“X” usually means something crossed out, negative, or it denotes a special area. “X marks the spot.”  “X” is one of the first symbols we learn to make as children beginning to write. It is a simple, two-stroke letter that has so much meaning in many ways. It can be used negatively to mean former or previous as in “ex” like ex-spouse, which again means something that has been crossed-out. It also means “out of,” “from,” or “up.”

I have never been a fan of using “X” in X-mas. We’ve all heard the saying “X takes Christ out of Christmas,” and for me, that’s true. I always prefer to write out the word, instead of using the shortcut. To me, that particular “X” (not all) represents something negative in my favorite holiday! I love Christmas, and no matter how small the space I have to write in, or how many times I need to write it, I will always use “Christmas” instead of “X-mas.”

But let’s talk about all the wonderful things “X” can stand for! If you think of it in a positive manner, like I try to do, “X” can also be a positive substitute for the prefix “ex,” as in X-tra, X-ceptional, X-ceed, X-cellence, X-perience, X-cellorate, X-periment, X-uberant, X- treme, etc. You get the idea! Try to think of “X’ as a power letter!! All of these words I just used are power words. Turn the negative of “X” into something positive! I think of words like “exceptional” and “excellent” as adjectives to define something out of the ordinary, or I should say “extraordinary!”  In most of these power words, “X” represents something above and beyond the standard norm.

 

So the next time you see the letter “X” by itself somewhere, add your own positive spin to it! “I am x-cellorating at bringing out the most x-traordinary part of me, because I am x-ceptional!”

Think of some on your own, and keep it positive! Remember, “X” can mean good stuff, too!!

TamiLoves…always seeking the “X-traordinary” in everything!

Yesterday I noticed my gas gauge was very low on my car I pull into the gas station and I park and as I’m getting out I say out loud to my car I’m going to fill you up so you won’t be hungry. I know that’s a crazy thing to talk to your car I don’t do it very often but for some reason yesterday I did. And as I’m standing there at the pump filling my car with what it needed I’m thinking I wish I could be filled with what I’m needing.  

I’m not even sure what it is I think I need. I just know I need something.  I’m feeling a little overwhelmed but I always feel that way. You would think I would get used to it by now. I am feeling fine and organized but yet I struggle every day to force myself to put things back where I got them to keep things picked up so it doesn’t snow ball out of control. 

Why do we always have these feelings that it’s never enough and that we always need more.  Why do we feel like our tanks are empty and need filled. 

Do you feel that way unsatisfied and you don’t even know why. When you step out of yourself are you happy or do you find yourself looking for happiness.  Maybe you’re happy and you’re struggling to hang onto it. Whatever fuel you need you need, you must find the right gas station to pull into and get yourself filled up.  

Remember the old days when you would pull into a gas station and attend it would come to your window and say may I help you and you say yes fill her up please. Not only does this nice gentleman fill up your car for you but he would wash your windows front and back and sometimes even the mirrors on the sides, he would check your oil, show you how full it was, thank you for stopping and wish you a nice day. 

You would leave feeling totally accomplished like you had done some great thing when in fact all you did was pull in and tell someone else what to do. Maybe that’s what you need to do. Be a boss,  be a leader, be someone that assigns projects to others – maybe that’s what would fill up your tank. It would give you time to do the things you need to do. 

So in closing my friends I hope you find the right fuel for your fire!!!

Tami Loves her tank on FULL!!!!!!

My friend Danielle Rowe once told me, “You can’t steer a parked car.” I did some thinking about that statement, and it made me really take a long look at my business to determine if I was steering, or parked. Sometimes we just put the car into drive, but all we’re really doing is coasting. That doesn’t count as steering.

What am I talking about, you ask? Well, I’ll tell you. What I’m telling you is that you need to be inspired and motivated to work your business, (or your job, or your life!) Where do you want to go? What are the goals you’d like to accomplish? Do those goals seem out of your reach? If so, back it up and take it one day at a time. But don’t stop driving! Don’t stop finding ways to build your business, or your hobbies. Keep steering that car so you keep on driving!

But what if you get stuck, and find yourself in “park?” Easy. You search for things that will make you want to keep going! That’s called building momentum. Once you get inspired, and you take that great idea, or product, to new places where you draw attention to it, you’ll be even more inspired to think of more ideas to launch. You keep your car moving, gaining more momentum, and you just keep on steering it. Sometimes we coast to a stop, and we find ourselves in “park”. But it doesn’t have to be permanent; all we have to do is dream! Dream about what we want, and how we get it; dream about what steps we need to take to make something happen- because that’s what the “steering” analogy is. Steering is the same as saying “making something happen.” Steering is getting the results you want by getting out of your comfort zone in “park”, and putting that car in “drive!”

I know I’m making it sound easier than it is, but you won’t get anywhere if you just sit and dream about being successful. Everyone can dream that. It’s putting your dreams into motion, and working hard to make them come true that’s the steering part of the car. Otherwise, just keep on dreaming while you’re sitting in “park.”

You don’t have to be a business owner to understand this analogy. It can fit anyone. I think it’s a great analogy for kids! You can sit in your parked car and have big aspirations of getting into a great college, graduating and becoming a successful person, but if you don’t ever put your car in “drive” and start steering it to where you want to go, you’ll never get “there.” And “there” could mean college, better job, better relationship, better way of living, better LIFE! You decide where you’re going to steer your car to, and what you need to get it there.

I’m grateful Danielle shared this with me because I’ve thought a lot about it, and when I feel like I’m parked and not really going anywhere, I remember her statement, and I become inspired to get back on the highway, steering toward something new! Give it a try!!

Tami Loves…steering toward that goal and helping friends reach their goals, too!

Ever hear people describe someone as a “used-car salesman?” Why do we use that term so much when it comes to salespeople? What is it about a used-car salesman that turns people off so much? What’s wrong with trying to sell someone something you think they need and want?

Answer: because nobody likes to be “sold.” We like to want something, and see its value on our own without being “pushed” into seeing it or wanting it.

Now let me say here before I upset anyone that I have met a lot of really nice used-car salesmen, and most of the ones I met are not like the cliché. That term started long before I was born, and I just prefer to use the term “pushy.”

Recently, I was in a small store and I overheard the owner telling the cashier to “push the little items near the register.” The cashier had a pained look on her face, and said to the owner, “People get annoyed when I do that. They don’t like to be pushed into buying something they can clearly see, but aren’t interested in.” The owner gave a sound of disgust, and disappeared into the back of the store.

That little conversation made me think about my own business. Do I ever try to “push” people into a sale? Do you ever do that in your business? It’s something we all need to think about.

As a consumer, I enjoy going into a shop and perusing the shelves and racks. I like to take my time, and see everything that is available. I love to hear about specials and sales, and I always love getting into a conversation with the owner or clerk. If there’s something special I’m searching for, I tell them, and I’m happy if they direct me to it. I enjoy a carefree, pressure-free shopping environment, and as a business owner, that’s what I like to provide my customers with as well. Not everyone who walks into my shop will buy something, and that’s okay. I want them to be able to look, and enjoy without feeling the slightest pressure to buy. Because I know if they have a great time shopping, even just looking, they’ll come back again and again. If I were to follow them around the store, telling them that they “need” this or “just have to have” that, they’d never come back in. I’d be “pushy” and I’d never see them again. I want people to buy from me, but I want them to buy what they WANT, and what suits them. I want them to ENJOY their shopping experience with me, whether it’s in person or online. I strive to treat people the way I want to be treated! That part, I have found, is crucial in maintaining a successful business!! Treat people the way you want to be treated. It works in all aspects of life, not just in business.

It’s okay to be helpful and suggestive when it comes to your customers. Think about how you like to shop. It’s never okay to be pushy or overbearing. Don’t try to make a “sale,” instead try to make a friend who will remember you treated them with kindness and courtesy.

Tami Loves…all the friends we’ve made who come into our shop! Thank you!

 

 

How many times has your child come home from school with a special drawing they made just for you, or a carefully written note in their sweet little hand-writing? Doesn’t it just melt your heart? You display it on the fridge for a while, and then…what do you do with it? You can’t bear to throw away that precious artwork, or their proclamation of love for you!! And why would you want to?

Put it in your Smile File!

Sound silly? Well, it’s not. It’s so simple, and it’s really just a way to organize those mementos that mean something to you. But it’s so much more than that!! It’s a place you can go to and collectively see all the little things that make you smile!

What’s in my Smile File? I’ll tell you. I have been painting and decorating for my customers for many, many years. I’m proud to say that the people I have worked for have been pretty happy with the work my team and I have done, and it’s not uncommon for them to write me a little note telling me so after I complete a job. Those notes are their personal sentiments about how happy they are with their home, and that gives me great pleasure. This is what makes me happy!! I love making other people feel like their home is their special place, their haven from the world, and when they tell me I succeeded, I am so ecstatic! So I put those notes in my Smile File, and sometimes when I need inspiration, or just a kick in the butt, I pull out the Smile File and read. Over the years, my file has expanded greatly, with more and more customers who become friends, friends who become customers, and heartfelt notes of gratitude from these people who become a part of my life.

My Smile File isn’t just about my customers though. I have lots more in there than that! I have two daughters who are the lights of my life. Every little handmade card, every little hand-drawn picture that meant something special is tucked into my Smile File. Now that my girls are 29 and 22, I don’t get those little childhood goodies that I used to, so when I’m feeling nostalgic, or missing them, I pull out the Smile File and walk down memory lane, remembering their little faces as they presented me with their masterpieces. It not only makes me smile, it warms my heart, and makes me feel close to them when they’re far away. My oldest daughter, Summer, is married with her own home, and my youngest, Abby, lives out in Los Angeles. So visiting my Smile File gives me great pleasure when I need a “hug.” One of the little things that makes me smile is the drawing Abby made when she was 10, of a store that I owned with two of my friends. Looking at it, and hearing her say “When I grow up, I want to be just like you, Mommy,” takes me back to a special time in my life.

My friend told me she has a Smile File, too, she calls it her “Keeper File.”  She’s tucked away the same little hand-made cards from her four children, carefully keeping the same folds that their little child-hands made, and reading them whenever she feels down, or missing them. She said it gives her a “boost, like a little hug; a reminder of how much I mean to them, and how very much they’ll always mean to me!” I can relate to that!

Your Smile File can be anything you want it to be. Whatever makes you feel good just looking at it or reading it, is a good thing to add. Perhaps it’s something special because it’s an old photo of your great-grandparents, a card from someone who has passed-on, a pressed flower from your daughter’s wedding, or your own wedding. Maybe your Smile File holds recipes from your mom, postcards from a special vacation, ticket stubs from a movie or play, or even a scrawled note on napkin from a dinner-date that held meaning for you. You decide what you want to keep; what makes you happy.

I cherish my Smile File. I can’t tell you how many times I have pulled it out to just browse through it. It holds for me, memories and feelings from my life. It holds emotions that rise to the surface each time I visit it. It reminds me of people I have met throughout my life, who I was able to help in some way, and who have touched my life in ways they don’t even know. My file is a treasure of happiness that waits patiently for me to add to it, and I do. It is a constantly expanding collection of all the good things that life brings; the little things that matter, that to some may go un-noticed, but to me, are the very thing that makes my life rewarding. Yours will be, too. Go and create your special Smile File. Happiness is waiting for you to visit!

TamiLoves…saving the little treasures that make me smile.

Who are you suppose to be?  Let me help you find out!!

What are your goals, what are your dreams, are you thinking personally, business-wise or both?

I find helping people find their way is very rewarding. It’s a struggle, that is for sure. And I understand how hard it can be to find your way.  I honestly don’t know exactly what I’m supposed to be doing. Right now, I’m 56 years old and still don’t know what I want to be when I grow up.

Are you doubting yourself, your looks,  your weight, your situation in life?  Are you in school and struggling? Have you gone back to school and feel like it’s all too much?

Or are you a business person struggling to think of new ideas; new ways to bring in customers and show them what you can do for them?

Are you looking for a career and trying to decide what you love to do every day?

Maybe you’re just someone who enjoys crafting and you’re looking for new ideas. You’re finding Pinterest repetitive and Hobby Lobby overwhelming,  you just need to find that one thing and fly!!!!

Well, let me tell you, I am all of the above with the exception of being a student, and actually my husband pushes me on an almost-daily basis to get my real estate license. I keep telling him he’s throwing me into the left lane when I’ve got my eyes straight ahead. I’m in the right lane. Why is he doing that to me, why is he confusing me, why does he think I need more on my plate when my plate is so full? You wonder if it’s divine intervention and maybe a higher power pushing this through him and maybe this is what I should be doing instead of what I am doing, am I missing the boat?  Am I missing an opportunity? Maybe what I was supposed to be is a realtor, and not a painter. Do any of you find yourself in that sort of situation when your torn between one thing and another? Maybe you are a baker and you’ve always made cakes and pies. Pies are your specialty but everyone keeps ordering cookies and it’s frustrating because you really want to bake pies! Cookies are time consuming but everyone wants cookies.

I’m a very driven person and I’m thinking that you must be, too, or you would not be here listening to me right now. You’re striving to find what it is that makes you tick.

Well, I wish I had the answers. We all have questions and concerns and nagging thoughts in our own heads, let alone other peoples’ suggestions. It’s all confusing and overwhelming. I’d like to invite you to join me in a safe place. A place where you have a chance to see some pretty things, some inspiring things, and maybe some things that might spark interest in you. I would love to have you follow my Facebook page. It’s called TAMI LOVES. As you get to know me, you’ll realize there are many things that I like to do, first and foremost, I paint my clients’ homes. My team and I do several faux finishes that make a paint job very custom.  I also have the pleasure of making wedding venues beautiful. From ceiling draping to backdrops, memory tables and custom signs, we can do just about anything you need for your wedding. I’m very involved in a company called Chalk Couture. I have several people on my team and do a lot of videos on my page using this product. I also have a store, it’s called Tami Loves. My store is located in New Concord Ohio. I love everything in the store, and I love everything I do.

Join me on my Facebook page and we can make beautiful things together. https://www.facebook.com/tamiloves/

 

Does life get so busy sometimes that you just need to stop and get back to what really matters?

Do you know what really matters? If you were asked who are the most important people in your life, chances are you’d say your family- husband/partner, kids, parents, siblings, friends etc. The people who matter to you are closest to you- whether you’re related, or close friends.

I was at a bridal shower awhile back, and we played a game there, where the bride had to answer questions about herself and her groom. The game was to see how well she knew him by comparing her answers to the ones he had already given the game hostess. We had to determine if her answers would match his. I thought this sounded like a fun thing to do, and I was excited to see what we would learn about both the bride and groom. As the game progressed, it became clear she knew her fiancé pretty well, but there were some questions she had no idea about, and I sat there wondering how well I knew the answers my husband and I would give to the same questions.

For example, one question was “What is your partner’s favorite meal?” or “When your partner is sick, what is the one thing he’d like to eat to make him feel better?” I realized I had no clue as to the answer on either of those. Sure, my husband loves most of the things I make, and he’ll ask for certain dishes, but if I had to say what his favorite meal was, I’m not sure I could answer that confidently. He might even say a dish that his mom used to make for him when he lived at home. And as for what he likes when he’s sick, I’d say it would depend on how sick he is. But besides all this, the point is that these are pretty basic questions that we should probably know the answer to if they apply to the people we love.

How is it that we can know a lot about people we interact with daily at the office, but not know a simple answer to what our mate likes most about our appearance? Sometimes I find we get wrapped up in our careers, and pay more attention the people in our business lives than we do our own loved ones. It’s easy to find out what special things your boss likes, because that might be part of your job, especially if you’re an assistant or care-giver to someone. But the really important people you need to give special attention to are your loved ones. Go ahead, make those double chocolate brownies for your grandson because they’re his favorite, or always have a case of your husband’s favorite beer/soda on hand in the pantry. It could even be something really little like not buying the bagels with the sesame seeds on them because they get stuck in your mom’s teeth, or getting the gel toothpaste for your daughter instead of the paste kind.

Your mission for today is to ask your loved ones to answer some basic questions for you, and let them ask you the same ones! They need to know the little things that you enjoy, too! Need some ideas? Here you go:

• What is your favorite meal for dinner?
• What’s the one thing you’d like me to get you when you’re sick?
• If you could watch any type of movie tonight, what would it be? (Comedy, drama, adventure, horror, etc.)
• When you feel down how can I make you feel better?
• What’s your favorite characteristic about me?
• What’s your biggest pet-peeve?
• If we could travel anywhere, where would you like to go?
• What’s your favorite thing I do to make you feel special?
• What’s your favorite part of my personality?
• What celebrity do they think they most resemble?
• What item could you not live without?
• Name something you’ve always wanted to do, but haven’t for whatever reason.

I hope these give you some ideas and really get you talking and sharing with your family members and friends. Whether we choose our loved ones, or we’re born in the same family, it’s important to make them feel special, and really listen to what they like, what makes them happy, and also what they love about you! Everyone should know these simple things about each other. Once you get started, you can think of your own. They may open up a discussion or even a debate, but the key is to learn, and enjoy.

Tami Loves…bringing people closer.

 

Recently, one of my followers on Facebook asked me what kind of town I lived in because she said I reminded her of a “small-town, down-home girl.” I take that as a compliment because I am! People who know me know I’m a small town girl for sure. But if you don’t know me, or know where I come from, let me take you on a little tour of the place I call home:

New Concord, Ohio, is a small Norman Rockwell kind of town, about an hour east of Columbus just north of Interstate 70. There are about 2400 friendly folks living in my town, and if you walk down Main Street, you’re likely to meet a few. Of course when Muskingum University’s students fill the town for the school year the population doubles. Or so it seems, traffic-wise.

Yes, we have a beautiful university campus on the north side of town. You can’t miss the entrance to the campus. The wide lanes sweep up the hill from Main Street in grand fashion, past College Drive Presbyterian Church, and some of the original class buildings. If you keep driving, you’ll eventually make a right and find yourself winding down the hill past the college lake on your left. A lot of marriage proposals have taken place on the footbridge that spans the lake. It’s a truly beautiful spot in spring when the trees are in bud, and the daffodils are blooming. It’s equally as magnificent in fall when the big trees lining the hillside don all their oranges, yellows, and reds. You might even think you’ve been transported to an Ivy League campus, it’s just so picturesque! There’s so much more to see on the campus of Muskingum, like the stadium, where the local high school football team gets to play on Friday nights, and the college boys take possession of on Saturday afternoons. There are the sorority and fraternity houses that line Lakeside Drive, and the dorms that dominate two hills, east and west. There’s the quad, where the major buildings of the university meet, and friendly clerks sell goods in the university bookstore.

But let’s go a bit west of campus to the grand dame, Montgomery Boulevard. This is one of the prettiest streets in New Concord with its brick surface, big older homes, and tree-lined sidewalks. When I think of a classic American street, this is it. Some of my school friends grew up on this street, and I imagine how wonderful it would have been to walk to and from school every day on Montgomery Boulevard.

Back down on Main Street, you’ll find some quaint little shops like my own Tami Loves, Thistle & Clover, or Christy’s. If you like pizza, there’s Wally’s Pizza, or Creno’s, both within a few steps of my shop. Your money is safe in the Century or Community Banks, and if you need an ice cream fix, the Dairy Dutchess has been serving up sweet treats for probably thirty years or better. We have a new public library, and we have some historical sites, too, like Harper Cabin.

Our most famous citizen was the late Senator John H. Glenn, NASA astronaut, and the first man to orbit the earth. He and his wife, Annie, made New Concord their home for many years. Their home is now a museum relocated down on Main Street. I had the very great honor of receiving my high school diploma from John Glenn, and I was present that day on the quad at Muskingum, when he announced his candidacy for US President back in 1983, for the 1984 election. He was a real hometown hero, and everyone misses him. All the old-timers still talk about the parade that took place in New Concord, when John came back home from his flight around the earth. The whole town lined the streets to honor their local hero.

You can find a lot of these old-timers talking outside the local grocery store, Reisbecks. For years it was the IGA. I remember meeting friends in the parking lot to carpool to movies, and going there with my mom as a young girl. It is a true hometown grocery where you can’t walk down an aisle without seeing someone you know. The produce comes from local farms, and the girl scouts still sell cookies by the front door. Some things never change, and that’s the way it should be with respect to hometown traditions. And if you happen to head west, past the grocery, to the edge of town, you’ll see one of Ohio’s historical “S” bridges on your right. You can’t drive on it, but you can picnic by it.

Hometowns should always be a reminder of our childhood- good times trick-or-treating, caroling at Christmas, car washes for fundraisers, and parades to honor the football champions. No matter how much the town has grown, and modernized, the people and the events remain the same. I love going into the New Concord post office and seeing the same mural on the wall, of ice skaters on the college pond. It was painted back in 1940, by Clyde Singer, and it is called “Skaters.” I hope they never get rid of that mural, for that is one of the most lovely things in the village; a characteristic that no other town in America has. And in this post office, this “anchor” of the town, you’ll get the true feeling of small-town America. People come in and greet each other, talk about the weather, the high-school football team’s latest win, or the Methodist Church’s bake-sale next weekend. It’s a place where you laugh with your neighbors, or give directions to lost travelers. You can also just come in to buy stamps from a friendly clerk who smiles and thanks you for coming in.

New Concord isn’t unusual. There are a thousand small towns across Ohio similar to it, but it is unique in what it has to offer, and the people who live there. You might say they’re “small-town and down-home” and they would enthusiastically agree, but to me, they’re just great people who care about each other.

I hope this gives you a feel of my hometown. I enjoyed taking you on this tour!

Tami Loves…the people who make my hometown the warm and wonderful place it is!

 

 

What can you do when you’re running late for that doctor appointment- you know, the one you schedule a year in advance, and have a reminder on your calendar, your phone, and your refrigerator? You’re sitting on the freeway, in a line of traffic, some two miles behind an accident, just watching the minutes climb on the clock in your car. You’re never going to make it on time now. You’re not even going to be rudely late. In fact, you know they just charged you the “missed appointment” fee, and advised the doctor you’re a no-show. Any second now your phone is going to ring, it will be the doctor’s office letting you know you’ll need to reschedule… Yep, there it goes. What do you do? Just breathe.

You’re about to go into an interview for your dream job. You’ve done all your research. This is a solid company, with lots of room for you to grow and excel. Appearance is part of the position, and you’ve taken every measure to look and dress your best. You’re sitting in your car, going over your notes just one last time. You know you have an answer for every question they could possibly ask you, and you can confidently tell them why you’re attracted to their company. One last check in the visor-mirror to make sure there’s no lipstick on your teeth, and you’re off….that is, until the cup of coffee you forgot you placed on the middle console, is suddenly jarred by your elbow! You watch- almost in slow-motion, your pulse racing, your mind anticipating the final outcome, as the cup teeters, then topples toward the passenger seat, all the while spewing droplets of coffee, miraculously high in the air, that are this second landing…right…on…your…lap. What in heaven’s name do you do now? Just breathe.

Finally, it’s the big trip of a lifetime! You’ve waited- no, you’ve  counted down the days until this very moment, when you and your husband can leave it all behind, and relax for two, fun-filled, breathlessly-romantic, weeks in paradise. You painstakingly read every travel magazine, book, and pamphlet on Bora Bora you could get your hands on, to make sure you reserved the right hotel. You checked out every discount airfare website on the internet to make sure you got the best deal. You even went swimsuit shopping in the winter…the WINTER…with pale white skin, and pre-diet body in order to find the perfect suit!! Now you can actually fit into that suit, and you treated yourself to a base tan as well. You’ve allowed plenty of time to get to the airport, despite traffic congestion, and construction delays. You catch the first shuttle from the car-park to the terminal without having to wait in the lot. You packed all your lotions and liquids in your checked luggage, and your carry-on has enough pockets, you didn’t need to bring a purse. What could possibly go wrong? The airport is bustling, but the line to your airline’s check-in is miraculously short. The pretty agent at the counter greets you with a big smile and asks the magic question to get your vacation started: “May I have your passports, please?”  You glance over at your husband, knowing he has them in his hand. He’s looking at you with a “why-aren’t-you-getting-them-out-of-your-carry-on-bag?” look. Both of your smiles are fading fast, and the counter agent looks like she’s watching a tennis match, as her eyes travel back and forth between the two of you. Your mind is racing. Where did you last see the passports? Didn’t he have them? No. You had them. You made sure YOU had them! You distinctly remember placing them in the inner pocket of…your purse! Whew! You’re relieved as you reach into your carry-on then stop suddenly. They’re in your purse. The very purse you didn’t bring because your carry-on has enough space for all your necessities… Realization sets in very quickly. What do you do? Just breathe.

Of course, instances like these do not happen on a daily basis, thankfully. If they did, we might all go mad, or just all become hermits, never leaving our homes. No, these are exaggerated examples of why we must learn to adapt to situations beyond our control, or sometimes to situations that we could control if we would have planned better.

Life gets messy, complicated, and sometimes we just have to accept the predicament we’re in. We have to cope. We have to just breathe. Take it one moment at a time, and find our way through the problem. Sometimes it will mean that we are going to have to face the consequences, and sometimes we can go to Plan B. Even when it feels like you might spontaneously combust from sheer frustration, the only thing you can do is take a big, deep breath, and then, let it out.

Recently, someone on Facebook, asked the question, “What is a common word or phrase that you feel is overused?” People were commenting things like “awesome,” “I know, right?” or “LOL.” I was surprised when one person said “this too, shall pass.” That phrase has got to be one of my mantras. In any situation that is trying, or difficult, I tell myself, “This too, shall pass.” It’s a coping mechanism, just like taking a deep breath and letting it out. Before you go into panic mode, before you start to cry or swear, or react at all, tell yourself that you can handle what life throws you, but first, just breathe.

The world WILL NOT stop turning just because you missed an appointment, went to an interview with coffee stains, or had to reschedule a trip. You might feel that it will when you’re in the moment, but trust me, it won’t. You might even find yourself recounting the scenario later on and laughing…yes, laughing, about it. It’s called life. It happens. We aren’t guaranteed a front parking spot, a warning instead of a traffic ticket, or that promotion at the office. It’s okay. Just breathe.

Tami Loves…taking a moment to breathe, and hit the reset button.