Life lessons

How do you describe the difference between alone and lonely?

Posted on July 14, 2015 by Tyra Garlington • 0 Comments

Although Thesaurus describes “alone” as a synonym for “lonely” and vice versus, I believe they are more than synonymous. I liked Chelsea Fagan’s approach to the difference as described in a brief excerpt below. “Alone is calm. Alone is listening to the things you have to say to yourself, giving time to the more important reflections that you often allow to settle in the back of your mind like a fine dust swept under a rug.” “Lonely is allowing freedom from judgment to take root in your life, to become a reason to let things go. It is losing perspective……
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How often do you use your power to encourage?

Posted on July 7, 2015 by Tyra Garlington • 0 Comments

In our purpose-filled lives, each of us at various times and in different ways is meant to encourage others. Our lives are not ones of isolation and independence but of relationship and interconnection. Although our talents, personalities, abilities, and backgrounds may differ, every one of us is called to develop an encouraging heart. The good news is there is no one perfect way and we even get “do overs”. We may have no idea the impact our gracious words, sound advice, or acts of kindness has on another person. At all times encouragement is intentional. It might come in the form of comforting……
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Who do you see in the mirror?

Posted on June 23, 2015 by Tyra Garlington • 0 Comments

Who you see is based on how you feel about who you are. Blogger Marc Chernoff says, “You can be the most amazing human being in the world and everyone sees rays of light, love and genius when they look at you. But if you yourself don’t know it, all of that external admiration doesn’t matter one bit.” It was like Marc had read the script of my life. I saw a reflection that said successful but unfulfilled, affiliated but not connected, living the life I should, and not the life I wanted. My reflection didn’t look like the person others seemed……
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Are you shopping for a new friend?

Posted on June 9, 2015 by Tyra Garlington • 0 Comments

What’s the occasion? Friends come in all sizes, shapes, colors and capabilities. They are not time stamped so you don’t know how long they will be good. Still, you can try them on before you commit. They satisfy needs. Some are high maintenance yet really bring joy into your life. Others seem to require no work at all. If you don’t connect for long periods of time, when you do it feels like the time apart was merely a comma in the middle of a sentence. However when old friends and new seasons don’t fit any more, emotional honesty and……
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Fallen but not forgotten.

Posted on May 27, 2015 by Tyra Garlington • 0 Comments

Pause with me to appreciate the legacy left by the brave men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice. Then from your grateful heart declare, “I thank you for your service!” ― G.K. Chesterton says “The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him.” That would be us. Then again what about the warriors who come home with both invisible and visible wounds? Their wounds belong to all of us. They deserve our compassion and empathy. They deserve our look and see and not our look away. They deserve our fix to……
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Did you know little girl blue?

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

She was beautiful. She was a petite three-year-old. She loved Dora the Explorer. They had the same big brown eyes. Unlike Dora, she rarely spoke. I was on my way to choir rehearsal and decided to stop by and see the new affordable housing unit her family called home. We had worked so hard to get them qualified and moved in. We had successfully used eBay and some of our own belongings to nicely furnish the new apartment. She and her older brother were playing on the stairs of the apartment building. When she saw me coming she began to……
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