Life lessons | Tyra Garlington

What do you do when your heart says “STOP”?

Posted on November 3, 2015 by Tyra Garlington • 0 Comments

Yesterday I smiled way down deep inside when my cardiologist said excitedly, “Tyra, you are doing great! Your nuclear stress test shows a very healthy heart. ” Dr. Hopkins and I met on February 3, 2014. He was wearing the color blue from head to toe. Only his eyes were visible to communicate his compassion. His words pleaded, “Hang on for me Tyra, stay with me. I am going to help you.” He did not lie. I had no clue my heart was mad at me. But early that February morning it attacked me with a vengeance disguised as chills, severe nausea, extreme chest……
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What if you had to be the one?

Posted on October 29, 2015 by Tyra Garlington • 0 Comments

At least a generation ago, singer Dusty Springfield sang a love song containing the following lyrics: “Wishin’ and hopin’ and thinkin’ and prayin’ Plannin’ and dreamin’ each night of his charms That won’t get you into his arms So if you’re lookin’ to find love you can share All you gotta do is hold him and kiss him and love him And show him that you care” Now consider this. “What if you peered into a fortune ball right now — this very second, today — and saw with indisputable clarity that you were never going to meet the love of your life?” I’m aware this is……
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“T” is for the tears she shed to save me

Posted on October 20, 2015 by Tyra Garlington • 0 Comments

At times my mind wanders off and then BAM, demands my attention. This morning I was walking in the beauty of a fall day thinking of illustrations for my next book for Destiny’s Children. All of a sudden my face was washed in tears prompted by fleeting thoughts of recently reported “tottlers” who have lost their lives or killed someone else with a gun. So how did I get from a lovely brisk fall walk to the bottom of emotion’s soul? Somewhere in the 24/7 global media cycle, left over behind the headlines, this information sneaked back into my consciousness.……
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Hunger lives closer than you think.

Posted on October 13, 2015 by Tyra Garlington • 0 Comments

Saturday is a day when many get extra “stuff” done to include shopping, car washing, tennis, golf, little league and so much more. However in some inner city food deserts, Saturday is a day for residents who are poor to line up to receive a little hope, packaged in three cloth shopping bags filled with food. These three little bags represent their sustainability. The food is a gift from the local Feed America organization and supplied by local grocers and bakers. Our Rotary club members gathered at an inner-city community center to help distribute food to a segment of America that……
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When do you shop for unnecessary things?

Posted on September 8, 2015 by Tyra Garlington • 0 Comments

I lost a very dear friend recently. It was a negative surprise. He was young and vital and smart and funny. I wasn’t ready to delete him from my life. I guessed God needed another pilot in heaven. I had to find a way to let him go and “be there” for his wife. Both of those processes had to happen at the same time. I wasn’t sure I was up to it. On the first phone call to her, I said, “I cannot imagine how you feel. The best I can offer is my love and my prayers and……
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Superwoman is not here.

Posted on September 1, 2015 by Tyra Garlington • 0 Comments

Okay, so this is personal. When was the last time you “watered” yourself; gave yourself something you needed? When was the last time you treated yourself with love and realized that your imperfections were indeed, gifts? I believe with every breath I take that my purpose in life is to encourage, support and inspire others to believe they are worthy and not alone. I try my best to make my words helpful, hopeful and whenever possible happy. I don’t always succeed. What I have learned (the hard way) is that I’m okay even when I come up short. However, I……
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What do you do when the truth as you know it isn’t anymore?

Posted on August 19, 2015 by Tyra Garlington • 0 Comments

For me it was Santa Claus, then the Easter Bunny and then the Tooth Fairy. Their reality and disappearances were accompanied by the most unusual stories that I believed because Mother and Daddy said so. Santa Clause eventually morphed into the “spirit of giving” and remains that in my heart even today. As I grew spiritually I found new joy during this season anticipating and celebrating the birth of “Mary’s Baby Boy”, Jesus. The Easter Bunny became a festive sugary centerpiece on the dining room table during the most spiritual Christian season of the year. I’m not sure what happened……
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How do you get to happy?

Posted on August 11, 2015 by Tyra Garlington • 0 Comments

I am sitting on my lanai (the Florida name for a screened porch) at sunset. The tree tops seem to be swaying to the rain-like melody of my fountain. A family of Florida Sandhill Cranes have paused to listen at the edge of the pond below. Otherwise, it is quiet. I feel at peace. I feel happy. My life isn’t perfect but right this minute it feels like I think perfect might feel. And I think all the happiness you ever find lies within you. I am focusing on what is right rather than what is wrong; what is working rather……
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Surprise! You received what you needed without asking.

Posted on August 4, 2015 by Tyra Garlington • 0 Comments

I have personalized this message just for you; to encourage and empower you. The actual text and extended version can be found in the footnote.[1] When my soul is filled with grief. When everything around me is suddenly painted mean or distorted. When I overestimate my maturity, thinking what I understand will get me through the storm, only to discover it won’t. That’s when I used to hide what was true about me. That’s when I used to put on my mask. To feel particularly and uniquely not enough. To get embarrassed by my world not working was an appalling……
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Are you following your dreams?

Posted on July 21, 2015 by Tyra Garlington • 0 Comments

Ten proven follow-your-dream startup steps. When I was a little girl, I loved the Cinderella Fairy Tale song that said, “A dream is a wish your heart makes when you’re fast asleep. In dreams you will have no heartaches, whatever you wish for you keep.” Eventually I outgrew fairy tales, but not dreams. I believe dreams are essential to help us find and live our intended purpose-filled lives. Our dreams allow us to imagine new possibilities; they can take us anywhere, allow us to do anything in a land of unlimited opportunities. However following dreams require intentional activity and planning. And……
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