Joy With Tami #8 - The Magic of Music

The hospital where I work buses us in from an offl-site parking lot. You know the usual grind, park, get on the bus, work 12 hours, get back on the bus, go home, and repeat!😞 Well, this particular morning, I got on the bus first to get a seat in the back. Everyone else got on and took a place, the short ride is only about 5-8 minutes. Meghan Trainor's song Dear Future Husband came on the radio and almost immediately the mood lightened; everyone was singing, some were even tapping their toes and heads were bobbing up and down. I think I can safely say that tune was going through everyone's head all that day. I hummed it all day and it really made my day so much better! 😃 It really felt like magic that stayed all day and I felt privileged to have that experience. I think magical moments are all around us,we just have to look! 

Tami is right. Like Jenny before her Tami has seen the importance and value of music in our lives. Just like Tami said, music is powerful; it can heal, it can transform and it can encourage. It is so easy to get distracted by the thousands of little things in life. Music is one way to help lift ourselves up, especially at the beginning of the day. That's the most important time of day to get your mind centered and focused because it dictates the rest of your day as well as your outlook. Do yourself a favor and start the day right. On the other hand keep in mind what you listen to, angry music leads to angry thoughts and an angry mind. Everything in its place, just try to start on a positive note and see what happens.

Tami Tuesdays #8 - Love Yourself

Love and respect yourself! Everyone is unique and special. No one has the right to bring you down in any manner, shape or form. Know your strengths and weaknesses and just love yourself. No one needs negativity in their life, and while you are at it, throw a little love and positive energy someone else's way. Pay it forward.Peace and Love!

Tami is exactly right, no one else can love or respect you until you can love and respect yourself. It's not always an easy thing to do, and sometimes it takes a lifetime to learn and master. In the meantime though we have to constantly be working on ourselves and working toward that love and respect. If you can't love yourself, it is impossible not only for others to love you but also to love others. We learn how to love through our relationship with ourselves and the growth that we go through everyday. Life can be mean and tough and hard, we have to shield ourselves from all of that using all of our strength and the tools we have available such as our husbands or wives, friends, family, co-workers and on and on. Know who you are and learn to love that person. If there is something you don't like about yourself start working on changing it. Change doesn't happen overnight, the respect for yourself comes in when you allow yourself the time and patience to keep trying until you do get it right. Never give up, you're worth it. And so is the love you have to share. 

Tami Tuesdays #7 - Purge & Embrace

Purge & Embrace! Spring cleaning time is here; I've been taking the winter clothes and putting them in storage before taking out the Spring and Summer clothes and getting them ready for the season. This always prompts me to put a yard sale together. Going through clothes and items you haven't used in a while always takes a long time. My process is to decide into keep and give piles and then I have to take a trip down memory lane with each item. It is amazing that an item or piece of clothing has such an intense memory. Although I have an attachment to things, I love the thought of giving them another chance in a new home. Let someone else make wonderful memories!!!

Spring cleaning is one of the best times of the year. Whether it's cleaning out your mind, your priorities or your closet it is a time for fresh beginnings. Before those beginnings though come the reflection on the things that have passed. Cherish and hold close the memories you have, even the bad dark ones. They have helped shape you into the person you have become. Everything you own says something about you. When you pick up an item does it give you Joy or does it not? That should be your deciding factors.
I love to read so much, I always have. I have a rule about my books, I never see or trade back. I always either keep for myself to read again or I give away to a charity or someone I know who will read it. I love that feeling of passing on something that brought me good memories and knowing that it will bring good memories to someone else. Clean out your closet and dust off your shelves for some Spring Cleaning, get rid of the things that you no longer need and cherish the memories you have. Have a Yard Sale, give it to charity or someone in need and move on. A fresh start.

Tami Tuesdays #6 - Decompression

Decompression! After a stressful day, I can't think of anything better to do than get home and relax. A relaxing shower, a nice dinner and perhaps a glass of wine or two. Now is also the time to start thinking about summer trips. I believe that another way to decompress is to start planning a vacation. You don't have to go anywhere either, my favorite Staycation was doing some Urban Camping in the back yard. Just having the thought is something to look forward to and it is very relaxing knowing you have something planned for yourself coming up! As for me, I am planning to go to visit my grandson very soon and I can't wait. I hope everyone is planning a wonderful time this summer! 

-Tami

Tami is right, having something to look forward to can be an amazing inspiration and motivation through tough times. I have come to find that most of the time I need something to look forward to or plan for in my head to help deal and make it through the day. Sometimes it's planning a trip and sometimes it's planning which shows or movies to watch that night with whatever we decide to make for dinner. The point isn't to focus on the future and forget about the present, but to live mindfully with the reminder in the back of your head that you can push on through whatever is happening because at the very least you have something awesome on the horizon. It is funny that today of all days Tami felt inspired by planning a trip because I just yesterday bought round-trip plane tickets for my husband and I to fly to Tennessee in June for my birthday where I will be able to actually see and hang out with her! I can't wait! 

Tami Tuesdays #5 - Friends

Friends: 

I have been very lucky to have some close friends thru out my life. Lisa and Kathy have been by my side since first grade and for many years afterwards. Even when I moved far away.our spirits were never apart. Maureen is a found friend later in life. She was my parachute during my separation and divorce. Those three strong, wonderful women have been not only friends but life coaches and sisters. My life has been blessed. If you have such fabulous friends in your life, let them know and celebrate each other!

It is so easy to get lost in life and the everyday things that happen, but it is important to remember the foundation we have that helps define us and make it through those days. That foundation includes the friends that we have, the close ones. The ones who lift us up and are there for us in our darkest moments. We choose to let them in our lives and our hearts and they choose to be there for us. Don't forget to say thank you to those who have been there for you, those close to your heart. In return, try to emulate their behavior and be there for the people you love when they are going through hard times, when they need you. We can't live in a bubble, we all depend on each other to survive. The more we fight that fact the more stress and angst we cause ourselves. Let it go, be honestly thankful and do the same for those around you. That's how to live a Joyful life.

Tami Tuesdays #4 - Go Do Something!

Alas, this Tuesday I have too many ideas and can't seem to focus on just one. So instead I shall make suggestions, suggestions to help each of you find the joy that's all around you.
1) Put together a music mix of personal theme songs that makes you happy and gets you through the day!
2) Try a flavor of ice cream you have never tried before.
3) Commit a random act of kindness. I did today and it felt great!
4) Do a favor for someone, mow an elderly neighbors lawn or run an errand for a sick friend.
5) Do some Spring cleaning and donate to Goodwill or have a yard sale.
6) Get up in the morning, wash your face, brush your teeth and walk out the door. Something good will happen to you!      


There are a million different ways to find Joy, here are a list of some of the ways I use and paths I take. Try one out for yourself, try your own thing, just keep trying.

Tami Tuesday #3 - Spring Gardening!

Finally Spring! Today was a perfect Spring day. A sunny, light breeze and gardening! I only planted tomatoes this year -  Early Girl, Big Boy, Beefsteaks and Brandywine's! - but Spring would not be complete without flowers. I have a giant iron pot hanging in the front yard, it looks like a caldron, but it's so pretty with the wave petunias. They cascade down and are a burst of  bright pink and purple color! I hope everyone visits their local nurseries and produce stands this year.

-Tami

Tami is dead on when it comes to gardening. There is nothing more therapeutic than growing something yourself. Whether a small aloe plant, a beautiful orchid or tomato plants - the Joy that comes with helping to cultivate life is amazing. Our side yard at home is filled with pots of flowers or plants and there are things planted everywhere. At times I will just sit outside for like an hour staring, literally watching them grow. Even from day to day there are small differences as the plants continue to grow. You can see them when you get close enough. I get lost in the life and the growth all around me. It can be inside or outside, there are potted plants you can put inside or outside. Next to the bed or outside the front door. Pick up a small plant next time you're out. An aloe plant takes water and sun and is the easiest thing to grow. Find something to bring some more life into your life. Life cultivates life and growth cultivates growth. It feels good to grow something, just as it feels good when we grow as people. So give it a shot and try out your Green Thumb as Tami suggested and see what happens! Happy Spring!

-Jeremy

Tami Tuesdays #2 - April 12, 2016

"The Magic of Rainy Days"  

A lot of people don't like rainy days but I am not one of them. Granted, the love of rainy days is an acquired taste. Here is my list of rainy day favorite activities.

1)Tomato soup,grilled cheese and a black and white creature feature like Creature from the Black Lagoon! It's a love story you know! 

2) Getting lost for hours in Barnes and Noble with a Starbucks Caramel Apple Spice!! 

3) Sitting on the porch reading a great ghost story listening to Mother Earth at her best. 

4) Being rained in at lunch with a few of your best friends.

And......

5) Napping! One of my most decadent indulgences. These are some of the things that make me happy on rainy days.I hope the next time you have some rain in your day you will also enjoy some of MY favorite things.

Introducing - Tami Tuesdays - Fun, Silly & Positive Joy From Down South

Some days are just extra joyful. Today was one of those days. My best friend Lisa and I call them Goddess days.Those are the days when we both have a day or afternoon off together and meet for manis & pedis, lunch, shopping, movies ect. Today we went downtown to a favorite eatery for martinis and a wonderful lunch.We then walked in the sun from shop to shop buying fun summer jewelry, scented candles and soaps. Lisa then got an unexpected call about her Dad. He has been struggling with chemo but today was joyous news. The Dr. said his x-rays looked fantastic! So we stopped at another favorite place, sat outside and toasted his good news with a glass of wine. That is of course what Goddesses do.That was the cherry on the ice cream sundae of one of the best days! Our Goddess days don't happen as often as we would like. When they do it is pure joy!

Tami F

Here to bring us her own person Joy is Tami, our Southern Flavor of Fun & Joy. Tami is so silly and yet so supportive and an amazing friend. I have known her since 2009 and have enjoyed every moment. I just wanted to share a little bit with you about this awesome woman who is going to be sharing about herself. Mrs. Tami held the unit together on the floor of the hospital I worked on in Tennessee. Everyone loved her, she always went out of her way to make you smile and laugh. She always had a little surprise or something silly to make you smile. We talked about classic movies and horror movies in between goofing off and laughing. I remember one Valentine's Day we met downtown at this beautiful restaurant and sat at a hightop table near the front window. I remember that she got me a box of Chocolate Strawberries from Godiva I believe, I mean like heaven in a box. I have never in my life, before or after that, seen strawberries that big. And that dark chocolate was so amazing I about died. She also gave me one of the movies we always joked about. She gave me "Despicable Me" on Blu-Ray/DVD. I still have that movie, and it came with a digital copy. It makes me think of her every time I look at it. I love it, it makes me laugh so much from beginning to end because of its silliness and just carefree laughs. I miss having Ms. Tami around, but at least now we will still get to remain close through the Joy being shared that brings us all together.