What Women Want

Women;
We are complicated creatures. We don't understand ourselves half of the time, so how are others suppose to? Especially our men?

The above statement is what we typically think. However; I think it can be simplified. We need very few things to be truly happy.

Number one on the list?
LOVE.
We need so much love. We have so much to give & we need it back. We don't want competition for your love. We want to be your love. Your everything. We want to hear about it, see it, feel it--everyday.

Two.
We want respect. Simple as that. You want to say, "Give respect, get respect?" Start now. Both genders towards one another. Both partners in a relationship. Again, simple. Cut the stubbornness and just start giving your respect. If you do not get it back--it's time to move forward. Clearly, they aren't for you because YOU deserve respect.

Three.
Attention. We need lots of it. Positive attention. Humans beg for negative attention when we are desperate for positive attention and are lacking it from those we love.

Fathers. Teach your daughters all of the above. Set the bar high for the kind of man she should only seek out one day. Someone that respects her, loves her, allows her to be who she is, who does not down her, hit her, abuse her feelings or mind. Someone who will give her all of their love. No questions asked.

Mothers. Marry & date men that have the same expectations, goals & standards that you want your own daughter to choose one day.

It has to start somewhere.
Love one another.

Copyright RetrospectionPhotography

What I Want to See Change in With Bottled Water...

-For these large corporations to pay the communities (especially these poor ones) for the water they are taking from their ponds, rivers & creeks without paying a cent. They have gotten out of paying any sort of tax (& let's not forget ((how could we?)) that we pay for EVERYTHING we do, consume, drive..etc..everything is taxed for us. "The little people.") Why aren't they held accountable? They have the funds to help these communities out that they are taking from.

[If you don't believe the companies should pay for the water do you think they should at least pay some sort of tax for damaging the roads with all of these heavy trucks coming in and out of the communities day in and day out? Ruining their roads?]

-For the bottles to be glass. I've seen ONE company so far that sells bottled water in both plastic bottles and glass bottles. I wish more made it an option. Plastic leeches chemicals into that water you are drinking, thus why you shouldn't reuse your plastic bottles. --Known to cause hormonal imbalances for a quick example of the health issues these cause.-- You know when you leave a plastic bottle in your car for a bit & when you drink the water it tastes funny? Like plastic? Yeah that...
Plastics are chemicals. Different chemicals make different plastics. These aren't all recyclable like the logos claim. The recycle logo is actually unregulated & any company can stamp that onto anything...makes you feel like you are doing something for the greater good but in reality...that stuff you piled up to recycle is still going into a dumpster & into a landfill. Leeches those chemicals off into our already scarce clean water.

-Lower the cost to the same as or less than what it costs to purchase a soda or sugary "juice." [I need to do more research on WHY this is exactly.]

-No more privatizing water.

What happened to water fountains? Little by little by little I'm not seeing as many. Instead I am seeing more and more and more soda vending machines with debit/credit card slots popping up everywhere.
What happened to getting water for free? Not every restaurant does this anymore like they use to.
It's sad that I can't believe the water in Hot Springs, Arkansas is still free for the taking. Clean water? For the taking? Free of charge?! Unheard of!

Speaking of which...it would have been unheard of by our ancestors to pay for water & one day, it is a possibility, that our future generations will be paying to these large corporations just for a little bit of safe water.

WHY? To name a select few;

-Fracking
-Chemical & oil spills are increasing.
-Fukishima (I know some of you completely disagree with me on this & I'm hoping that I am wrong & you are right--but I can't close out the possibility. I can't ignore it!)
-& all that plastic. All that waste we unnecessarily create. That's contributing too.


         I beg to know why nobody seems to care.

To My Best Friend...

You talked about your religious/spiritual beliefs last night with me & I feel lucky to be someone you can trust enough to talk about your so called "crazy thoughts" with.

I'm open minded about things & try to stay that way. Anything is possible.

I feel like everything spiritual is everything around us. The spirit is in every living creature. In every tear. In every happy memory. It's all around us & it's in ourselves as well.

Sometimes I wonder if God is hiding in our minds.

I see my son playing in this sink. So intrigued by dipping his hand in a bowl full of water & I think...

What a beautiful moment.

For him & for me. He's experiencing something new. The cold water sending chills up his arm. His eyes are so curious and wondering. His little body so strongly hanging onto the edge of the counter to get a chance to just experience this little moment we never think twice about. I get to see all of this from across the kitchen. All of this newness of life to a child.

What a precious gift I have been given.

I see God in all of that. In Trenton. In his eyes. The water. Me. Sitting here on the counter writing this & enjoying all of that simplicity so much.

I think we may all be right at the same time. God knows what it is that will lead us to him. What will open our eyes, our hearts, our minds.

You. You do what I'm experiencing now by looking up at the sky. So intrigued, amazed, and eyes full of wonder and curiosity towards the universe. Laying under the stars for hours. How often have you done that? Experience what I am right now but towards the whole sky & universe?

Probably so much you can't begin to come up with a number.

God knows what he is doing. Trust what you feel deep down.

I've learned that true feelings are the best guide--it's him.

God is everywhere.

                                                     Remember I took this photo with you standing beside me?

     This is what was to be published in Military Spouse Magazine & it just didn't happen. I figured I might as well post it, just in case it may help another military spouse out there.


Jessica Ruboyianes, was born and raised in Central Arkansas. She is a passionate philanthropist, a free-spirit, an activist for a healthier lifestyle, has an entrepreneur mindset, a photographer, a traveler, a writer, -and above all- a mother to a little boy. She has an ever-curious wondering mind that leads her to be "THE Google queen." 

What is the most challenging aspect you've faced, or a couple of challenging aspects?

-Dealing with the housing office on base. Enough said. (Haha...not kidding, sadly.) But in all seriousness... -The most challenging thing, to me personally, about the military lifestyle, is having to be flexible for your spouse; downside being, not very flexible for his/her family. It's difficult to be someone who is very spontaneous and free-spirited, and be married to someone who serves. It almost feels next to impossible to work in everything I want out of life around what he has to do. Raising a child, working odd jobs, having many hobbies, and wanting to travel is easier to put on the backburner, but I won't allow it. In order for spouses to be happy, we need to have our own lives as well. When my husband works long hours, goes TDY or deploys, I do not allow myself to sit around and be sad about it. I get out there and make the most of my newfound free time.

What has helped me through these times?

Being spiritual, staying active, setting goals, making new friends, becoming more involved in the base community, taking advantage of anything thrown my way for better or for worse. Living day-by-day without counting down until he comes home.

Did you discover something about youself you previously didn't know?

I most definitely discovered something about myself I didn't previously know. I discovered that I am much stronger than I ever thought I was. I learned that I can handle anything thrown my way. Of course, it may be hard, but I can do it! I don't doubt myself nearly as much as I used to.

What is advice you would give to fellow military spouses (especially young military spouses) as they embark on this life and face the inevitable challenges we face?

Young military spouses- you didn't really know what you got yourselves into, did you? It's okay, we've all been there. If I could give you any advice (I know, I know, it's annoying-you think you've had to of heard it all by now...) it would be to relax. Enjoy your new life and make the best out of it. Avoid any drama, don't bother arguing or adding any fuel to the fire under any cirumstances. Think, "Will this matter next week/month/year? Will I even remember it?" before getting upset about anything between you and your spouse or even others. Get active. Facebook now has so many pages for each military installation to find others in your area. I actually made several from a LRAFB online yard sale page! If you don't have one in your area, make one! Other spouses will love you for it--you never know when you may make a lifelong friend.

My Week Without...

A little about me; I am 23. A philanthropist. See? A little about me. You will learn more about me over time. I've never been able to completely lay out who I am in a single paragraph. This is why I now have a blog starting up! (:

Let me say that this is my first attempt at a blog. I love to write & I am constantly thinking about things. I just feel like it's time to move forward from just copy and pasting my quickly typed up notes to my Facebook status and start really showing the world my thoughts. I really hope to continue to inspire others, as I am glad to be helping anyone that needs or wants it.

So, My Week Without was going to be what this blog was called. Somebody in 2011 stole my idea. (; Every other name I came up with just didn't feel right, but I realized I can't write about just one specific idea. I have hundreds of them flowing in between my ears on the daily so I will be using my Freed Soul brand for my blog as well. My Week Without is going to be as simple as me letting go of something we all too often take for granted and life without it for a week. Then I will write about it. I'm really curious to see if I can let some of the things go for good, or if I will be miserable for an entire week without whatever it may be. I will definitely be taking suggestions for this because I don't want to run out of ideas.

I am currently on Day 3 of wearing no make up. Seems easy? It wasn't for me on Day 1. I will explain later.

I have friends surrounding me with tons of support & love. I am excited to continue sharing my thoughts with others!

--Jess