Day 7 of 7 Days of Inspirational Quotes

“When I was 5 years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down “happy”. They told me I didn’t understand the assignment, and I told them they didn’t understand life.” —John Lennon

I have to agree with John Lennon. His teachers didn’t understand life, nor the simplistic needs of a child. Happiness, folks- it’s all about happiness. Today’s quote goes hand-in-hand with Day 2 (Ayn Rand) and Day 4 (Steve Jobs) quotes.

Steve Jobs said “The only way to do great work is to love what you do.” If you don’t love what you’re doing, how can you be happy at work? How can your profession leave you feeling fulfilled if it doesn’t make you happy? Ayn Rand said of mankind that “his own happiness [is] the moral purpose of his life.” There is nothing more important than happiness, whether you’re talking about your professional life or your private life. Happiness needs to be in both. Happiness is the key ingredient that makes life worth living. The other components are: having a purpose, and someone to love, in my opinion.

Imagine having all the money you could ever want. You could buy anything your heart desired. You wouldn’t need a job. You could spend your days shopping, traveling to exotic places, buying and/or building homes wherever you wanted, etc . Now honestly, how long could you live like that? Would that make you happy? Really happy? I was talking to my dear friend about this recently. She remarked that she had to write a paper in college about the happiness of lottery winners. She said the research she did was fascinating! She couldn’t believe how many lottery winners either committed suicide or lost all their wealth in a few years’ time. She told me stories of winners being hounded by people who wanted their money and of others who simply were never satisfied with what they bought. They had to keep filling a void by buying more and more “stuff.” What was the one thing all these lottery winners lacked? Happiness.

Money does NOT buy happiness. Happiness comes from inside. But you say “having money does make me happy!” But that kind of happiness is fleeting. It isn’t real. It’s superficial, and fades over time. Real happiness comes from the inside of each of us, and stays there, growing when we give it away in a genuine manner, such as helping others. Helping someone else is a great way to generate some happiness inside you, as well as the recipient of your help. It feels good. Genuine happiness comes from loving someone unconditionally- such as a child, or parent, spouse or pet. Happiness comes from your heart, and is brought out in everything good you do. Doing good for others makes you feel happy and great inside. That’s true happiness.

John Lennon understood at a tender age how important happiness was. My friend who told me about her college paper said she found out some of the happiest people on earth are also the poorest. There are very poor people living in cities in India who have no home, no running water, no food, and no possessions. They are all homeless together. They live in big areas of cardboard boxes, where they share food, take care of each other, and stick together. They know of nothing else- no mansions, no TV or cell phones, no designer clothes or cars. And they have nothing but love for each other. They are some of the happiest people in the world. My friend said her professor talked about a lot of happy people in the world who lived like that. True happiness does come from inside. Strive to be happy. I hope everyone is like John Lennon was and wants to be happy when they grow up!

Tami Loves…finding, believing in, and sharing true happiness with others.

 

Day 6 of 7 Days of Inspirational Quotes

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do, so throw off the bowlines, sail away from safe harbor, catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore, Dream, Discover”. —Mark Twain

I remember several years ago being out of town, at a restaurant, and listening to several elderly gentleman talking at their table after a round of golf at a nearby course. I was eating alone and enjoying my lunch while going over some of my accounts. I couldn’t help but hear bits and pieces of their very enlightening conversation:

Man #1 “Joe, how long has it been since you played eighteen?”

Man #2 (Joe) “I don’t know, maybe five or six years. My knees can’t take eighteen. They’re good and busted up after all my jumps in the war, and all that hiking Sue and I used to do. I’m good with nine.”

Man #3 “Were your jumps mainly in Nam or Laos?”

Man #2 (Joe)” I just went where they told me, and prayed that chute would open every time. I broke my leg on a jump in Cambodia, one time, toward the end of the war. Damn thing still gives me a weather forecast!

(Laughter from all the guys.)

Man #4 “Well Joe’s got an excuse for not doing eighteen, Hal. What’s yours? Were you Airborne, too?”

Man #1 (Hal) “You know I wasn’t. I just don’t play eighteen because it takes too long. I like you guys and all, but I don’t have all day. (laughs) Myra probably already has the camper packed and ready to go. We’re gone nearly every weekend May through September! I don’t know who likes to fish more, me or her!”

Man #4 “You go to the same camping place every week, or somewhere different?”

Man #1 (Hal)” Myra charts our course. I just drive. She wants to see all the different lakes and state parks. I keep telling her we could rent a camper up in Alaska, too. Now that would be fun!”

Man #3 “I have to say, it sounds pretty good to me. Charlotte has never been much for travel. Oh we go and visit the kids and grandkids, but I always wish we would’ve taken some trips to see places when we were younger. Joe’s been to Asia courtesy of Uncle Sam. And I remember all the hiking he and Sue used to do out west in Yosemite and Yellowstone. I always wanted to see Yellowstone. There are a lot of places I’d like to see…”

Man #4 “Yeah, Dee and I were talking about taking a cruise. We went on one years ago when the boys were young. Dee’s parents kept them for us. We went to Mexico, and a couple other places. I imagine cruising has changed a lot since those days. We get brochures from some of the lines. If you book early enough you can get a pretty decent rate.”

Man #2 (Joe) “Well now- there’s an idea! How about we talk the girls into a cruise, and we all go together?”

Man #3 “Charlotte would never get on a ship; she barely gets on a plane…”

Man #4 “Maybe she’d consider it if her friends would be there, too. I’ll talk to Dee. She can talk to Charlotte. I know those ships spend a day in each port, and there’s a lot of shopping… (laughter)Why don’t we all meet at our house and you all can take a look at the brochures? We’ll have some dinner, maybe play some cards, let the girls talk, you know.”

Man #1 (Hal) “I think Myra would be up for it. She loves to camp and fish, but she’d love a cruise, too. And we aren’t getting any younger…”

Man #3 “Yeah, Charlotte does love to shop. And gamble…”

Man #2 (Joe) “Charlotte? A gambler? I had no idea! Man, this is sounding better and better!”

(Laughter from all the guys)

I remember leaving the restaurant, making a mental note to check out some cruise brochures. Listening to their conversation of how some wished they’d traveled more, and how their bodies weren’t young like they used to be, made me realize that I, too, wanted to get out and do some fun things with my husband before we were too old to go. We have been traveling more lately, now that our daughters are grown and off on their own, but there’s so much we want to see.

Is there something you’ve always dreamed of doing? Perhaps there’s a place you have always wanted to visit. Add it to your Bucket List, but don’t forget to DO the things on your Bucket List. You can’t just write them down and forget about them. If there is a will there is a way! I’d rather spend the money and have the experience than stay at home with the money. Wouldn’t you? It’s a great big world out there. There’s not only so much to see, but so much to do! Try tobogganing, four-wheeling, horseback riding, skydiving, or zip-lining! Eat in that fancy restaurant you always drive by, and wish you could just try one time! Go see the ocean! Take a cruise. Ride in a helicopter. Take a flying lesson, hike in the mountains, or go deep-sea fishing. Make your dream happen!

Leave this world with no regrets. Listen to Mark Twain’s advice. “Explore, Dream, Discover.”

Tami Loves…leaving the safety of the harbor for the adventure that awaits!

Day 5 of 7 Days of Inspirational Quotes

“Life is 10% what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it.” —Charles Swindoll

Boy is this quote ever true! How many times do we let something small snowball into something huge? Do you sweat the small stuff? Sometimes it’s so hard not to, but we have to remember, most of the things that happen to us on a day-to-day basis are all small stuff. It’s all about how we deal with what comes our way. If you think of 10% of something, that’s not so much. But it’s the 90% part that matters; the way you react dictates how things are going to go.

Here’s an example of how this 10% works:

You’re on your way home from work, just about to exit, and someone cuts you off on the freeway. He flips you a gesture, and nearly hits your car as he swerves in front of you, slamming on his brakes so that you have to veer onto the shoulder to avoid hitting him. What on earth is wrong with people? You have nearly missed your exit because this idiot is having road rage. Stop.

The other 90% is up to you. Do you:

A. Become so flustered that you are now returning the gesture back to him? Who does he think he is? How can some people be allowed to drive? You accelerate to keep on his tail as you make your way up the exit ramp to the stop sign. He intentionally lingers a long time at the stop sign just to annoy you, and flips you the gesture again before turning left. You honk your horn before turning right. You glance at the clock on your dash. You’re going to be late getting home, and your kids will be getting off the bus without you waiting at the end of the drive for them. You panic and speed up, going up a hill near your home too fast. There’s the school bus stopped just over the top of the hill letting off kids on the opposite side. You see the flashing lights as you clear the crest of the hill, slamming on your brakes. The squealing of your tires causes the kids who just got off the bus to turn around and stare at you. The driver of the bus looks mad. She throws her hands in the air in a what-are-you-doing gesture, and shakes her head. You try to look away, but mouth the words “I’m sorry” to her when you pass by after she turns off her flashers and stop sign. You could have caused a horrible accident! But you’re going to be late. Your kids will wonder where you are!! Hurry! You’ve got to hurry!

B. Wonder what has happened to that driver that he’s in such a rage? Remember that you can’t control other people’s behavior but you can control your own. You stay back from him as you continue up the exit ramp leaving a good two car-lengths between you. You avoid looking at him but you see he’s waiting for some type of reaction from you because he keeps looking in his review mirror at you. He takes a long intentional stop at the stop sign, when he has every opportunity to go. Finally, he gestures again and turns left. You come up to the stop sign, wait and turn right. You glance at the clock on your dash. You’re going to be late getting home, and your kids will be getting off the bus without you waiting at the end of the drive for them. You tell yourself it is okay. They are perfectly capable of walking up the driveway, and letting themselves into the house. They know where the key is, and chances are you’ll be pulling in the drive before they’re even in the house. You put a smile on your face. No road-rage idiot is going to get the better of you. You had a good day at work, and now you can go home and make some snacks for your hungry kids. As you drive up the big hill near your house, you remember the school bus is probably there by now. You slow down, and as you crest the hill, sure enough, there’s the bus stopped letting off kids. You stop. When the kids are all off the bus the driver turns off her flashers and stop sign. She waves a thank you to you as you pass by. You’re almost home now.

 

So what’s it going to be? A or B?

The 10% is something you can’t change, but the 90% is totally under your control. Think about it. In some instances it could have a very significant outcome, good or bad.

I wasn’t familiar with Charles Swindoll, so I did some research. He’s an evangelistic Christian pastor, author, and hosts a radio show. I read some of his other quotes, and I like them, too. He seems like the kind of man who would give you good, honest advice.

Here’s another one of his quotes:

“The remarkable thing is, we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day.”

So the next time something happens that causes you to react suddenly, remember that the 90% is up to you! Choose wisely dear friends!

Tami Loves…staying positive, and seeing the good in people.

 

Day 4 of 7 Days of Inspirational Quotes

“The only way to do great work is to love what you do.” —Steve Jobs

Today’s quote speaks volumes to me! This one isn’t too hard to figure out, although some of you might not know who Steve Jobs was. He was the CEO, major stockholder, and co-founder of Apple, Inc. He died in 2011, and he obviously loved what he did because he took Apple to what it is today! What an amazing man!

Have you ever been in a job that you didn’t love? Did you wake up each morning and dread getting out of bed? Did you dream of finding something better as you went through your workday? Was lunch a brief respite to an otherwise lackluster day? Was there any silver lining in that job? So what does that say about your job performance? Were you doing great work at that job you despised? I’m guessing your answer is “No.” I’m not judging you. I’ve been there myself. But it was a long time ago, and it seems like a different lifetime!

I LOVE what I do now! I love it so much I hate to call it a “job.” To me, what I do is my passion. I thrive helping others. I love using my creativity and ideas to help you love your home, the way I love mine. I truly believe your home should be a reflection of your personal style and what makes you happy. You should love coming home each day, and your home should be your place of refuge. I take pride in helping my customers make their homes their own personal place of refuge. And because I love what I do, I think I do a pretty great job of it. But I’m a humble woman who appreciates the hard work and effort it takes to do a job you might not love.

If you aren’t doing what you love, you’ll know it. You might have some of the “symptoms” I mentioned earlier, like dreading getting out of bed, or you might simply just be plodding along, doing your job day in and day out, but not being passionate about it, or loving it. If that’s the case, I would highly recommend finding something you absolutely love doing, and making that your profession! When you’re passionate about what you do, it’s not work, and your performance will prove it!

Not everyone can change their occupation at the snap of their fingers, I realize this. I’m just saying that if you have the opportunity to make money doing something you love, and it doesn’t feel like work, then you’re blessed. If you’re waiting on that opportunity, keep believing it will happen and it WILL! Life is about compromise and change. Change can be a good thing! Whatever you do, try to love what it is, find the positive aspects of it, and do it to the very best of your capabilities!

Tami Loves…finding those opportunities to help others!

DAY 3 of 7 Days of Inspirational Quotes

“I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the water to create many ripples.” —Mother Teresa

How many times do we do something small and think to ourselves that if only we could do something big, it would have some wonderful effect on others? For some reason we don’t think our small effort is enough. “Who am I anyway?” we ask ourselves.  I’m just one person doing one small deed. I’m not going to change the world. I’m not even going to change the world on my block, or in my subdivision.  Well, we simply cannot think that way. Sometimes all it takes is one person doing a small deed to make a big change. How is that possible? Awareness. And sometimes it’s a small person starting the awareness.

Ever hear about a little kid who sells lemonade to collect money to fight cancer, or a child who decides to challenge the kids in his class to collect money to provide clean drinking water to kids in Africa? What happens? Through social media, other people become aware of what these kids are doing, and soon you have corporations matching donations dollar for dollar. It might start as a small ripple but soon, it’s changing the lives of many people.

But it doesn’t have to be a national or global response! You can throw your little stone and create your own ripples. Perhaps you know of a family who is in need of some food or clothing. You can go out and shop for them, creating a nice little care package, and deliver it to their door. But suppose you mention it to your best friend, and she tells her husband, and he tells a co-worker, and soon the whole office wants to help. You created a ripple that brought change to a family in need. It might not seem like much, but to that family in need, it is HUGE!

Never think that what you do to help, or what contribution you make, is too small. When you decide to become involved, you have already started a ripple. Good attracts more good. You might be just one cog in the wheel, but where would we be if we had to do it all by ourselves? Your act on its own might not change the world, but if we never reached out; never became active in the cause we believe in, where would the change come from? It takes all of us working together to make the change.

Be that change in the world. Look at all the people who have been inspired by one Catholic nun. Look at all the people who decided to use their lives for good, just like Mother Teresa. I’m thinking of one person in particular- Princess Diana. She was inspired to help others partly because of Mother Teresa, and partly because she knew it was the right thing to do since she was a person in the public eye. She used her position to attract awareness to her many causes. Princess Diana was a genuinely good person who lived her life always trying to help others, and teaching her children about the duty we each have to reach out to those less-fortunate and help them any way we can. She was just one person, but she changed the world for the better.

Be the ripple in your children’s lives, your family’s lives, and the lives of many others who need your help. Nothing you can do is ever too small, too insignificant, or too wasted. You can make a change, too.

Tami Loves…small acts of kindness that lead to bigger and better changes.

 

Day 2 of 7 Days of Inspirational Quotes

“The question isn’t who is going to let me; it’s who is going to stop me.” —Ayn Rand

So many times in my life I have been in a situation where I have asked myself, “Can I do this?” or “Will they let me do this?” They could be anyone- the powers that be, a boss, or even my peers. The honest truth is that I am really questioning myself. Do I think I can do it? Am I smart enough? Do I believe in my abilities? I mean it’s completely normal to have self-doubts now and then. We all do. We ask ourselves if we might be biting off more than we can chew, or if perhaps we aren’t qualified to tackle something. Maybe we should just leave it to someone else. In some cases, that’s perfectly correct. You wouldn’t try to repair your car’s engine if you had no mechanical expertise. That’s logical. No, what I’m talking about is constantly doubting yourself; lacking that confidence in your ability to succeed. Who is really hindering you but yourself?

 

Today’s quote ties in with Day 1’s quote. It’s all about believing in you. Ayn Rand was a Russian philosopher and novelist. She wrote the book, “Atlas Shrugged” and others, but she is known for her philosophy on Objectivism. I could describe Objectivism as not settling, or expecting better than what you have, but she describes it best:

“My philosophy, in essence, is the concept of man as a heroic being, with his own happiness as the moral purpose of his life, with productive achievement as his noblest activity, and reason as his only absolute.”

After reading that, you see why she said “The question isn’t who is going to let me; it’s who is going to stop me.” I believe that she is telling us to go for the gusto, do all that you can, be all that you can. Don’t let what others think of you or your ability cause you to question yourself. If you truly believe in yourself, who can stop you from succeeding?  The only person you are responsible for making happy is you. You decide what your limits are, not someone else.

We each have a God-given right to be all that we can be, and only we (each of us) can determine what that means, and how we can achieve it. We owe it to ourselves to make the very most of this life we have, to fulfill our dreams, to achieve the best possible quality of life, regardless of the situation we were born into. It will take hard work, but that is what we must strive for, not hurting anyone else in the process. Build your self-esteem by achieving those goals through hard work.

I like to think of Ayn Rand as a woman who was way before her time. She knew from experience that just because you were born into a situation, or grew up in a certain way, it didn’t mean you were destined to remain there. I’m definitely not a great philosopher, nor have I come up with any great words people will remember, but I do know for sure that YOU are the captain of your life. Your journey is to be happy, succeed, and your purpose is make that happen, without anyone stopping you. Don’t be your own stumbling block to your success!

Tami Loves…celebrating everyone’s life purpose, dreams, and successes!

Day One of Seven Days of Inspirational Quotes

“Nothing is impossible, the word itself says ‘I’m possible’!” —Audrey Hepburn

What a beautiful and introspective thought this beautiful and talented lady had when she came up with that one! The first time I read it, I thought to myself, “she either was having a really astute moment, or she was having a really trying moment!” Either way, she came up with a great quote in that moment. Perhaps there were many of those moments in her life- we may never know, but those words capture a sentiment I like to remember.

If you’re breathing and alive, you’re possible! Anything you strive for, any goal you try to reach- is possible! When you think about something you want to achieve, just the fact that you’re thinking about it, gives it life and puts the thought into motion. If YOU think it, YOU can achieve it! I truly believe this because so many things in my life that are wonderful and concrete started with a thought. Just a tiny thought that turned into a dream and then became a goal finally turned into reality! If you imagine something, and see it through, nothing is impossible.

Ask the kid who came from nowhere, with no one to support his dreams- living in a life of poverty and misfortune, how he succeeded to be the doctor he is today. How did he rise above all his circumstances and achieve so much? The answer: He had a dream. He existed, and because he existed, so did his dream of being someone who mattered. Nothing was impossible to him because HE is possible. Nobody told him it was possible, he just knew it was, because he wanted it so badly. Sure, fate dealt him a start  that was meager. His dad was never in his life, his mom was a drug addict, but he knew there was a better life out there somewhere, and he knew if he believed it, it was possible to make his dreams happen. Who is this person? It is a number of people. It might be someone you know, and it might even be you. It doesn’t matter what your circumstances are, or who you are, anything you want for yourself is possible.

 

You might think about Audrey Hepburn and ask yourself what struggle this beloved British actress could have had to overcome, but we never truly know what someone else is dealing with in their lives. We all put forth a persona we want others to see, regardless of how we might be feeling inside. Audrey Hepburn was born into an elite family but her father left at an early age, and when World War II broke out, she and her mother fled to Holland where they thought they would be safe from the Germans, only to see their relatives killed. Sometimes they had nothing to eat but flour. But Audrey was a dancer, and she had a dream that kept her dancing. She believed nothing was impossible despite the struggles she had to overcome. Think of the lives she went on to help as she became a spokesperson for children in poverty, and the face of UNICEF. Imagine if she hadn’t believed anything was possible!

I’m possible. Remember that the next time you’re faced with a dilemma and you say to yourself, “Impossible!”  Turn it right around and say “No, I’m possible, and I can get through this!” We are all possible every day.

 

Tami Loves…finding the possibilities in every situation, and remembering that YOU are special!

 

 

When things become too hectic or too much to bear, what do you do to cope? How do you put things into perspective so you can deal with them? Do you throw your hands in the air? Do you curse and vow to forget whole mess for a while, or do you sit down and try to think about the situation rationally?

Many times we react out of frustration when we become overwhelmed. It’s a normal response. The key, I have found, is to remain calm in any circumstance, and not react instinctively or hastily. But how do we do that? How do we remember to keep our composure when we become overwhelmed? We must be aware of what we’re feeling and our actions that tell us we are overwhelmed. Being aware that things are getting to be too much takes some practice. We have to be able to realize our emotions in order to deal with them.

Being a small-business owner, I know how quickly things can escalate if there’s a problem. One thing can turn into ten things like a domino effect. Some issues require immediate action, and you have to determine which those are. Other issues may not be so critical but because everything seems to happen all at once it seems like they all need attention simultaneously. That is not usually the case. Rarely do things culminate to the panic level though sometimes that’s exactly what we believe.

First, and foremost- take a deep breath. Breathe-that is number ONE. Calmness is key. Remember that being overwhelmed is something you allow to happen. You can just as easily allow yourself to remain calm. All it takes is a little practice.

Do you struggle with paying the bills on time when they come due? Does it seem like there’s more outgoing payments than incoming ones? Is it hard to get your billings and invoices out on time? Do you stay up late doing payroll, or ordering more supplies? I try to make things easy on myself by writing down a to-do list for each and every day. Make a to-do list- that is number TWO. That list is comprised of all the things I need to accomplish that day. It may have several items or just a few, depending on what I’m doing, but I look at it every morning, planning out my day, and the route I must take in order to get things done. Usually I have supplies to pick up, jobs to stop by and check, or jobs to attend to myself, customers to meet, proposals to write, along with overseeing my retail shop, answering emails, and doing Facebook “Live” videos, and personal errands. Sometimes it gets to be a lot, but I keep it from becoming overwhelming by sorting through it all and prioritizing.

Prioritize- that is number THREE. Go through your list for the day. What must absolutely happen that day? Do those things first. Then go through the rest and sort by location and amount of time needed to accomplish. Save the bookwork items like billings, invoices or check-writing for when you can sit down without interruptions.

Always keep your appointments- that is number FOUR. Regardless of whatever comes up, and what you need to get done, make sure you keep( and are on time for) your appointments with your customers. They are your most-important priority. Being on time and prepared is crucial to your business, and should be the number one concern that you maintain every day. Answer your customers’ emails, texts or calls as warranted but never longer than one business day. Keep your customers happy!

Do everything with purpose- that is number FIVE. Don’t jump from one item on your list to another without any thought. Be systematic and keep moving forward with order through your list. When you made your list, you planned it out carefully so there wouldn’t be wasted time, or back-tracking. Make sure you follow that throughout the day.

If you find yourself with a few extra minutes, use them wisely. Place an order, answer an email, or set up an appointment, etc. A full day moves quickly, and when you have it planned out to minimize wasted time, you’ll be amazed how much you get accomplished. One thing to keep in mind though- nothing always goes as planned. Expect changes, delays, detours, and snags; when they occur don’t panic, just remember to breathe and react calmly. No matter how mixed-up things get, in the big scheme of things it doesn’t matter. Anything can be fixed with a little thought and ingenuity. Your productivity doesn’t have to decrease just because of a snag. Delegate tasks to other members of your team, when you can. That’s why you have a team, or an assistant.

Deal with your overwhelm before it becomes your overwhelm. Recognize the signs that things are heading toward a spiral, and take control of them. Plan ahead for last-minute changes. The most important thing you can do to not feel overwhelmed is to stay organized. Go through the steps above that I have highlighted for you. They will help. Feeling overwhelmed is a natural response when things pile up on us. It happens to everyone. You can feel overwhelmed in your job or in your personal life. Being a stay-at-home parent can be overwhelming at times, too. The same steps that I use for my business can be used at home. Your family would be the “customers.” They come first, and their happiness is your number one goal.

So to sum up everything, here are my steps again:

1. Breathe
2. Make a To-do list
3. Prioritize
4. Always keep your appointments (keep your customers/and or family happy)
5. Do everything with purpose

Tami Loves…taking the stress out of everyone’s day.

 

When you’re young and dreaming of having a baby, you’re in a certain place in your life. You’re ready for this next phase to begin. Your friends are getting married and having babies, and you want to begin the journey of motherhood, too. You finally find out you’re pregnant and you’re feeling this special feeling of never being alone. No matter where you go, people look at you differently. There’s a topic for conversation with you now that you’ve never had before. Then the baby arrives and oh boy does life change! For the next eighteen years it all becomes a blur in the day- to-day grind.

 

The joys and the frustrations are real. Each age of your baby brings new milestones and issues, too- their first smile, first word, first steps! And then you’re baby-proofing the entire house, and gating off places they can’t be. Suddenly they’re mobile, and you’re chasing them down, and going through the “terrible-twos!” You think it’s going to be like this forever and you hear yourself saying “I can’t take any more!”  You and your spouse look at each other in frustration one minute, and beam with pride the next. You have a precious little handful that you’ve got to mold into a responsible, loving, and secure adult! How will you do it?

 

Then one day, they’ve got their driver’s license and they’re not quite around as much as they used to be. They’re not under your feet like they were, and things change. You’re moving into a new phase. Then off to college they go and you’ll find yourself in a whole new phase of motherhood. “Mom, I can’t live with my roommate!” “Can I study abroad?” “I think I want to change my major…” “I want to come home, I miss you and Dad!” Then slowly but surely, they make their own decisions, and the calls for advice don’t come as frequently as they did in the beginning. Now the calls are more like, “Hey mom, just wanted to hear your voice as I walk to class” or “I’ve landed a great internship…in New York City!” or “I’ve met the one!” They’ve found their wings and now it’s time for them to soar!

 

After the kids are gone you DO still hold the title of “Mom.” However, society and your younger friends really don’t see you as that anymore. You aren’t identified as somebody’s mom. “You’re older now, and you’re looking towards retirement.” You couldn’t possibly understand what it’s like to have little kids, right? WRONG! We have been there and done that, and we blazed the trail for you. Where do you think Pinterest comes from? From people who are experienced in one thing or another and showing others the way! For all of you older moms- I hope you find something that ignites your spirit and gives you reason to get up every day, and do something that you totally love!

 

I love all of my young Facebook friends.  I enjoy following their posts of their kids and their families! It makes me smile to think I’ve been there; I’ve done that; I’ve lived that. I know exactly what they feel like right now.  I can so relate to them. Even if I’m not in your same shoes right now, I have worn them, so don’t count me out. I am still a mom. You will find yourself wearing the same mom-shoes that I’m wearing today.

So when you’re sitting at home today deciding what you want to do, remember this advice and do something just for you, Mom. You’ve earned this time of peace and quiet. You paid the dues of those challenging years, and now it’s time reap the rewards of having raised happy and successful children who are off doing their own thing, even possibly starting their own families. Though you’re now an avid golfer, professional baker, quilter, entrepreneur, or yes, even marathon-runner, you’ll always be “Mom.” Even though people no longer see you as just “Adam’s mom” or “Carrie’s mom,” it doesn’t take that part of your life away from your identity. Once a mom, always a mom. But now, we can gain a little bit of ourselves back, and do some things just for us. Your kids are always going to need you, and love you, no matter what.

And hey…isn’t that your cell ringing right now? Yep, it’s one of your kids!

“Mom? I’m so excited; I wanted you to be the first to know…”

Tami Loves…celebrating all the stages of motherhood.