenage boy want dinner by 4pm? No? Oh, it’s just me? Yeah. It’s Monday and I am already waiting for Friday. Bring it. How do you survive the day? . . . #needmorehoursintheday #momofteens #armyvet #milspouse #armylife #messyhairdontcare #bl

As I start to begin my day I run across these 2 things and I started thinking. I may get some eye rolls or maybe even a negative comment but these are my thoughts and not yours. In the beginning I was obsessed. It was a hunt that was consuming me. Then after weeks and months went by it was all about the words and the meaning behind them. Positivity and affirmations. It is what helped me get through the shit storm that I have been given. Then I start noticing all the greed and

I am finally doing it. For real this time. I am writing and it feels so stinking good. My goal for this year is to get this book done and hopefully edited for publishing. My head has been spinning with constant thoughts. I’ve been told to get this done by so many people but I have been putting it off due to fear of not knowing what to put on paper. You would think it would be easy especially since I publish blogs almost daily, but it really isn’t. When I publish the blogs, I

If she only knew what she does for me..... I’m in pain y’all. Like fighting back the tears pain. It hurts to walk. It hurts to sit. It hurts to even try and bend my leg. I want to cry and scream but I am holding it back. For now, I will sit in my recliner with this sweet bundle of fur who keeps saving my life each day. She has to sit next to me or on me. She literally yelled at me (barked loudly) when I walked in the house back from the hospital. As annoying as it was, it was

I know I have been quite lately but it’s for good reason. Not only that, but this mom caught whatever the boy has 😷 On top of all of that I am mentally preparing for my 6th surgery. It’s been quite the emotional roller coaster. To say that I am so over this would be an understatement. All I can do is take the bull by it’s horns and say “let’s do this”. As I was lying in bed resting before shuttling the boy to wrestling practice, this sweet girl snuggles up as close as she ca

Thank you to @therealalexdumas and @abundancedaily888 for letting me share my story. Sometimes sharing what I am going through helps heal the every day challenges that I face. I hope that by speaking out helps others know that they can survive this. You are not alone. Take a listen and let me know what you think. https://www.facebook.com/AbundanceDaily8/videos/601999503612470/ . . . #therealalexdumas #abundancedaily #ptsdawareness #ptsdrecovery #traumasurvivor #fighter #entre

It’s been a week. I’ve made some connections that I never in my wildest dreams thought I would have imagined making. I have been stepping out of my comfort zone more and more each day. I thought that I was bold while I was in the Army. This has brought it up a notch and I am excited. All that training has helped me to keep growing as a person personally and professionally. I can’t wait to see what is in store for all of us. Even when I need to take some days off, I still cont