Life lessons | Tyra Garlington

How will their “second story” read?

Posted on December 12, 2017 by Tyra Garlington • 0 Comments

Picture this: “David has been homeless since the age of 12. He first started “couch surfing”, but by age 17 David ran out of places to visit and ended up on the streets. Even while living on the streets, David worked hard to stay in school. A social worker eventually connected with David and let him know about the youth shelter where he currently lives. Penny says he has been hopping trains for a few months now. Jimi has been traveling for the better part of two years. She took a few months to “kick it” in Los Angeles, but she says it’s……
Read More »

In Sickness and in Health

Posted on November 14, 2017 by Tyra Garlington • 0 Comments

It definitely has its delights, but falling in love shakes up your life quite a bit. Devoting yourself to a partner includes taking on new friends, new relatives, and a new living arrangement. Pairing up also sparks sweet dreams about the goals you’d like to reach, trips you want to take together, kids you hope to have. Likely, the last thing on your mind is how your beloved will tweak your cholesterol levels. Yet, a large body of research shows that relationships steer our physical well-being as well as our emotional health. A romantic partner often has more influence on our behaviors than anyone else. Exactly how……
Read More »

Moving from good to great

Posted on November 7, 2017 by Tyra Garlington • 0 Comments

“What if you knew your life would work out for you when you realize every decision you make is based on everything that has happened in your life? Think about that… that’s big! Now for a quick test. Check off the ones that you don’t do. Ready? “Are you paying attention? Are you aware of what you do? Are you paying attention to the results you get? Are you paying attention to how you feel? When was the last time you took stock of what was going on around you? Are you paying attention to what you do, or are……
Read More »

What do you do when you feel powerless?

Posted on September 11, 2017 by Tyra Garlington • 0 Comments

It’s 2:21 am, and I can’t sleep. I crawl out of bed and drape my exhausted body on the couch in front of the TV. Late night TV is usually an effective sleeping pill. The microwave dings, announcing that the water is hot enough to make a cup of Sleepy Time tea. But the TV images and words bring me fully awake. In high definition, I see a colorful red, yellow, and white circle spinning across a map of the Carribean. I hear words like”catastrophic” and “150 miles per hour”. The scene morphs into a long line of people hugging their life necessities……
Read More »

Be together, not the same.

Posted on August 23, 2017 by Tyra Garlington • 0 Comments

When I walk daily I intentionally “unplug”. There is nothing on my body to indicate how many steps I have taken during my four-mile walk. I listen to the birds singing and ducks honking as they make love to spring. I notice new flowers in bloom. I am at peace. Yet sometimes, today, for instance, unwanted thoughts insert themselves. Today it was the concept of “Othering”. I don’t like it and I like even less the fact that it is being intentionally used in this season’s political lexicon. It is not good news. By “Othering”, we mean any action by……
Read More »

Things to remember when what you want is out of reach.

Posted on August 15, 2017 by Tyra Garlington • 0 Comments

Here are a few borrowed thoughts that, at just the right time, reminded me to say, “YES” to the power within me. Maybe one of you is stuck in a moment where they will also help you. “Doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith. That’s the super-short version of my advice for those moments when nothing seems to be going as planned—when everything you want seems out of reach. Yes, just be right where you are, with an open mind. Let go of what you think your life is supposed to look like and sincerely appreciate it for everything……
Read More »

What do you do if you don’t fit?

Posted on August 2, 2017 by Tyra Garlington • 0 Comments

“In the last 4 years, I have been let go, promoted and even quit jobs. I found myself to be in a constant search for “my fit,” “my people” and “my place.” I have adapted my cover letter so many times that I am not even sure which skills I am really great at and which ones need work. I have interviewed by phone, email and in person. I have been the perfect chameleon with 1-part charisma, 1- part authenticity and 2- parts baloney. You want me to be more administrative, sure. You want me to be more creative, sure. You want me to be more adaptable, sure.I should have……
Read More »

Why should you not be afraid to fail?

Posted on July 19, 2017 by Tyra Garlington • 0 Comments

Some people make no room for failure in their lives. They run from it and won’t even entertain the thought of it. To do so would be a sign of weakness. A chink in their armor that opposition could exploit. “Failure is not an option” but how do they react when life doesn’t go to plan? Nobody gets it right 100% of the time. Nobody. Not even the greatest at what they do. Usain Bolt hasn’t won every race that he has run. It took Thomas Edison thousands of attempts to invent the lightbulb. Steve Jobs was fired from the very company he eventually transformed the world with. Winning……
Read More »

How we see ourselves is who we become

Posted on July 12, 2017 by Tyra Garlington • 0 Comments

“As human beings, the stories we subconsciously tell ourselves about our circumstances, about others, and about life in general drastically changes how we feel. If the stories are positive, we tend to feel good. If the stories are negative, we tend to lose hope. Of course, there’s more to feeling good than just thinking positive. The details of your present reality matter and make a difference, but generally speaking, you’re not going to have a good day today if you’re hell-bent on telling yourself otherwise. The stories we tell ourselves don’t just change how we feel – they actually change……
Read More »

What do you have to do?

Posted on July 5, 2017 by Tyra Garlington • 0 Comments

Here is some more good “stuff” I discovered during my recovery while all I could do was read. Enjoy! “YOU don’t have to get a job that makes others feel comfortable about what they perceive as your success. You don’t have to explain what you plan to do with your life. You don’t have to justify your education by demonstrating its financial rewards. You don’t have to maintain an impeccable credit score. Anyone who expects you to do any of those things has no sense of history or economics or science or the arts. You have to pay your own……
Read More »