Updates from AJ Flanagan

Wait... What Was I Doing? A Real-Life Look at Distraction and Organization

Sat, 25 Jul 2026 08:28:00 CDT

I can't tell you how many times I've picked up my phone to do one specific thing and ended up doing something completely different.

Maybe I'm in the kitchen and realize I'm almost out of something, so I grab my phone to put it on the grocery list. Except when I open my phone, there's a text waiting for me. I read it, answer it, maybe remember something else while I'm doing that, and a few minutes later I put the phone back down. The grocery list never even got opened.

Okay... Tell Me I'm Not the Only One

Mon, 20 Jul 2026 05:49:12 CDT

I've been noticing things about myself that I'm not sure I've ever really noticed before... at least not through the same lens as I'm seeing them now.

I think they've always been there. I just never stopped and really thought about these things long enough to connect the dots.

I Care More Carefully Now

Sat, 30 May 2026 14:03:34 CDT

The other day I caught myself starting to get annoyed about something, and halfway through being annoyed, I stopped and thought, "Why am I spending energy on this?"

That's when it hit me that something has changed...

When Social Time Feels Good… But You Still Need to Be Alone

Sat, 18 Apr 2026 20:23:41 CDT

You know that feeling when you get home after being out for a while... everything was great, nothing went wrong... the conversations were fine, maybe even really good. You’re glad you went.

And yet, the first thing you find yourself craving is a little space. A little quiet. Just a moment where no one needs anything from you. I’ve had that feeling more times than I can count, especially after being in a large group of people. When I get home, there’s this clear sense that my energy has been used up. Not just my physical energy, but emotional and mental energy, too.

For a long time, I think I quietly assumed that this was something I should probably work through.

When “No Thanks” Blocks a Blessing

Mon, 23 Mar 2026 21:13:59 CDT

A few months ago, I heard something that stuck with me.

I was watching a guy on YouTube who goes around doing things for people—acts of service, completely free, no strings attached. And when people try to pay him or give something back, he usually says, “Just pay it forward.” But a couple of times, he paused and said something different...

Wanting Instant Redemption, Choosing Silence

Sat, 21 Mar 2026 15:24:19 CDT

I’ve had a few situations lately where I really wanted to defend myself… like, not just calmly explain, but jump up and say, “That’s not even close to true.” And, since I’m always honest with you, part of me doesn’t just want to set the record straight… I want people to realize how ridiculous it all is. I want instant redemption.

But I've started thinking… if someone came at me like that... all loud and emotional, telling me I’m wrong... would that actually change my mind? Probably not. I’d shut down. Or get defensive. Or just think, “Wow… ooookaaaay.” (This has happened before and it didn’t exactly make me see their side.)

That mini epiphany has me rethinking something else...

Maybe It’s Not a Time Problem — Maybe It’s a Bandwidth Problem

Sat, 14 Mar 2026 21:36:37 CDT

The other day, a notification popped up on my phone for a new episode of a podcast I usually enjoy. My first reaction was to swipe it away and think, I don’t have time for that. It was an automatic response, the kind you barely think about before moving on.

A moment later, though, I caught myself...

The Peace of Not Having an Opinion About Everything

Sat, 07 Mar 2026 22:28:14 CDT

There was a time when I felt like I should have an opinion about just about everything. If something was being debated, I figured I probably ought to know where I stood on it.

Somewhere along the way, that expectation quietly faded. Now when I see a headline, a debate, or a heated conversation online, I don’t automatically feel the urge to weigh in anymore...

I Wouldn’t Have Done This 30 Years Ago

Sat, 28 Feb 2026 17:34:29 CDT

Starting first. Figuring it out later.

When Jennifer and I decided to start a podcast about local history, it meant trying something completely new at this stage of life — something neither of us had ever done before. Like, EVER...

The Way I Care for My Body Is the Way I’m Choosing to Live

Sat, 21 Feb 2026 20:10:23 CDT

If you've been reading my blogs lately, you've probably noticed that I’ve been using the words "calm" and "simple" to describe the direction I want for my life these days.

Those words have been shaping a lot of my decisions. I’m choosing a slower pace, fewer extremes, and more than a little extra intention about what I take on and what I let go of. I'm getting better at pausing, thinking, and praying before plowing ahead. It's a shift that's working well for me...