I can’t believe it. I can not believe just how fast time flies. My husband’s daughter Aaliyah, who I met when she was only 13 years old, is turning 21 next Monday. I guess by all accounts, it would be “stepdaughter,” but to me, it always felt odd saying that because we got married when […]
Read moreAge Before Beauty
Samantha Schell Adaptation, Family, love, mental health, Overcoming Adversity, Perseverance, Positivity age, aging, appearance, beauty, family, hardship, insecurity, love, wisdom 8
My husband is so handsome, and like a fine bourbon barrel aged whiskey, seems to get better over time, laden with intricacies and deeper layers to his appearance, making for an even more appealing and interesting overall aesthetic. After all, he caught the attention of someone 16 1/2 years his junior, and he so often […]
Read moreGiving Them Their Shine
Samantha Schell Anxiety, BJJ, Competing, Family, Friendship, love, self confidence Anxiety, bjj, Competition, ego, family, friendship, jiu jitus, love, relationships, work
Is my partner my biggest advocate, confidante, cheerleader, supporter? Or secretly, a hater lurking in the shadows? By this I mean are they truly rooting for me when I am excelling in things, even when they themselves are coming up short, which let’s be honest, can be quite the blow to anyone’s ego. Watching those around […]
Read moreCommunicating Love
The experts always say that relationships and marriages are hard work, and that it takes both people making a conscious effort of participation to really ensure long lasting bonds. I remember in my last long term relationship, I was always wondering why it was supposed to be hard. And that’s because we didn’t really argue. […]
Read moreMy 2 Constants
Samantha Schell Adaptation, Anxiety, BJJ, Competing, Family, love Anxiety, bjj, competition anxiety, family, love, marriage, mental health 5
Everyone who has ever read my blogs can be 100% sure of at least 2 things. The first being that although I fight in a cage and grapple on the mats, I’m still a human being with a wide array of feelings, many correlating to those of anxiety, and I get sad and nervous just […]
Read moreWish Upon a Star
When I was a little kid, trapped in the backseat of the car betwixt my two brothers as my family was driving home from some sort of excursion, I remember vividly staring out the window and getting lost in the stars above me. Daydreaming as my thoughts wandered, staring at the galaxy and often pondering […]
Read moreCupid’s Chokehold
Samantha Schell Family, Friendship, love husband, husband and wife, love, marriage, valentine, wife 2
It’s the 6th Valentine’s Day together with my person, but the first one as husband and wife. And yes, while I think this is a dumb commercial holiday all meant for the greeting card companies and chocolate companies to make copious amounts of money, I can’t help but to feel somewhat sentimental and especially grateful […]
Read moreBeauty is in the Eye of the Gi Holder
Samantha Schell Adaptation, love, Perseverance, Positivity, self confidence beautiful, beauty, bjj, BJJ girls, confidence, jiujiteira, love, MMA, WMMA
I’m tired of society thinking you have to conform to one narrative to be beautiful. I have a half-shaved head, a muscular frame, gnarled fingers & toes, cauliflower ears, and am usually spotting some type of gi burn or bruising and when I tell you I have never in my life felt more beautiful than […]
Read moreIn the End, the Love You Take, is Equal to the Love You Make
Samantha Schell Family, Friendship, love, Perseverance discipline, exhaustion, fighting, hard work, love, motivation, relationships 6
Sitting my run down, worn out, bedraggled booty on the couch, sipping my triple espresso ice coffee, and mustering up the energy to begin my trainings and fight prep for the day. You see, motivation is a bitch. It’s not always there when you need it, sometimes it refuses to rear its ugly head, no […]
Read moreCoaching & Relationships
Probably one of the hardest things in the world to deal with, is watching one of our loved ones suffer or get hurt and not being able to stop the pain from occurring. I don’t think it ever hurt me emotionally as badly before as when my husband or his kids were hurting from something […]
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