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The military lifestyle demands a unique type of resilience—one that allows you to pack up your life, say painful goodbyes, and rebuild your sense of self in a new location repeatedly. After a prolonged absence from the podcast, I'm finally ready to share what happened during my latest PCS (Permanent Change of Station) from Kentucky to Texas.
What should have been a familiar process quickly spiraled into an emotional and logistical marathon. With children and an aging German Shepherd in tow, this wasn't just another move—it was a military operation requiring morning briefings, a 10-page plan, and the deliberate setting aside of emotions to manage the chaos. The San Antonio housing market threw its own curveballs, from unresponsive agents to unexpected "pet rent" for my elderly dog and tiny kitten.
Just as we secured housing and began to unpack, another military reality struck—a TDY (Temporary Duty) assignment that stretched to nearly 60 days. The irony wasn't lost on me: unpacking boxes just to pack bags and leave again, this time abandoning my family to settle our new home without me. This constant uprooting dismantled the habits that typically keep me grounded, creating a start-stop pattern that impacted my mental well-being.
My journey back to myself hasn't been about starting over, but about starting again—reconnecting with the routines and practices that make me feel whole despite external chaos. If you're navigating your own period of transition, whether military-related or not, this episode offers a raw look at managing expectations, rebuilding habits, and finding your way back to yourself when everything around you keeps changing. Pour your cafecito and join me as we explore what it means to come home to yourself, even when your physical home is in flux.
Support the show
If today’s episode hit you in the chest the way it hit me, don’t just walk away—walk toward something that reflects you.
Subscribe to the podcast, hit that YouTube channel for the behind-the-scenes, and if you’re ready to read a story about what it really means to come home to yourself—
👉🏽 Preorder The Ordinary Bruja.
https://haveacupofjohanny.com/product/the-ordinary-bruja-book-one-of-las-cerradoras-series-j-e-ortega/
It’s about a Dominican-American bruja who’s been running from herself her whole life until ancestral magic, generational wounds, and a haunted-ass hill force her to face the truth.
If you’ve ever felt “too much,” “not enough,” or like you don’t fit anywhere, you’re exactly who this story was written for.
🎙️ Subscribe.
📺 Follow on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2SRDePbyy8M85Wbf25VUCg
📚 Preorder The Ordinary Bruja. https://haveacupofjohanny.com/product/the-ordinary-bruja-book-one-of-las-cerradoras-series-j-e-ortega/
Because becoming who you are is the bravest kind of magic.
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By Johanny Ortega
5
11 ratings
Send us a text
The military lifestyle demands a unique type of resilience—one that allows you to pack up your life, say painful goodbyes, and rebuild your sense of self in a new location repeatedly. After a prolonged absence from the podcast, I'm finally ready to share what happened during my latest PCS (Permanent Change of Station) from Kentucky to Texas.
What should have been a familiar process quickly spiraled into an emotional and logistical marathon. With children and an aging German Shepherd in tow, this wasn't just another move—it was a military operation requiring morning briefings, a 10-page plan, and the deliberate setting aside of emotions to manage the chaos. The San Antonio housing market threw its own curveballs, from unresponsive agents to unexpected "pet rent" for my elderly dog and tiny kitten.
Just as we secured housing and began to unpack, another military reality struck—a TDY (Temporary Duty) assignment that stretched to nearly 60 days. The irony wasn't lost on me: unpacking boxes just to pack bags and leave again, this time abandoning my family to settle our new home without me. This constant uprooting dismantled the habits that typically keep me grounded, creating a start-stop pattern that impacted my mental well-being.
My journey back to myself hasn't been about starting over, but about starting again—reconnecting with the routines and practices that make me feel whole despite external chaos. If you're navigating your own period of transition, whether military-related or not, this episode offers a raw look at managing expectations, rebuilding habits, and finding your way back to yourself when everything around you keeps changing. Pour your cafecito and join me as we explore what it means to come home to yourself, even when your physical home is in flux.
Support the show
If today’s episode hit you in the chest the way it hit me, don’t just walk away—walk toward something that reflects you.
Subscribe to the podcast, hit that YouTube channel for the behind-the-scenes, and if you’re ready to read a story about what it really means to come home to yourself—
👉🏽 Preorder The Ordinary Bruja.
https://haveacupofjohanny.com/product/the-ordinary-bruja-book-one-of-las-cerradoras-series-j-e-ortega/
It’s about a Dominican-American bruja who’s been running from herself her whole life until ancestral magic, generational wounds, and a haunted-ass hill force her to face the truth.
If you’ve ever felt “too much,” “not enough,” or like you don’t fit anywhere, you’re exactly who this story was written for.
🎙️ Subscribe.
📺 Follow on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2SRDePbyy8M85Wbf25VUCg
📚 Preorder The Ordinary Bruja. https://haveacupofjohanny.com/product/the-ordinary-bruja-book-one-of-las-cerradoras-series-j-e-ortega/
Because becoming who you are is the bravest kind of magic.