The Practice Life is taking action on an idea, and an exercise repeated regularly in order to improve or maintain one’s proficiency.
People practice patience, hospitality, yoga, wellness, gratitude and their business. Here are a few practices I’m currently working on.
Patience
Let’s just say that I am cultivating patience in tandem with all the other fruits of the spirit (Galations 5:22-23). This is a necessary gift from God! I don’t come by it naturally. Our guest house project is testing my patience. The struggle is real. I’ve been dreaming of this project for three years. I do not claim to be long suffering. It takes practice to accept the things I can not control.
Hospitality
I love to practice hospitality. I was fortunate to hear a speaker on hospitality as a young mother. The speaker set me free from imperfect entertaining. Entertaining is preforming to impress your guest. Hospitality is welcoming friends in your home with the intention of blessing them. The focus is on the guests, not on me.
One of my biggest joys is to have fun events and classes at Creative At The Coop. It is a gift to be able to offer what I’ve learned from years of practice. I enjoy learning new skills for my practice! Recently I discovered the ease of creating a charcuterie board. Charcuterie boards have been a fun creative outlet for my Scout & Cellar wine tastings.
Yoga
My wellness practice began over a year ago. Jeff and I first embraced a paleo diet and Young Living essential oils! My home and health became less toxic as I transferred my buying habits to plant based items. Most importantly, I learned how to listen to my body for clues on what it needs.
I’ve noticed a need to be more active. Jeff and I joined gen·e·sis yoga in Brenham. Yoga is a patience patient practice, supporting mobility and mindfulness. I discovered a love for restorative yoga! It feels like a yoga massage! I love the challenge of the strength building poses. I need a lot of practice at this stage of the game!
Business
I am not a doctor or a lawyer. I am a serial entrepreneur that has spent my life practicing business. This is one area of my life that feels like an endless climb upward. I had to learn to embrace the mystery and create a pro mindset.
Podcasts have become a staple in my development this past year. Some of my favorite podcasters feel like friends. Truly, at this point in my life I need mentors. I long to surround myself with people who are in spaces I want to occupy. Check out my latest blog to learn about 5 podcasts to finish 2018 strong!
Grace
Finally, I’d like to offer a bit of grace by imagining all areas of life is a practice. I am grateful to God for grace! It is an open gate to excepting life in it’s fullest. I will repeatedly, on a regular basis, move toward my goals allowing myself to makes mistakes along the way. No one is perfect right out of the gate. The important thing to remember is keep on practicing. Right?
Are you giving yourself grace to view life as a practice? Let’s encourage each other to finish 2018 strong! Please feel free to share your stories in the comments below!
~Tiffany
And the birds fluttered around her writing “YES” in the sky!
The entrepreneurial journey unfolds in mysterious ways. I admit, I have been fighting the mystery. I want a clear cut road map with guaranteed destinations, an expectation belonging to an amateur mindset. An epiphany unlocked a pro mindset. I will embrace the mystery!
Flown The Coop
Flown The Coop closed the doors to regular hours on Saturday, August 4th. Big dreams die hard. Change can be heartbreaking.
I will continue pursuing creative classes on a variety of topics. I will host an occasional event, like our BIG Backyard Bash on September 28th. (why not???? we have a fun space for a party!)
Jeff and I are talking to contractors about our garden guest house. I have dreamed of this project for almost four years. Stayed tuned for progress updates as the project comes together.
An ephinany
I have operated in survival mode for too long, trying to make sense of it all. Thank God for authors who speak right into our souls at the perfect time. I’m starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
I reread Turning Pro by Steven Pressfield. This little book is incredibly insightful into an amateur mindset and a pro mindset. Funny how all the books I’ve read lately are all pointing to mindset. Mindset by Carol S. Dweck, PhD is a great resource for learning the difference between fixed and growth mindset. I loved Girl Wash Your Face, by Rachel Hollis. Rachel shares raw life experience in an attempt to get her readers to identify lies and create a positive mindset.
I had an epiphany reading Turning Pro. I am a Networker. Recognizing this truth about me is the moment I “Turned Pro.” My amateur mindset has been running from this gift. It seems skeevy. It has a ton of bad connotations. Entrepreneurs survive by networking themselves with people. I believe that I have a gift for connecting people and promoting ideas I care about. I have the gift of hospitality which is a really handy skill for a Networker.
Hi! My name is Tiffany. I am a Networker. The best epiphany ever!
I can’t quite put my finger on how to define my new role as a Networker. I am embracing the mystery.
Letting go of Flown The Coop retail was my first hard step. Pros do hard things.
Stepping into the mystery
I will step into the mystery by working on business developments that promote my passion for wellness and the pursuit of a life well lived. All of my projects require me to learn new skills and get out of my comfort zone.
I am building a team with Young Living. I adore this company and their commitment to bringing a wellness mindset to every home. On top of the business opportunity, I am impressed with the company’s world wide philanthropy opportunities. It makes my heart sing!
I am also building a team with Scout & Cellar Wine, another company with high standards and a commitment to wellness. Working with Scout & Cellar is an exciting journey into the clean crafted wine industry. I am learning to savor good food and great wine. I have inhaled my food without thought for far too long.
Gadabout Gals ~ The launching of Gadabout Gals, our lifestyle travel site was a true labor of love with my favorite gal pals and is a collaboration made in heaven. The three of us truly love to travel finding adventure in excursions, destinations and great flavors. We are using our combined influence (networking) to promote our experiences.
Clear as mud
I have two choices
I can control the future with fear (amateur)
I can embrace mystery as a beautiful reality.
I will put in the effort and allow the mystery do it’s thing.
I will focus on the only thing I have control of, my mindset.
I will let go and fly free!
~Tiffany
And the birds fluttered around her writing “YES” in the sky
My entrepreneurial journey has had many twists and turns. The latest adjustment is a hard for me, but I am confident it will be WELL! 😉
The Story Of A Serial Entrepreneur
I am a self proclaimed Serial Entrepreneur, tenacious in attempting business ventures and gravitate towards the under dog. I wholeheartedly believe in the American Dream. I believe that a life worth living is not handed to you, but is earned by hard work and dedication to a dream. I also believe everyone would own their own business if it were easy. Despite the changes I’ve had to face, I prefer to create a life on my own terms.
As you can see from the above picture… I’ve attempted a lot of businesses over the years. I am blessed by the experience each venture has added to my life. The uncomfortable truth of creating a life on your terms is that you must remain flexible and learn to adapt to changes in the market place.
Flown The Coop
I have officially closed Flown The Coop. I’ve known in my gut that it was time for a change, but my heart didn’t want to accept it. For four years I invested my heart and soul into my dream shop. I loved creating a destination in this sleepy little town that begs to be discovered and LOVE all my customers who are now friends.
I could list all the reasons that Flown The Coop didn’t flourish, but I prefer to face the future with a positive attitude. I believe that a new exciting chapter awaits. I hope you stick with me as I embark on a new journey.
Moving forward I plan on hosting classes and special events at Flown The Coop. Keep an eye on the Creative At The Coop webpage. I will also focus my attention on our Guest House project. Stayed tuned for regular updates as I share the progress.
For now, let me explain how I got to this point….
An Entrepreneur on the Right Side of the Quadrant
I am a big fan of Robert Kiyosaki’s book CASHFLOW QUADRANT. I read his first book, Rich Dad Poor Dad when it came out twenty years ago. Has it really been that long????
His CASHFLOW Quadrant explains my entrepreneurial journey completely. Most of us live in the E Quadrant. We are taught in school to be a good employees. Some of us set out to own our own businesses. MY EPIPHANY: As I struggle to make Flown The Coop profitable. As much as I enjoy owning a store, I had basically bought my own JOB (Just Over Broke). A true entrepreneur eventually understands the importance of creating residual income (or passive income). I am now focused on the right side of the quadrant. I highly recommend reading CASHFLOW QUADRANT. Robert explains the concept way better than I ever could!
SIDE NOTE: Jeff and I have the CASHFLOW QUADRANT board game. Anyone interested in a game night?????? Seriously, message me! I won for the first time during a recent family vacation. So, I’m feeling empowered!
Business Opportunity In Wellness
I have spent the last year focused on wellness. Jeff and I have come to the realization that we are approaching the prime years and want to enjoy them. We want our grandkids to have to keep up with us. Honestly, we still have work to do… but it’s a journey worth taking.
Wellness is not just ONE thing. It’s a lifestyle. It is learning to listen to the body, mind and spirit. Wellness is eating whole “real” foods, staying active and getting the toxins out of the home. Wellness is focusing on what the body needs before there is crisis. Wellness is taking charge and living the best life possible!
I want to spend the rest of my life promoting this lifestyle. I hope you have enjoyed traveling the world of Young Living essential oils with me, and now Scout & Cellar clean crafted wine. These two businesses have been game changers for me!
I’ll never forget when Lynsey Kramer visited me after I ordered a Young Living premium starter kit. She had shared her lifestyle so freely on her Facebook page. I didn’t hesitate to jump in when she shared the opportunity to purchase a starter kit. Lynsey came to my house to help me understand what the essential oils could do for me. In passing she mentioned that she was growing a Young Living distributorship for retirement. As small business owners, they didn’t have a traditional retirement to fall back on. IT WAS A LIGHT BULB MOMENT. I remember immediately thinking about the book CASHFLOW and saw a real opportunity to make a difference.
Then another opportunity presented itself. Bethany Dwyer reached out to me, offering a Scout & Cellar wine tasting at the Flown The Coop Backyard Karaoke Bash in the spring. Bethany is a Young Living member as well. She mentioned that this wine company shared a similar philosophy and paired well with essential oils. First of all, who would turn down a wine tasting opportunity? I liked Bethany right away. I love her boldness in reaching out to me and her tireless pursuit of many business ventures. I asked her why she worked so hard. Her response was another LIGHT BULB MOMENT. She replied, “The truly wealthy people have more than one income stream.” In April I invited her and Lacey Harwood back to Flown The Coop for the Cotton Gin festival. I got excited watching the people try and love this wine. I had to get involved in this opportunity too.
I truly believe that these two movements (plant based products and clean crafted wine) are the future. This generation will demand cleaner products and are taking charge of their wellness. I also believe there are people like me, who want to enjoy their prime years and still have the spunk to grow a business that will give them financial freedom. They call people like me encore entrepreneurs.
I urge you to invest twenty five minutes watching this video…. while a little goofy and long winded, he totally nails retirement. Totally worth the time! {Here are the docs he mentions: the income disclosure statement, the comp plan and the personality colors}
This is why I am focusing the next phase of my entrepreneurial journey on wellness and the right side of the CASHFLOW quadrant.
Flown The Coop will become my creative outlet for prime lifestyle, wellness and wine.
SO…. stayed tuned. I’m looking for people to join my team. Reach out if you are a kindred spirit (a serial entrepreneur) who wants to build a thriving business in Young Living or Scout & Cellar. I would also love to chat with anyone who simply wants to take charge of their wellness. I’d love to help in anyway I can!
Life is a journey, come travel with me!
~Tiffany
And the birds fluttered around her writing “YES” in the sky!
Make plans to come out to our Liquidation Sale at Flown the Coop. Shop our “junque” with garage sale prices {except consignment and choice pieces}. To be honest, we won’t know exactly what we have until we pull it all out. I know for sure we have doors, sleds, canoe, Coca Cola machine, barn beam, wood, car hoods, signs, furniture, and misc. smalls…. and we’re ready to liquidate!
Thursday, June 14th – Saturday, June 16th
11am – 5pm
But first let me share with you how we got here….
Flown The Coop’s humble beginnings
The storefront was a blank page three years ago. The dream of a store in Burton, where Jeff and I could work and live, was sealed with the promise of a rainbow.
It has been a wild ride! I cherish the friends I’ve made, both customers and/or vendors. I have loads of memories from buying trips, and the cool “finds” I brought back to The Coop. The numerous events, from White Linen Night to Backyard Karaoke Bashes, have filled my cup! I even treasure the obstacles that have been thrown my way. All in all, I am blessed with a wonderful creative outlet. I have become a better version of myself because of this adventure.
So why a liquidation sale????
I am, and will always be a gen.u.ine FREE spirit. I am keenly aware when I need to adjust my wings.
The recent changes that have been made to the storefront are well received.
The Coop feels bigger with an open floor plan.
The classes are well received! It is pure joy building relationships with customers who attend the classes. I am currently working with a variety of teachers to offer classes that will work for them and potential students. Jeff and I have plans to double the classroom space. Groups will be welcome to use this space as a collaborative work space, private wine tastings and for small events. The Creative space is a genuine “parks & rec” at Flown The Coop.
After the Flown The Coop Liquidation Sale????
Expect exciting days ahead for Flown The Coop…. I say “exciting” because I have no clue what’s in store for us (no pun intended).
One thing is clear, I can’t go on as it is. My resolve has tanked with sales.
Customers can visit the storefront on Saturdays through the summer, along with scheduled classes and events.
The Antique Show in the fall is still up for debate. Although, I have booked a band September 28th. I will have a BIG party that night. STAYED TUNED! (follow the EVENTS page on this website)
The guest house will be underway shortly. That is a done deal… FINALLY! I am looking forward to sharing every step of the way with you. I might even let you in on some of the design decisions.
My enthusiasm and energy is being poured into a few passion projects.
I love sharing my wellness journey and Young Living Essential Oils. There has never been a more important time to focus on keeping the body well!
I love sharing Scout & Cellar, a clean crafted wine company that pairs well with wellness. I’m having so much fun sharing what I learn about the wine industry, classifications of wines and offering wine tastings. #friendsdontletfriendsdrinkdirtywine
Gadabout Gals is my latest collaboration with my best friends Michele and Kelly. Our launch last week exceeded our expectations! Read how all that came about HERE. The three of us and our Gadabout Guys have BIG plans to cross the globe together. Individually, we have interesting adventures you can follow as well.
With mixed emotions, I look forward to what lies ahead.
Your friend,
Tiffany
And the birds fluttered around her writing “YES” in the sky!
In preparing for our vacation to Belize, I discovered a picture of a fearless young girl jumping off the end of the pier at The Villa Groovy Gecko. I admired her youthful inhibitions and knew I had to recreate that picture! {See Take The Leap}
The Villa Groovy Gecko, our vacation home in Placencia, was perfect! After a tour and home instructions, the gang didn’t waist any time tackling island life. First stop, floating in the pool, then we made cocktails and soaked it all in. Jeff tried out the paddle boards and a few of us headed to the pier to watch.
The pier was calling me. I knew in my gut that it was time for me to take the leap! I wanted to get this act of bravery over with. The only problem was a rare influx of seaweed had washed up shore. The water looked mucky and I had no idea of what I’d be swimming with. Even in my younger days I didn’t like to swim in lake or ocean water. I just kept thinking, “I can’t let that young girl have all the fun.” So I did it… I took the leap!
Our dreamy trip to Belize
I can honestly say our vacation to Belize was the best! I fell in love with The Villa Groovy Gecko, and the entire staff who took such good care of us. It was special to experience a bucket list dream with my hubby and best friends! The weather was great with only one day of rain. The day it rained, my friends and I had a epic dance party in the foyer. #winning I watched the sunrise every morning from the end of the pier, and experienced a breezy massage there too. There were adventures in the village, at a waterfall and a sunset sail. Finally, at our last dinner Jeff and I went international with our karaoke version of Inspite Of Ourselves (a John Prine song).
The vacation was everything I imagined and more! Here are a few highlights:
The Epiphany
I had plenty of time to think. The ocean breezes and the jungle air helped clarify a few things for me.
Conversations I had with Kelly and Michele, while lazily hanging at the pool, stuck with me. {This is where the epiphany set in} I’ll be 50 years young in two years. I am middle aged.
I don’t feel old. I don’t act old. I still have HUGE dreams. So, why would this number even effect me???
Dreams aren’t reserved for the young, but for the young at heart. I believe the only real limitations I have are the ones I create. I still have thirty plus years to blow up my dreams, and the confidence that I lacked in my youth. Watch out!
Future plans?
When I returned home, I had a conversation with Jeff about focusing energy on our middle age. It is time for us to get laser focused on what we want, where we want to go and how we’ll get there. No time to waste!
Kelly, Michele and I agree that there is a market for women (and men) who are coming into a new freedom. After raising a family and/or pursuing the career of our youth, it is time to pursue out of the box ideals.
Success is the progressive realization of a worthy ideal ~Earl Nigthengale
I believe success is defined differently in the prime of life. “Worthy ideals” may be a call to travel, or start a new business, or maybe it is time to do volunteer work on a passion project.
After the conversations I had with my tribe (Jeff, Kelly, Jason & Michele)… and my epiphany in Belize… it is no coincidence that I found an advertisement for Prime Women Magazine, “Redefining the ageless generation.” BINGO! Confirmation to my hunch.
There are a bazillion ideas running through my head. The future looks as mucky as the water I leaped into at the end of the pier in Belize. One thing I know for sure, I am not letting the young have all the fun! I’ll take the leap! Here are a few things I’m working on:
I love the course Flown The Coop is on. Creative At The Coop classes start this Saturday (May 19th). I LOVE all our product lines and supporting local entrepreneurs. The redesigned the store looks amazing! Exciting times!
Jeff and I are planning the start of our guest house project. This is going to be challenging, but so rewarding! Stay tuned!
I’m going to attack business ventures with confidence. I am currently building three businesses; Flown The Coop, Young Living and now Scout & Cellar. They are all wellness focused and allow me to express my passion for entrepreneurial endeavors.
Travel and travel real estate is calling my tribe. Currently researching vacation property. AND… Kelly, Michele and I are looking at relaunching a travel project we started nine years ago. EEKS!
Wellness has taken on a whole new meaning for me. I started my wellness journey in response to health crisis. Now, I want to make wellness an integral part of my life. I am going to be extremely picky what I ingest, inhale and/or place on my body. I am going to be even pickier about the thoughts that I entertain. I need my body to keep up with all the business, travel and lifestyle adventures I have planned.
No more inhibitions, I am a women in my PriMe!
Reach out to me by email or comment below if you can relate to life in the prime!
I’d love to talk with you about entrepreneurship in the prime years.
I’d love to encourage you in moving past limitations.
Let me know what travel interests you have.
Life is a journey, come travel with me!
~Tiffany
And the birds fluttered around her writing “YES” in the sky!
Flown The Coop is dedicated to those who can’t be caged. Our mission is to aspire to inspire creativity and a zest for life.
I can honestly say that I have stayed true to creating a lifestyle on my terms. Jeff likes to remind me that I created my job (especially when I find anything to complain about). I love my little shop, that provides an outlet for creative energy, and all the lovely people who have crossed my path since opening my doors. Flown The Coop is not just a place to buy unique finds and gifts, but a developing lifestyle brand. The kind of lifestyle that questions conventional wisdom, looks for alternatives uses for the discarded, and continually promotes the makers, creatives, entrepreneurs, and anyone who believes in pursuing a fulfilling life on their terms.
Flown The Coop is an unique mixture of Industrial, Vintage and Homestead Goods. Curating industrial and vintage pieces for The Coop is my original passion. I also enjoy finding fun gift items, like the Blue Q socks and oven mitts. Our Homestead Line has naturally developed as I discovered local products that support Burton’s entrepreneurs. I am excited to now introduce Young Living essential oils to the Homestead Line. I am impressed with the Young Living seed to seal guarantee, that insures a pristine final product. These products promote my new passion, WELLNESS.
Photo cred Who is Leading Photography & Garnished Events
My journey toward wellness began at the beginning of the year with a bundle of unfortunate health issues. What started as a year to be Fierce, turned into the year of Resilience. As a result, I dove into learning about wellness.
First Jeff and I focused on our diet, changing to a (more or less) Paleo diet. I then created a wellness room for stretching and an inverted table for Jeff’s back (this was inspired by my friend Pamela Hutchins, author extraordinaire). I discovered Lynsey Kramer’s Five Chicks Wellness Facebook Page and Instagram. If you aren’t following The Yonder Way Farm, along with their various social media platforms, you are missing out! They are the most adorable family with an impressive devotion to providing local and healthful food to the surrounding area. I became intrigued by essential oils as I saw Lynsey share how her family was using them in their daily lives.
Convinced essential oils were worth trying in my pursuit of wellness, I purchased a starter kit. It arrived just in time for a buying trip to Ohio. Stress Relief became my friend on the way to Ohio as I drove through some hellacious storms. I discovered Frankincense helped some skin issues. A mixture of coconut oil and Panway helped ease lingering discomfort in my arm that I broke in February. I used that same mixture, adding Copaiba, to help in healing my new tattoo. Lavender helped me relax. I picked up a car diffuser that made a HUGE difference in my truck (lets just say junking is a dirty job). When I returned, I fell in love with Thieves. I washed all my new pieces and the whole store, including windows, with a mixture of water, vinegar, dash of blue dish soap and Thieves. I have enjoyed dropping Tangerine and Lemon into my water. Honestly, I am a little surprised by how often I grab an essential oil during the day. Check this info graph out for a few ideas:
There is so much to learn! So… Flown The Coop is offering an Essential Oils 101 Class Thursday, June 15th at 6:30PM. Lynsey Kramer will be teaching us the basics about essential oils and how you can incorporate them into your daily lives.
Come for light snacks and drinks. Weather permitting, we’ll hold the class in the back yard. If weather is not coroporating, we’ll move the class inside The Coop.
Check out our Facebook Event for more details and to let me know if you plan on attending.
I invite you to join my wellness journey. I plan on sharing more as I continue to explore various aspects of living on purpose. Cheers to a zest for life ~ let’s live with a lot of flavor and gusto! What have you recently discovered in your pursuit of creating a lifestyle on your terms? I’d love to hear from you!
~Tiffany
And the birds fluttered around her writing “YES” in the sky!
It is time for this road warrior to hit the open road. The Road has a way to clear my active mind and set my soul free. I’m off to see family and friends, hunt for treasures, experience spring for the second time, and then to come back to Burton recharged by the adventure.
Don’t get me wrong! I’m not escaping from anything. In fact, I’m torn between wanting to stay put and the call of the road. I’m hoping to use the endless hours on the road to listen to books on tape and get infused with new ideas. Road therapy is part of my creative process.
I’ll share my adventure on Facebook and Instagram @2Flownthecoop. AND…You’ll be the first to see any cool piece I discover.
Are you looking for a certain piece? Email your item or list of items to Eckhardt.tiffany@gmail.com I’d be happy to text you pics of finds that might work.
The Coop
Jeff will be the ring master of this shit show (might even wear the socks) Saturday and Sunday (May 20 & 21, May 27 & 28). Marlene will keep Flown The Coop open Thursday and Friday (May 25 & 26). They will be happy to see you!
The Coop will be closed June 1rst – 4th.
Road Trip Therapy
I hope you are able to hit the road soon! I’d love to hear your stories from the road! What has the road taught you? What treasures have you found? What are your fondest memories of the road? Where do you plan to take off to this summer?
May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face;
the rains fall soft upon your fields
and until we meet again,
may God hold you in the palm of His hand.
~Tiffany
And the birds fluttered around her writing “YES” in the sky!
I am one of those crazy people who actually believe in changing the world. Well, at least in making a difference on the local level.
I aim to make shopping at Flown The Coop a “feel good” experience! First by supporting local makers, creators and entrepreneurial friends… the backbone of the American Dream. Shopping small and local not only makes a difference to creatives, but also to Burton’s economy. Earlier this year I turned my attention toward ways I felt could directly contribute to my community. I made the decision to donate ten cents for every dollar spent at Flown The Coop to the Bridge Ministry of Burton, TX.
The Bridge Ministry of Burton,TX. is a collaboration of thirteen churches in the Burton area. There are six ministry teams within the Burton Bridge Ministry; Seniors, Children and Youth, Helping Hands, Community, Corner Shoppe and Manna Ministry. This type of community outreach is rare and could only be accomplished by people who believe in making a real difference.
Today I had the privilege of lending a helping hand to the Manna Ministry, a Food Pantry led by Karen Nelson. This dedicated team meets at the Food Pantry at 5:30 am every Tuesday. Together they unload the delivery truck, organize items and greet their clients with dignity and respect.
Carolyn’s Country Corner
The Manna Ministry feeds over 200 households every month. Most of the volunteers know each client by name and are interested in their families. Carolyn is in charge of the miscellaneous items donated by local grocery stores. They call it Carolyn’s Country Corner and is filled with “exotics.”
Karen Nelson saw the need to create Manna Ministry in June 2014. She is responsible for following all state and local guidelines, keeping records, volunteers and storing the donated food. It is not uncommon for a neighboring Food Pantry to call Karen throughout the week with donations. This week she picked up a load of sweet potatoes discarded by a Houston grocery store due to a damaged shipping box. They were good looking sweet potatoes!
I’m sure I’ll be back to help out at the Manna Ministry Food Pantry. I left feeling good about serving my community. Burton is truly a wonderful community to live, work and serve in. It is my hope that you feel it too, whether you are a local or a welcomed visitor!
Stayed tuned as I visit the remaining five ministries, and a sneak peak of exciting projects in the works!
#BringmetoBurton
How are you attempting to change the world? Share with me! I’d love to root for you!
And the birds fluttered around her writing “YES” in the sky!
“When we face a decision to fall back or press on, the whole universe holds its breath.” John Eldridge
Let that sink in.
Fierce or Resilient?
My 2017 Pinterest Board was labeled “The year to be FIERCE.” What was I thinking? The Board should be labeled RESILIENT.
It’s hard to be fierce when you are recovering from a major surgery, then break your arm and face another health scare all in the first quarter. I’m not a sick person! Dealing with doctors is not my favorite thing to do. Up until this year, I have avoided the doctor’s office (except for the yearly well visits required by insurance). Good health was a badge I wore proudly!
Finding a doctor was a frustrating ordeal for me in 2016, followed by various issues that led up to surgery on January 9th that didn’t go as planned. Six weeks later, I was disappointed to learn that the doctor who did my surgery was moving to a different health care system and would no longer accept my insurance. When a new and potentially scary health issue arose, I was more defeated by the necessity to find a new doctor than I was the scare. Even more aggravating is the system that requires a regular doctor to order tests, who will then inevitably need to refer me to a specialist if there is a problem. I spent a couple days deciding wether to press on and have the new issue looked at ~ or fall back and ignore it. Side note, I never made it to my follow up appointment for my broken arm. I figured that they would just confirm what I already knew, it’s healing fine and just be careful.
As if walking through an internal struggle about health issues and recovery wasn’t enough, I had to add shame and embarrassment by transparently posting my dismay to Facebook, along with a sad picture to emphasize just how miserable I felt. Why do I always feel the need to air my emotions so publicly? I feel like a whiner just explaining my situation. I have friends and family who are quietly walking through FAR WORSE. Fortunately, I discovered most people didn’t see it as a character flaw (craziness displayed on the porch with a cocktail) and sent massive words of encouragement. This embarrassment was a wake up call to me and was the catalyst into a life lesson.
I now have both.
Proper perspective is helpful when faced with the choice to fall back or press on.
Resilient
re·sil·ent
adjective
(of a person or animal) able to withstand or recover quickly from difficult conditions. strong, tough, hardy
AKA – FIERCE
Resilience is an important life skill that is not taught in school, or comes naturally. It is only learned by walking through rough stuff. Although, it would be helpful to teach children to look at the world honestly and not expect life to handed to them.
I had expectations that I would hit 2017 with fierce determination. I am truly happiest when I am fiercely pursuing an idea. My ambitions were to conquer fitness and weight loss, and had grandiose business dreams for Flown The Coop. Reality was a healthy dose of adversity; physically, emotionally and with my business. The combination has given me a fresh lesson in resilience.
I am a “glass half full” type of girl who is currently working on the idea of happiness. I’m learning to align my expectations with realty, an essential skill in withstanding or recovering quickly from difficult conditions. I generally see life through a lens of possibilities and abundance. The lesson is: pray, do your best and let go of the outcomes. I am not in control.
There are two ways I look at adversity. I’m doing something right and am a target, or I’m doing something wrong and am being punished. I chose to believe that I’m doing something right. I didn’t come this far to fail now. I am learning to dream big dreams and make exciting plans for the year, with the expectation that there will be bumps in the road. It’s not healthy to avoid trials.
I’ve had plenty of time to analyze life while recovering from surgery. It is encouraging to think there is a host of witnesses in the universe holding their breath; waiting for me to flip a switch, to embrace my life as it is and live in the flow. They are cheering me on!
I’m not a quitter.
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Philippians 3: 12
Trust In You by Lauren Daigle has become my anthem.
Yeah, I know most people don’t put their struggles on the Internet for the world to see. My hope is that transparency will encourage you. Life isn’t always what it appears to be on a polished Facebook or Instagram account. Going for dreams and pursuing ideas is the sweet spot in life, full of promise and excitement. Equally important are the seasons that stretch us and makes us stronger. In 2017 I will be Fiercely Resilient, while I give myself permission to cultivate dreams with my expectations balanced in realty.
Your Word
What is your word for 2017? I’d love to hear about your goals, dreams, visions, and even setbacks. Let’s cheer each other on! If you are faced with the decision to fall back or press on, I will hold my breath and cheer for you!
~Tiff
And the birds fluttered around her writing “YES” in the sky!
It’s my favorite holiday too! I love the spring antique show! Bluebonnets will be in bloom. The weather is unpredictable, BUT IT’S NOT HOT. Excitement blows with the wind as trailers packed with treasures begin to ascend upon our beautiful countryside. I’m convinced that even the birds are singing about it. What I look forward to THE MOST is visiting with friends who make their bi-annual pilgrimage to Texas to shop for their stores, find out what’s new in design trends and to be inspired by a creative community.
Flown The Coop will kick off our show March 16th and run through April 1st. We’ll be open 9am – 6pm daily. This spring we’ll host a St. Patty’s Day Karaoke Party in the back yard on March 17th 7:30pm. The Kountry Karoake Chick will bring her show to our back yard stage. Bad Girl BBQ will be here serving AWEsome BBQ!
GRAB YOUR BOOTS, or some comfy shoes, a coat (or shorts… who knows), a good hat, sunscreen, AND a good friend! Hope to see you!!!!
Flown The Coop will close for ONE weekend, March 2nd – 5th.
Sorry for the inconvenience, but this shop girl is taking ONE weekend off to visit family.
~And the birds fluttered around her writing “YES” in the sky!
Finally, I’d like to offer a bit of grace by imagining all areas of life is a practice. I am grateful to God for grace! It is an open gate to excepting life in it’s fullest. I will repeatedly, on a regular basis, move toward my goals allowing myself to makes mistakes along the way. No one is perfect right out of the gate. The important thing to remember is keep on practicing. Right?
