We’ve heard all kinds of colorful language being used to describe the 2020 experience. What is the first thing that comes to mind when you look back on the year 2020? Do certain words or themes come to mind? Today, we decided to ask ourselves that same question and see if there was anything positive to look back on. It turns out there are some positives when you choose to look for the good. We encourage you to listen to today’s episode and see if you can find the positives from 2020 for yourself. [3:35] Opportunity for greatness | Mister Brown’s theme for 2020[11:55] Think small | Andrea Brown’s theme for 2020Read more from this episode on our website LifeWithTheBrowns.com. What did you think about today’s conversation? What would your theme be for 2020? Have you found opportunities for greatness and time to think small in 2020? Tell us about it.Send us your questions and your thoughts. Let’s continue this conversation.   Leave a comment or call/text our 24-hour feedback phone at 530-535-8121. Submit a topic for a conversation - https://forms.gle/actLkkKrEHP7pNMZ9 Make more connections with us at https://linktr.ee/lifewiththebrownsSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/lifewiththebrowns)

It is the holiday season of 2020 and gift giving is on everyone’s mind. Today, we take some time to talk about the joy and stress of gift giving. If you are having trouble finding the right gift for the people in your life, listen to Mister Brown and Andrea Brown discuss the ins and outs of gift giving and choosing the right gift for the people on your list.Go to our website LifeWithTheBrowns.com to read more about this episode and get tips on making gift giving less stressful and three ways to look at gift-giving to help you find the perfect gift for anyone on your list. What did you think about today’s conversation? Do you like giving gifts or is it stressful for you? Do you have some tips for giving great gifts that you’d like to share? Send us your questions and your thoughts. Let’s continue this conversation.   Leave a comment or call/text our 24-hour feedback phone at 530-535-8121. Submit a topic for a conversation - https://forms.gle/actLkkKrEHP7pNMZ9 Make more connections with us at https://linktr.ee/lifewiththebrownsInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/thelifewiththebrowns/Twitter - https://twitter.com/LWTBROWNSFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/lifewiththebrowns/Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/lifewiththebrowns)

Mister Brown and Andrea Brown walk through a step-by-step process for developing a family mission statement that includes everyone.What comes to mind when you hear the words, “family mission statement”? Do you think of a nice quote up on the wall or a plaque you can buy at the store? You might and that’s okay. Today’s conversation about family mission statements goes a little deeper into the purpose of a mission statement and gives you a 5-step process for developing your own family mission statement.  Step #1: Our ValuesStep #2: Our SeasonStep #3: Our PracticesStep #4: Circle Keywords and Repeated Phrases Step #5: SummarizeThe Brown family mission statement process[14:35] The Brown family values[20:18] The Brown family season[26:00] The Brown family practices[28:45] Supporting the interests of each other is a Brown family practice, Philippians 2:3-4. Can We Hold Hands and Disagree?[35:00] The Brown Family Mission Statement[44:45] Mister Brown’s Mission Statement and the value of doing a personal mission statement for yourself.Read more from this episode on our website LifeWithTheBrowns.com.What did you think about today’s conversation? Are you feeling motivated to write a mission statement with your family? For yourself? Send us your questions and your thoughts. Let’s continue this conversation.   Leave a comment or call/text our 24-hour feedback phone at 530-535-8121. Submit a topic for a conversation - https://forms.gle/actLkkKrEHP7pNMZ9 Make more connections with us at https://linktr.ee/lifewiththebrownsSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/lifewiththebrowns)

Today, I caught up with a friend of mine from my youth, Artis Landon. Fitness and nutrition were not always high priorities in our lives. Artis shares his experience of the consequences of poor health and the benefits of fitness, especially as we age. Artis had a huge wake-up call in his 30’s that impacted how he looks at fitness and health. We started our conversation with some reminiscing about growing up together and the fitness and nutrition choices we made back then. Nowadays, our fitness and nutrition choices are geared toward better overall health and being able to be around for our families.   [3:20]Artis Landon and Mister Brown reminisce about growing up together.[5:25]Artis’s military service and career.[15:10]A hard look at fitness and wellness over 40. “Either workout or die.”[17:00]The chronic heart disease diagnosis and Artis’s journey to better health.[25:00]The good news about chronic heart disease and the lifestyle changes that Artis made.[31:00]Motivation to stay fit and healthy over 40.[32:30]How family can be a motivation to make good fitness choices.[38:15]The twenty-five pushup challenge and fitness accountability.You can visit our website at LifeWithTheBrowns.com to find this episode and more.What did you think about today’s conversation about fitness and health?  Send us your questions and your thoughts. Let’s continue this conversation.   Leave a comment or call/text our 24-hour feedback phone at 530-535-8121. Submit a topic for a conversation - https://forms.gle/actLkkKrEHP7pNMZ9 Make more connections with us at https://linktr.ee/lifewiththebrownsSponsor for the show: Sutherland DDS https://sutherlanddds.com/Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/lifewiththebrowns)

You probably have some ideas about the differences between introverts and extroverts when it comes to socializing. We tend to believe that being an introvert or an extrovert falls on a continuum rather than fully on one end or the other. Today we talk about one instance where we have found similarities and differences between us. Join today’s conversation between one introvert and one extrovert. Read more on our website LifeWithTheBrowns.com.We are curious to know, is having people around that you can ignore a thing or are we weird? For people who work at coffee shops, what do you think about us people who come into to do work and be alone?  Send us your questions and your thoughts. Let’s continue this conversation.   Leave a comment or call/text our 24-hour feedback phone at 530-535-8121. Submit a topic for a conversation - https://forms.gle/actLkkKrEHP7pNMZ9 Make more connections with us at https://linktr.ee/lifewiththebrownsSponsor for the show: Sutherland DDS https://sutherlanddds.com/Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/lifewiththebrowns)

This podcast episode is a segue from a conversation we had on our last podcast, What is the “Amp Wheel”? Head over there if you want to learn more about what the Amp Wheel is. In this episode, we wanted to talk more about how the question, “What is mine to do?” can bring clarity to many situations, especially if you feel like you are getting amped up about something.Read more about where this question came from, how this question can help you, and how this question helps you to gain clarity and restore relationships on our website LifeWithTheBrowns.com.Continue the discussion about “What is mine to do?” in Part 2 of our conversation.We want to hear from you. What comes to mind when you ask yourself, “What is mine to do?” Send us your questions and your thoughts. Let’s continue this conversation.   Leave a comment or call/text our 24-hour feedback phone at 530-535-8121. Submit a topic for a conversation - https://forms.gle/actLkkKrEHP7pNMZ9 Make more connections with us at https://linktr.ee/lifewiththebrownsSponsor for the show: Sutherland DDS https://sutherlanddds.com/Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/lifewiththebrowns)

The question, “What is mine to do?” is simple yet can bring clarity and focus to many very nuanced situations. Join us for Part 2 in this conversation about what could be the most important question you can ask yourself.    Often people get engaged in something that is none of their business. Asking the question, “What is mine to do?” can help clarify what is truly your business and yours to be doing.If you ask the question and do the best at that moment, it may not work out the way you want it to, but there is so much you can learn from it. There is value in doing the best you can with the best you know. To read more from this episode, go to our website LifeWithTheBrowns.com.  Listen to Part 1 of “What is mine to do?” on the website.We want to hear from you. What comes to mind when you ask yourself, “What is mine to do?” Send us your questions and your thoughts. Let’s continue this conversation.   Leave a comment or call/text our 24-hour feedback phone at 530-535-8121. Submit a topic for a conversation - https://forms.gle/actLkkKrEHP7pNMZ9 Make more connections with us at https://linktr.ee/lifewiththebrownsSponsor for the show: Sutherland DDS https://sutherlanddds.com/Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/lifewiththebrowns)

The term “Amp Wheel” came from one of our first podcast episodes. We were talking about being on the Amp Wheel and someone asked what is the Amp Wheel and how do you get off of it? We decided to explain what we mean by the Amp Wheel and have a conversation about how it affects us when we’re on it.   The best way to describe the Amp Wheel and how it feels is to tell you to imagine a hamster spinning on a wheel. It’s clear to those watching the hamster that it is expending a lot of energy, but it’s not going anywhere. Is the hamster wheel a cruel torture device or a mechanism for giving the animal some exercise? It doesn’t really matter in this case. The point is the hamster is putting in a lot of effort and not getting anywhere. Read more at our website LifeWithTheBrowns.com.We want to hear from you. What do you think about the term “Amp Wheel”? Do you see yourself on it with some topics? Let us know what gets you amped up and if you have tips for getting off of the Amp Wheel.Send us your questions and your thoughts. Let’s continue this conversation.   Leave a comment or call/text our 24-hour feedback phone at 530-535-8121. Submit a topic for a conversation - https://forms.gle/actLkkKrEHP7pNMZ9 Make more connections with us at https://linktr.ee/lifewiththebrownsSponsor for the show: Sutherland DDS https://sutherlanddds.com/Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/lifewiththebrowns)

This is a follow-up episode to our podcast “4 Tips To Help Parents Navigate the 2020/2021 School Year.” In normal circumstances, kids pick up on every juicy tidbit we talk about in front of them. Especially now with the stress and angst of the school year unknowns, it can be easy to express our fears, doubts, and bad feelings out loud and not realize that our kids are hearing every word we say. They are hearing our words and taking on those stresses and attitudes as well. This episode is about how we can best communicate our feelings about the 2020/2021 school year without affecting our kids negatively. Kids are a driver of who your family is and your family values. They can contribute. Listen to your kids. They may be scared and confused about the 2020/2021 school year too. But do your hard processing away from little ears. Do the work of processing where you’re at, so you can be present for your kids. Be intentional about taking care of yourself, so that you can show up as the responsible grown person your kids need. This is a powerful way to help your kids learn how to cope when life is out of their control.  Read more on our website LifeWithTheBrowns.com We want to hear from you. Do you find this episode helpful for you? Do you have ideas and tips that can help other parents process the challenges of the 2020/2021 school year? Send us your questions and your thoughts. Let’s continue this conversation.   Leave a comment or call/text our 24-hour feedback phone at 530-535-8121. Submit a topic for a conversation - https://forms.gle/actLkkKrEHP7pNMZ9 Make more connections with us at https://linktr.ee/lifewiththebrownsSponsor for the show: Sutherland DDS https://sutherlanddds.com/Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/lifewiththebrowns)

If you have kids, you may be feeling the pressure of heading into the 2020/2021 school year. Since COVID-19 upended life, day-to-day activities have changed. There are a lot of uncertainties and that seems to be especially true for the school year. How are you feeling about it and what do you plan to do? We wanted to share our perspective and tips on how we are handling the looming 2020/2021 school year. These 4 tips open up a path to having conversations. We are all going to make different decisions. In some ways, we are all in the same boat, but in other ways, we are all experiencing something very different. Continue this conversation in your community. Talk to your spouse. Talk to your neighbors. Talk to other parents at your school. Keep these 4 tips in mind while you have these conversations. This process can help us all to show up in a better way and ask better questions.        Read more from today's episode on the website LifeWithTheBrowns.com.          We want to hear from you. Do you think these 4 tips can help you with the 2020/2021 school year? Send us your questions and your thoughts. Let’s continue this conversation.   Leave a comment or call/text our 24-hour feedback phone at 530-535-8121. Submit a topic for a conversation - https://forms.gle/actLkkKrEHP7pNMZ9 Make more connections with us at https://linktr.ee/lifewiththebrownsSponsor for the show: Sutherland DDS https://sutherlanddds.com/Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/lifewiththebrowns)