I hear you. You’re saying, “Tami, are you crazy? I have a million doors in my life! My front door, back door, closet door, car door…” Yes, I know we all have doors in our lives. I’m not talking about a solid material door. I’m referring to a figurative door.

This “door” could be one that you aren’t willing to open, it could even be one you refuse to close. Let’s say your door is one that you aren’t willing to open. Why? What’s on the other side of the door? Is it a new relationship? Is there some reason you’re afraid to let someone special into your heart? Maybe you’re scared of getting your heart broken, or a fear of rejection. Perhaps it’s an opportunity, such as a new business venture, or a new place to live. Are you afraid you’ll fail if you try a new career? Maybe you’d like to move but your just not ready for all the hassle of relocating, selling, buying, packing, loading, etc. Perhaps on the other side of the door is travel, but you don’t want to go alone, or you’re afraid to fly. In all these instances you are leaning against the door, forcing it to stay closed. The weight of your hesitation and fear makes it impossible for the door to open. But do you know the one thing that is greater than all that fear and hesitation? Regret. The regret of not opening that door, and seeing whats on the other side, experiencing life’s changes and possibilities, is far, far greater than any fear you may have.

I have a close friend who kept herself in a stale, broken marriage because she was afraid of the unknown. “What if I never meet anyone who will love me?” she’d say. “What if I die an old and forgotten woman who gave up being unhappy but comfortable, for something that could be far worse?” Ah, yes, but what if you find the love of your life? What if there’s something more to life than being miserable? Won’t you regret not finding that, even more? I’m not a marriage counselor, and I told her to decide for herself. She chose to leave. She got a place of her own, and was quite content to care for her pets and her little home. She became involved in her own life. She exercised, she made friends, she volunteered, and became active in her community. Life was wonderful! And then she met a man by accident one day, who was everything and more she had ever dreamed of. He swept her off her feet, and they live very happily ever-after. She has commented to me several times, “I never dreamed how my life could change. I was so fearful of the unknown. Oh how sad it makes me feel when I think how I’d regret never having made the changes I have! I’m grateful each day for overcoming the fear!”

She opened her door. You can open your door, too. Step aside, and allow it to open. See and accept what is waiting on the other side.

The same can be said for those of us who refuse to close a door. Sometimes we need to end something, and yet for many reasons, which we profusely make excuses for; we just refuse to let go. Perhaps there’s an ongoing argument between you and a friend. There were heated words, accusations flew, blame was pointed, and now the fight goes on, in uncomfortable silence. The awkwardness and hostility hang in the air, making every occasion a dreaded event. Shut the door!

Maybe the door you need to close is one of jealousy. Your sister and her family have a better home, car, life, etc. The green-eyed monster eats away at you until you can’t stand it. Close that door! Be grateful for what you have, and happy for your sister.

Perhaps you’re in a dead-end job. You try and try to please your boss by going out of your way to show your amazing qualities, but the promotions always go to someone else. You don’t get recognized for your successes, and you never get a raise. Push that door shut, and move on! Find a place where you’re appreciated, and recognized for your accomplishments. Drop the fear of what else is out there. Don’t live with the regret of never finding out!

Your door could be anything. You know what’s holding you back from opening it, or what you need to let go of to finally close it. Life is short. Take a chance on it. Be positive that what’s on the other side of your door will be wonderful! Be grateful for the ability to close your door to unresolved issues, and move ahead. Always have gratitude for the intelligence to make the hard decisions, and the fortitude to see them through. Life is about change. Don’t let a door come between you and your happiness.

Need some inspiration? Message me. We all have doors at one time or another.

Tami Loves…an open door to possibilities, and a closed door to dead-ends.

Remember when we were teenagers and there was so much we wanted to do in a day, and not nearly enough time to do it? Life was hectic, and we couldn’t wait until we were “older” when there was no school, no parental demands, no rules to follow.

Now, flash ahead 40 years. Lots of time to do whatever we choose, but sometimes we scratch our head, wondering what to do next. There’s a lot waiting to be done, but where to start?

This is my point- there is so much to do, but there’s a way to organize yourself (and your home) so that you know what to do and when. All it takes is setting up a plan.

Some things should be done weekly, other’s monthly, a few are done quarterly, or seasonally, and finally, some things we do just once a year. Need some ideas? Okay here we go:

Weekly:

• Cleaning out the refrigerator
• Microwave- heat a measuring up of lemon water until it steams up the inside, then wipe down, and wash the glass turntable
• Clearing up the pile of mail that accumulates on the counter/desk/table, etc.
• Coupons- cut, sort, file, use.
• Meal planning- rough idea of what the menu will be, followed by grocery list, and shopping
• Household chores- vacuum, dust, empty trash, laundry (if you’re lucky to just do it once a week!)
• Visually inspect your car tires

Monthly:

• Bank statement- financial- online bill scheduling, also check on cash-back credit cards, and air mileage cards balances
• Schedule appointments for the following month- whatever happens to need done- oil change, hair color, pet vaccinations, etc.
• Prescription refills
• Taxes- if you own a business you know there’s a ton of monthly items to keep track of, including rent
• Supplies from Membership stores like Costco or Sam’s Club-( rug shampoo, toilet paper, detergent, toothpaste, etc.)
• Fertilize houseplants/outdoor garden plants (if applicable)
• Holiday decorations- make sure you have what you’ll need on hand
• Birthday gifts- make a list of the month’s celebrations and plan what you’ll be buying as gifts- ordering online means you’ll have to allow for delivery time
• Vacuum/Dust under those beds!
• Vacuum out your car, detail, (and I vacuum out the little air filter in the glove box, too)

Quarterly and/or Seasonally:

• Main Hall Closets- take out coats you don’t need, according to season; arrange shelves for sneaker/sandals vs. boots/booties; vacuum or sweep out, and put a dryer sheet on the shelf to leave it smelling fresh.
• Clothes/Bedroom Closets- organize according to season, item type, and color. Arrange shoes that you’ll be wearing with those outfits, along with scarves, purses. Make sure you clean out your purses, too. Put out-of-season ones in the back or in a spare-bedroom closet. Keep everything you’ll need for a complete outfit in your closet, so there’s no running around. Be super-woman and do all your bedroom closets in one day, or spread it out.
• Donations- while you’re cleaning and arranging those closets, decide what you can donate, make a pile, writing down each item (for tax purposes), box it up and get it out of the house. Make sure you get a receipt. There are approximate values for items online, just google.
• Windows- nobody likes this one, but if you do it more often, it’s easier!
• Garage- tidy up and sweep out. Put things back that were taken out and used. Store out-of-season items like bikes, skateboards, skiis, etc.
• Refrigerator/Stove/Freezer- move out and clean behind. Clean out the coils, dust off the back. Clean that oven, clean out each burner pan.
• Wrapping paper/tape supply- it’s bad when you’re in a hurry to wrap a gift and the roll is empty, or there’s no more tape or ribbon
• Last-minute gifts-on-hand: when you find out the elderly neighbor is celebrating her birthday today, as you take her mail over that was in your box by mistake; or your child announces it’s his teacher’s birthday tomorrow; (you know what I’m talking about- those last-minute “hey, I just wanted you to know I thought of you!” gifts) * Some great gifts to keep on hand are: wine, candles, luxurious hand or body lotion, scarves, candy, ornaments, etc etc. **Lots of these are at TAMI LOVES!!
• Smoke detector batteries

Annually:

• Thorough (moving out, and replacing) GARAGE contents. It makes the quarterly ones easier. Takes a full day, but so worth it when you pull in and everything is neat and tidy. Makes me FEEL GOOD!!
• Basement- if its unfinished, clean it all out, sweeping and removing cobwebs
• Check Christmas lights, outdoor displays
• Paint- touchup your porch rails, fence, etc.
• Clean lawn furniture with the pressure washer/hose
• Decide if old bills from 7 + years can be shredded and discarded
• Computer/laptop cleaning to keep it up to speed and fast
• Re-pot root-bound plants
• Lawn mower tune-up
• Snow-blower tune-up

Hopefully, this gives you an idea, but of course, your list will be specific to your household items. You’ll think of even more things once you sit down and start your list.

The idea here is to become organized without being overwhelmed. Breaking it down into frequency of job helps to put things into perspective. You can do this!! All hope is not lost. Organization seems like a dirty word, but believe me, it isn’t.

Do you need help? Is something overwhelming you and you don’t know where to begin? Let me know!! Does somebody out there need encouragement? I’M HERE!! Message me, or stop by the shop, I can help get you started with a plan!

Tami Loves…helping others help themselves

When I first decided to blog today I initially thought of writing “Why It’s Absolutely Okay to Be a Workaholic,” because typically, that’s pretty close to what I am. If you know anything about me, you know I am always going, doing, working, etc. etc. That’s my MO, I’m a workaholic. When you love what you do, you tend not to see it as work, but more like a passion that you need to feed your soul! But, perhaps to other people, it seems like you just never slow down and take time for yourself. I assure you, I do. Some days I might even sleep in a little since I stay up late planning my next day. So if any of you only see me as this whirling dervish that paints, decorates, crafts and designs, let me show you the other side of me, and more importantly, tell you why it’s okay for you to take time for yourself, too!!

Those of you who label yourself as “workaholic,” “go-getter,” or simply “driven,” will understand all too well what I mean by needing to just take some time for you. You guys are my kindred spirits because you know exactly what I’m talking about when I say that the passion of what I do, inspires me to do more, and it becomes a domino-affect- the more I do, the more I want to get done! The days aren’t long enough! But even I know all that drive requires some “soul-recharging” or quite plainly, some down time to let our minds relax and veg a little to gain some new inspiration.

Here’s how I do it…

Let’s say I have cleared my schedule for a complete day off. What am I going to do? Well, after catching up on a little missed sleep, I’m going to treat myself to a big cup of coffee, and my laptop. I may do some online shopping for a bit, and then I love to read other entrepreneur’s websites and Facebook pages, to gain some inspiration from them. I tell you, a lot of my down time is spent gaining inspiration. I enjoy reading my “Jesus Calling” book, because it makes me feel good, and it inspires me to always be a better person. I guess a lot of my day to myself is spent at my desk, but that’s not really quality “down-time.”

In order to let our souls fully recharge, we need to get away from all that could be construed as “work.” That might mean getting in your car and driving to a park, the mall, a quiet place to think and relax, or a fun and entertaining day with your kids or best friends.  Whatever works for you, just do something totally unrelated to what you do every other day. I really enjoy meeting my daughters for lunch, driving up to Canton to meet my friend for shopping, or even taking a day on the golf course. When you let your mind fully engage in some other activity, and truly enjoy the moment you’re in, with the people you’re with, you can completely disengage your mind and soul from work. Now, this is not to say you won’t have a thought about what you love to do, because you will, but it just won’t be your main focus on your day to yourself.

When I’m out shopping on my free day, I’m constantly aware of how things are displayed, the colors used, and the creativity put into each arrangement I see, whether it’s a store-front window display with mannequins, or a wall design at a restaurant. I’m not working, I’m merely observing, but I’m still making mental notes. I can’t “not see” the possibilities all around me. It might be like that for you, too. Maybe you’re a psychologist taking a day for yourself. You run into a rude salesclerk at a store, or you observe a parent screaming at a child in the mall. You’re still going to think about how you’d speak to that person if you were treating them, but today, you’re just not “at work.” We can turn off our work brains, and still be in tune with what’s going on. That’s normal.

Use your day to yourself to gain some insight on something that might be troubling you. Read some uplifting material, meditate, get outside no matter the weather, and walk a little. Exercise is an amazing tool for reducing stress and clearing the mind. I may have an intense day, with all kinds of to-do lists in my head, and a flurry of communication issues to attend to, but if I come home and take a walk down my quiet little country road, it puts me in such a better frame of mind, and brings clarity to everything. For that reason, I always try to do some form of exercise on my free days. It really shows me how my mind affects the rest of my body. My friend power walks every day when she gets home from the office for that exact reason. Make some time on your day for stress-relief.

Do something you have been meaning to do but because of your schedule you haven’t had the chance. What better than to pamper yourself a little? Book a spa day with a girlfriend, get your hair done in a new style, get those shoes you’ve been admiring in a magazine, or try that new trendy restaurant you’ve been wanting to for weeks. Treating yourself is good, very deserved, and very much a great idea! Doing something exciting releases dopamine in your brain, and you actually do feel better! It’s true! Make that day to yourself stimulating and extra-special.

Why are all these things so important? Why do you need to have a day here and there to slow down, gain inspiration, relax, energize, stimulate, or just veg? Because it’s good for your health, and it’s good for the whirling dervish you, like me, so that you aren’t constantly focused on others, your job, or yes, your passion. The part of you who is always going, doing, helping, working, directing and whirling needs to be rejuvenated and recharged every so often so that the fine-tuned powerhouse you are keeps on going and going with good health and happiness!

So take that day because you so deserve it!!

Tami Loves…the balance that comes from a good day off.

How many times during the day do you say “make a note of that,” or “I need to remember that?” If you’re like I used to be, you do it all the time. And you have no pen, or paper with you. You tell yourself that you’ll remember, but in ten minutes, you’ve forgotten what you were sure you’d remember. I say I USED to be that way, because I no longer am. Now I rely on my smartphone to remember things with my Notepad app. I take 15 secs and dictate a note into it all the time. If I’m measuring something, or matching a paint color, to reminding myself to pick up dog food or just wanting to remember the name of a store I pass, I use that app for so much.

If you’re writing something like a blog or journal, it’s important to make note of your thoughts. No matter how scattered or small, it’s a great idea to jot them down (or dictate them to your phone) so that you can over them, and add to them in the future. Even small, one or two word thoughts can be strung together later on to make sense in whatever you’re writing, or working on.

My friend, who writes, mentioned to me one time, that one of her professors told her to make note of everything that came to mind when sitting and thinking about what she should write her thesis on. Even if it was just one word, abstract from everything else she’d thought of, she wrote it down. Later on she said, she’d read those notes and get completely new ideas!

Sometimes, one idea quickly inspires another, and if you wait too long, you’ll forget them both, so make note of them immediately. I can’t tell you how many times a day I refer to my note app to track down some trivial item that usually turns out to be huge in the grand scheme of things. Like, jotting down “serene” reminded me that a client’s color theme made me feel that way, and I wanted to convey that in my designs, so by just writing that one word, I knew exactly what I needed to work with.

Your notes don’t need to mean anything to anyone but you. Don’t try to make complete sentences. Just jot down ideas, as if you were making a grocery list of sentence fragments and phrases.

With the Notepad app on my phone I can make several headings for different types of notes. My most used headings are “Due” and “Get” so I am always on top of when things are due to be done, picked up, paid, etc. and what items I need to get for work. I always have my “Get” heading open when I walk into the grocery, Home Depot, Lowes, or any place I need to grab something for a job. You can imagine how much time this saves because I’m ready when I walk in the door.

I also like to make little notes when walking through a home the first time. I can listen to my customer and still jot down a few ideas or adjectives that I might forget by the time I leave. We all know that thoughts can be fleeting, so it’s best to capture them when they pop in our heads. Recently, I met with a really sweet gal who wanted to redo her kitchen. She explained exactly the color she had in mind, and the look she was going for. I saw a few knick-knacks in a nearby cabinet that had a nautical theme, and I jotted that down. Later it was useful in presenting her an idea to use a different color that was more beachy, and a picture of some cute café curtains with a nautical “feel” to them. At the time, “knick-knacks” seemed like a random note, but it turned out to be significant.

No matter how small, a note can be huge info later on. Never underestimate the importance of one word. It will trigger a memory or idea, whether it be visual or otherwise.

So make note of this…Tami Loves tiny notes that turn into big ideas!

I saw a sign that asked, “What’s on Your Seasonal Bucket-List” in the window of a travel agency recently, and it made me think for a bit. I never really made a seasonal bucket list! Why not though, it might be fun!! So here are some of the things I came up with to see if anyone else has any similar to mine!!

• Attend at least one craft show
• Buy a pumpkin and carve it for Thanksgiving! (How about “Grateful”?)
• Try a new recipe for Thanksgiving dinner
• Invite someone to Thanksgiving who might otherwise be alone
• Volunteer at a soup-kitchen
• Provide a meal for a needy family
• Bake pumpkin cookies and decorate them with a child
• Secretly leave some of those cookies on your neighbor’s front porch!
• Visit an elderly person in a nursing home
• Make a Thanksgiving card for a soldier overseas
• Decorate your porch or lamp post with cornstalks
• String up orange lights
• Make a fire in your wood-burning fireplace
• Light pumpkin candles
• Instead of turning on the TV after Thanksgiving dinner, get out a board game and play
• Turn off your phone all day on Thanksgiving after everyone has arrived
• Let your kids help make pumpkin 
• Bring out the orange towels!
• Put out a bowl of candy corn on the counter
• Bob for apples
• Make caramel apples
• Make some caramel corn
• Go Thanksgiving grocery shopping in a turkey hat
• Make a Thanksgiving video with everyone around the table holding handmade signs of what they’re thankful for, then send it to those who couldn’t be there
• Decorate with mini pumpkins and gourds 
• Make place cards for those who are coming to dinner, and on the inside write why your thankful for each person
• Take a family hike
• Go to church

Find ways to enjoy this beautiful season on your own! Share them with me at Tami Loves on Facebook or TamiLoves.com. 

Tami Loves…being with family and friends, and celebrating in fun and different ways!

 

 

 

 

…A reminder to slow down and enjoy the little things.

One sunny afternoon, not too long ago in late summer, I was on my way to visit a friend, and not unusual for me, I decided to take a back road I hadn’t been on in a while. I was listening to my voicemails, and then turned on the radio. A song came on that I hadn’t heard in quite some time. It instantly took me back to a period in my life of being a teenager in high school.

While I was listening to this nostalgic song, and trying to remember the words to sing along, I came to a “T” in the road. I wasn’t sure whether to go left or right, so I opted for left, and continued on, singing. It was such a beautiful day, and I didn’t mind going a bit out of my way, off the beaten path to enjoy the beauty of the surrounding hillsides. I sipped my coffee, and paid more attention to the landscape. The colors of the trees in the woods were lovely. I marveled at the many shades of green I saw. There were so many textures and colors, it was quite beautiful. Sometimes I think I take Ohio for granted, just a bit too much. We really do live in a beautiful area of rolling hills, valleys, lakes and farmland. It’s easy to see the grandeur of the ocean and the palms trees , or the snow-capped mountains of the west when you’re on vacation, but we’ve got some awesome views right here in our own backyard, too.

One particular bend in the road brought me alongside a stream on my left, with tall, sturdy sycamores, and picturesque birch trees. The contrast between the two types of trees was stunning. I pulled my car over to take a long look. Putting the car in “park,” and shutting the engine off, I rolled my window down to listen to the stream. There was a slight breeze that gently caressed my face. I turned my face upward toward the sun and felt the warmth radiating down on me. The water made a constant bubbly, gurgling sound as it gently tumbled over the rocks. There was not another car on the road. I sat for a few moments, taking in the sight below me. I noticed an acrobatic squirrel in one of the sycamore trees. He scurried way out on a long branch that seemed to stretch as far as it could toward the next sycamore. I imagined he would have to turn around and run back toward the trunk, but to my surprise he jumped right over to the nearest branch of the next tree! I watched as he quickly maneuvered down that branch and on to another. He soon became lost in the leaves, and my gaze fell back on the stream. The water was very peaceful to watch, and listen to. I noticed the water flow wasn’t as wide as the streambed.. In fact, it was actually a very narrow stream of water that was flowing. Because of the rocks and the drop-off from which it fell, it caused the little stream of water to gurgle and splash at each drop. I guessed the smallness of the flow was because of the lack of rain we had experienced. So to me, it was particularly wonderful that such a small trickle of water could still be so alluring to look at, and lovely to hear.

I glanced at the clock on my dash and realized I’d spent almost twenty minutes enjoying this little spot. My friend would wonder where I was. I sent her a quick text, and started my car. As I turned out onto the road, I gave the stream one last glance. How great it was to find such a little treasure as that spot! It reminded me that every day as we hurry from point A to point B, we have no idea what is going on right under our noses. There are numerous places along the road, just as peaceful as this one, but we, in our haste, don’t stop to find or enjoy them.

So I urge you today or tomorrow, as you go about your day, to take a moment and notice some small wonderful thing that you might have missed if you hadn’t slowed down to look. It could be anything- a bird, a cloud formation, children playing on a playground, or a wooly-worm on the sidewalk. Take it in, and enjoy it for a moment or two. Find the beauty in the small things we overlook. Life is more than just the big picture.

Tami Loves…finding life’s little treasures all around us, every day.

How Not to Become a Procrastinator

Years ago, when my kids were little, they would often come to me the night before a project was due, and ask for my help. I was always horrified that they had left their assignment until the night before it was due to start working on it. Had I not said it over and over again? “Do not put off something until the last minute!” Well, finally in junior high and high school it sunk in, and they developed great habits that carried through into their college years, but it was rough going there for a while.

Are you a procrastinator? If so, it’s not too late to change! If you’re not already one, here are some tips that have helped me through the years:

• Handle it once– I am an avid Oprah fan and I remember her saying several times, “If you want to be organized, handle it once.” If you have some something in your hand, put it where it belongs. This certainly applies to anyone who has a kitchen island full of mail, school books, bills to pay, or “things that need to go upstairs.” It seems if you lay it down, you never get around to putting it where it belongs. Just put it where it belongs when it’s in your hands initially. Stop dropping things in a convenient spot to put away “later”, because as we all know, “later” never comes. It just gets lost in the shuffle of day-to-day life. And then we’re scrambling to remember where we laid that thing we now need.

  

• Stop making excuses– this one is pretty self-explanatory, although we all need reminding of just what that means, especially those of us who say “It doesn’t apply to me.” It does. Take responsibility. It’s easy to say “I’ll do it later/tomorrow/next week/next time, etc.” It takes some self-discipline to just do it when you say you will. An excuse doesn’t sit well with anyone, especially if they’re counting on you to get something done. When you start to open your mouth to give an excuse, let that little light pop on in your head and say instead, “I’m on it!” And don’t make the excuse “But I put all my stuff in one spot (like the kitchen island) so I’ll know where it is when I need it!” Nope, that doesn’t fly.
• Get it done when it’s first presented to you– This is great for students. When you first get an assignment, go home and start researching it. Take notes, make your rough draft, and start writing your paper, or creating your power point. The more you get done, the better you feel about what you’ve accomplished. Take pride in the fact that most people haven’t even begun to think about it, and you’re almost done. You can go out on the weekend with a clear conscience that you don’t have to spend it working on an assignment! For those of us not in school, the same applies to us. When you get selected to help chair the PTA meeting next month, go home and immediately start working on your ideas. Develop an agenda, and start collecting facts, making lists, etc. Every little bit of legwork you initially do means less work you have to complete later.
• Listen to your inner voice (aka your conscience) – You know better than anyone else when you’re procrastinating. Listen to that little voice in your head that says “Ah, ah, ah, if we don’t attend to this right now, we will be putting it off for no good reason, and that would mean we’ll have to face it later. Let’s get it done now!! Then we’re in the clear!” You have that voice for a reason. It guides you and lets you know what is right. Listen.
• Don’t see it as a chore, view it as a challenge! – This is called positive thinking! When you’re called upon to do something with a deadline, don’t put it off with dread or disinterest. Instead, see it as something that you can do better than anyone else, and prove that to yourself. Sure, you might not want to host your book club’s Christmas get-together, or your child’s class party, but take it on with spirit and spunk!! You got this! You’re creative, and you can bring something to the event that no one else will be able to do, because no one else is YOU! You’re unique and you can make anything special if you put your mind to it. Get ideas from websites like Pinterest, or TamiLoves! Be excited to do this one small thing. Make it grand! If it’s a work related deadline, prove to your boss that you’ve got this handled! She picked the right person for the task when she chose you!

  

• Teach by example – At some point, someone is watching how you handle deadlines. It could be your boss, your kids or grandkids, or even your spouse. Show others that you are a non-procrastinator. Set an example of how it benefits everyone to get a task done on time, with time to spare. You might even teach your kids how NOT to put everything on the kitchen island when they walk in the door, because YOU haven’t been guilty of doing it. All it takes is you putting the mail in the mail basket, filing the bills in your desk, or simply cleaning off the entire area so that it looks clean and neat. Giving others an example of how to deal with things right away also helps to empower them. Teach them to set the pace, not follow along. Getting things done on time means being a responsible adult, and leaving no room for things not getting accomplished when they need to be done.
• Don’t fall into the cliché trap– Procrastination must have been a problem throughout history since we have so many clichés like “Carpe diem” (Seize the day) or “There’s no time like the present.” Ever wonder why man felt like he had to keep reminding himself to “Get’Er Done” as the modern phrase goes? Why? Because nothing ever got accomplished by putting it off until later! “Don’t Put Off Until Tomorrow What You Can Do Today!” What if all the great inventors decided to wait until some other day to see if their theories worked? Where would we be today? Okay, that might be stretching things a bit but none of the great minds in history were procrastinators. Imagine if Charles Lindberg decided to wait until later to see if he could cross the Atlantic, or if Alexander Graham Bell put off his notion that man could communicate through a machine called a telephone. What might have happened? We will never know, thankfully, because these men weren’t procrastinators and neither are you!
• Take pride in your work– Look around you and see how your hard work has paid off. You didn’t get the things you have, or the job you love, by procrastination. You wanted it, you worked for it, and you got it. Think about that every time something comes up that tempts you to wait. Don’t wait. Keep going. Get the task done. Put things away, pay the bills on time, make your deadlines and keep moving forward. You’ve got this!

  

Tami Loves…getting my blogs done on time so I can have more time to be creative, and share with all of you!!

 

 

…find that one, that true friend.

I’ve been thinking today how truly blessed I am to have made so many wonderful connections these past years, both in my business, and in my personal life. While so many people I meet are acquaintances, I still consider them friends. They come into my shop or see me in the grocery store, and we always stop and chat about what’s going on in our lives. While I may not know their husbands’ names, or how many kids they have, we know each other’s names and faces, and that’s good enough for me to call them my friend. I have Facebook friends who I love dearly that I have never even met! They expose themselves through their posts, sharing their feelings, and I feel like I know them. When I see their name, and that they’ve joined one of my Facebook “lives,” I feel comfort in knowing they’re there with me, and that they needed to hear whatever it was I was talking about on that day. Some of them are strong, and some of them need my help. That’s how friendship works. It’s give and take. I may have an answer to your question, or you may know the answer to mine.

There are also people who I have known for years, know their families, their parents, and sometimes even their grandparents; I may not see them for months or years at a time, but they’re still my friends. We might have gone to school together, worked together at some point, or they hired me to do some painting, but they’re right there, in my list of friends. I have friends who hang out with me at my shop, or watch ballgames with me. I also have business friends who I rely on for their encouragement, support, answering my questions, and pushing me to do more.

To have friends you must first be a friend. Be that person others come to when they need to talk, laugh, or just share a moment. Sometimes people come into our lives for a little while, and then fade out. You’re friends for a reason; perhaps you shared a hobby, ran in the same social circles, or just needed each other’s friendship for a period of time. I think God brings those friends into our lives to help us with something specific, and then we both move on. I’ve had friends like that, too.

A friend comes in all sorts of packages, and today, my wish for you is to find one friend: one true-blue-soul-sister-I-have-your-back-no-matter-what kind of friend! That’s what I always told my daughters- that they should find one friend that they can go through life with; someone they can go to with anything, any problem, any secret, and that friend will always be there. You know when you need to be there for them, and you’re never afraid to ask them to be there for you. You need a true-blue friend in your court all your life. I have been very blessed to have three of these friends in my life. They have my back, keep my secrets, share my pain, celebrate my joys, and I do the same for them. I am so lucky. These friends understand my heart. This type of friendship far outweighs the quantity of all the other friends you might have, it surpasses unconditional love, it is sealed by the bonds of trust, and without a doubt, it is the very greatest gift you can have.

Tami Loves…all of you who read this, for you are all dear friends in my heart.