Making way for new adventures

Posted on November 29, 2021 by tiffany

Make way for new adventures

At the time of this writing, there are only five weeks left in 2021. Wow! I don’t know about you, but I’m ready to put this year behind and make way for new adventures.

I’m the weirdo who delights in dreaming about the future, picking a word or a phrase for the year, creating vision boards and mind movies. December is the month I usually focus on the next year.

This year I’m taking a slightly different approach.

Instead of focusing on the what (material gain or achievement), I’m figuring out the why (that which makes me feel alive).

Will 2022 be the year you start living with purpose and make way for new adventures?

Think beyond the material

Do you know what you want for 2022?

The experts agree, people typically use only ten percent of their potential. My theory is that most people don’t reach their potential because they are not in touch with what truly makes them feel alive.

“Most of us can be found flying too close to the ground. Too often we don’t give ourselves permission to soar.” ~Price Pritchett

Think beyond what you want materially and dare to declare what you want to be known for.

For example, I decided a couple years ago that I wanted to be known for uncommon energy. That declaration paved the way for me to do far more than I once thought possible. I never thought of myself as a public speaker, until I delivered a Veteran’s Day message in front of hundreds of people. Turns out that it wasn’t as scary as I built it up to be in my mind.

In the book YOU2, Price Pritchett suggests it is time to start focusing on possibilities, rather than on limits.

Clean out

To embark on this new adventure, start by cleaning out what no longer serves you.

It is easy to identify items that could be discarded or donated, like clothing or junk in a drawer. So, start there.

My favorite clothing hack: I turn all the hangers in my closet backwards at the change of each season. What I wear goes back into the closet facing the right direction. What remains hanging backwards is discarded, usually donated to charity.

The not so obvious place to explore are the habits, thoughts and emotions that no longer server you.

While cleaning out physical items gives you a clean slate to start the year, cleaning out emotional baggage can set you free to soar beyond your wildest dreams.

Some thoughts to break free from: I’m too old to loose weight. I hate hangovers, but have no power to stop my nightly habit of winding down after a long day. The life I want is out of my league. It is selfish to invest in myself. Any of these thoughts ring a bell?

Most of the thoughts I helped my clients discard in 2021 had them feeling broken, lonely and defeated for years.

What if you could leave all that behind in 2021?

Questions are the answers

Researches have found that when posed a question, your brain automatically searches for the answer to the question.

Interestingly, most people are programmed to think of all the reasons something won’t work. So, dismiss those reasons and explore your inner longings for 2022 by asking yourself really good questions.

Here are a few questions to activate your brain.

What new things will I say yes to this year? What am I drawn to?

Will I schedule fun into my daily life? What do I consider fun?

When do I feel most alive? How do I incorporate that in my life in 2022?

Can I identify five silly things I would like to try once?

Now try coming up with a few of your own questions.

Life is the greatest adventure

“There is the risk you cannot afford to take, {and} there is the risk you cannot afford not to take.” ~ Peter Drucker

What is tugging at your heart as you start to think beyond 2021?

The best gift you can give yourself this holiday season is permission to soar.

If you want to make room for adventures, but afraid to take the risk, I can help. I’ve been in your shoes and would love to share what I’ve learned. I’m a great listener and can help you find what keeps you stuck.

I invite you to schedule a chat with me. Simply reach out and I will send you a link to my calendar.

Here’s to starting 2022 with a clean slate and ready to embark on new adventures!

~Tiffany

And the birds fluttered around her writing “YES” In the sky!

Saying NO to notions

Posted on November 14, 2021 by tiffany

Midlife is a good time to reevaluate what you have thought is true about life, and possibly say no to your notions.

What is something you believed in your 30’s that you no longer believe?

Asking for a friend

I had fun asking my friends on Facebook to share beliefs they once had in our 30’s

Here are a few that I love:

60 is old.

My jeans had to be a certain size.

It’s not possible to train for a marathon at my age.

I had to be the peace maker.

People who had a lot of money had no problems.

What are yours?

I’m convinced that we all have notions that we might be ready to ditch.

Midlife is the perfect time to break free and truly live!

What are notions that you no longer believe?

OH… and while we are asking… where the heck did these notions come from? Who makes up the rules anyway?

It’s so fascinating to think about, but maybe it never occurred to you to reevaluate what you believe.

Let me encourage you to get curious about some of your notions that may need to be ditched.

Question everything

I think everything is up for questioning.

Do you have to be a certain size to be happy?

What age is too old?

Why not train to run a marathon at 50?

Your answers could be a clue to how your second half of life will go.

Are you ready to ditch the notions you once believed? If you can, life has endless possibilities!

Need help?

Some notions you no longer believe could be due to hardships and unexpected twists in the road. Even when life does not go as planned, I’ve seen resiliency that truly inspires me.

It is never too late to create new notions, see life with new possibilities.

You might recognize some notions, but are not convinced you could move past them.

I am confident that I can help you say yes to life. It is time to discover what your notion of fun is, what matters most to you and to fall in love with life.

Most of all I’d love to help you define life on your terms.

I invite you to take the first step by scheduling a chat with me. I can send you my calendar link. It is simple to pick a date/time that works for you.

Here’s to embracing new notions!

~Tiffany Eckhardt

And the birds fluttered around her writing “YES” in the sky.

Sober October

Posted on October 31, 2021 by tiffany

No one challenged me to Sober October.

I thought I made it up, until my son told me that comedians do Sober October every year to prove they aren’t alcoholics.

I really enjoy a good glass of wine, especially at my favorite winery Busted Oaks Cellars, and love mixing an old fashion as much as I love making my morning pour over coffee.

For me, Sober October isn’t about giving up these simple pleasures in life permanently.

Why Sober October?

I am not an alcoholic. I don’t wake up in the morning thinking about getting drunk, but I habitually have a couple glasses of wine or an old fashion at the end of each day.

If it’s not a problem, why would I do this?

The past few months I’ve wondered if my alcohol consumption had something to do with my weight fluctuations and saw Sober October as a journey of self discovery.

What could learn about myself if I was sober for a month?

It was a big experiment for me.

What did I learn?

After a few awkward social situations, I decided I was not required to explain myself. When asked why I was committed to Sober October, I just replied that I wanted to see what I was capable of.

Turns out I can have fun without being tipsy.

Most importantly, I learned that I can handle very uncomfortable emotions without the crutch of alcohol. I don’t need to reach for a cocktail to relax, forget the day or cover up loneliness and sadness.

I don’t give up. Trust me, I had a very difficult past two weeks. I could have easily given up.

Best part… I lost 7 pounds and an inch from my waist and hips. Yes, alcohol has some affect on my weight fluctuations.

What now?

The point of Sober October was not to eliminate alcohol. Let’s be honest. It was never about the alcohol.

This month gave me evidence that I am capable of way more than I give myself credit for.

I am disciplined and now have the confidence that I can do anything I set my mind to do.

I am so proud of myself. THAT IS PRICELESS!!!

What would you like to learn about yourself?

You may not have a desire to take a break with alcohol, but I’m willing to bet that you have one area of your life you would like to get a handle on.

Do you want to go on a journey of self discovery to learn what you are capable of?

What would life be like if you didn’t struggle with that one thing?

I invite you to schedule a chat with me. I am confident that I can help you stop wasting time with habitual struggles and help you see that you are capable of more than you imagine.

When you are ready, let’s chat!

Here’s to learning what you are capable of!

~Tiffany

And the birds flutter around her writing “YES” in the sky

Are you hard wired?

Posted on October 22, 2021 by tiffany

Tiffany Eckhardt, master of reinvention and certified life coach, helping women go for their dreams... at any age!

A trip down memory lane

I am hard wired for the “junk” business and live in the heart of the infamous Texas Antiques Week, a biannual pilgrimage for junkers of all types!

My husband and I have enjoyed the “show” as dealers, store owners and now hosts of an Airbnb.

I experienced Texas Antiques Week as a dealer in Round Top for the first time in the fall of 2011, with my original business partner and friend Kristie Herlong. After setting up at the Springfield Extravaganza in Ohio, we packed up our trailers and headed to Texas, not really knowing what we were getting into.

TEN YEARS AGO! Time flies!

That same year, Jeff relocated us from Ohio to Texas… empty nesters who literally flew the coop.

Once I was full time in Texas, I grew my business to participate in seven shows a year. Over time, the road wore me out and I longed to have something permanent.

The opportunity to purchase our property in Burton, Texas was a dream come true the fall of 2014. I celebrated the grand opening of Flown The Coop Antique Store during the “spring show” of 2015.

Today I’m still smitten with the “Junk” business

Ten years after my first show and three years after closing the store, the antique bug struck again.

TxJunkR opened shop this week in Burton. I couldn’t pass up a chance to set up a booth. The night before, I lost sleep wondering if I had enough stuff. The answer… YES! I had more than enough stuff to fill my little nook.

I forgot how much fun it was.

My good friend and once business partner Kristie responded to posts about the big event, “You can’t get it out of your system once you have it.”

So true!

Do you have a passion in your “system”, hard wired?

Maybe you haven’t spent that much time exploring what really sparks your interest.

The first step in identifying what you’re hard wired for is to look for what always circle back to your life.

Most of my hard wiring falls under the category of creating spaces. I love to garden, renovating homes and offering hospitality.

Understandably, my heart is always drawn to the antique business.

I want to encourage you!

Don’t waist time putting off your passion. Find a way to express what makes your heart throb!

The world needs more people who live with purpose and aren’t afraid to go for it!

I hope by reuniting with my passion, I inspire you to explore yours.

Do you need help with this? I can definitely offer help! Schedule a chat with me by clicking on my calendar link. Simply pick a date/time that works for you.

~Here’s to igniting your spark!

Tiffany

And the birds fluttered around her writing “YES” in the sky!

The Daily “Fresh Hell”

Posted on October 15, 2021 by tiffany

Fresh hell

After a month of chatting about FUN, I want to go out on a limb with a conversation about the “fresh hell” we’ve been living through.

Yep, let’s get real.

The past few years have felt like a roller coaster ride of emotions, leaving most clinging to hopium {that is hope-ium – a new term}.

Are you wondering, will life will ever have a sense of normalcy? When will this ride be over?

Your life on hold

If you are anything like me, you love to dream and to invest in the future, but you’re so distracted by the daily dose of “fresh hell” coming from the powers that be {whoever that is}.

There are tasks on your to-do list, but scrolling through social media for the latest news halts progress.

Are you tip-toeing the balance between the need to be informed and the desire to bury your head in the sand?

It’s exhausting! Are we ok with all of this????

The daily barrage of “fresh hell” grates on the nerves, is frustrating and feels out of control.

Are you putting your dreams on hold, and at times even think why bother?

It’s hell

I see so much suffering, including my own version of misery. Since March 2020 I have lost friends, dealt with the possibility of a lost job, and find it difficult to talk to my family about real concerns, etc.

There hasn’t been an authentic conversation around some people since the “fresh hell” became taboo, even criminal.

The women I know just want the opportunity to talk about this bizarre time in history, to share their “fresh hell” of the day.

Lucky for me I have learned skills to work through the chaos and have support when I find myself going in circles.

I want to offer hope…

There is a way forward to not only cope, but to thrive in this messy world.

I’ve managed it!

No, you won’t be able to change the polarizing landscape of today’s world, but you can create a pathway forward.

How can I serve you?

I don’t assume to know what you need.

Maybe you just need someone to talk to, or could use a comforting recipe, an essential oil or herbal remedy. I have developed a million journal prompts that could be helpful.

It’s possible that all you need is a break from the “fresh hell” and add more spice to your life.

It would definitely help to connect with kindreds!

I’m here to serve!

Let me know what you are struggling with! Comment on the blog, on my social media posts, DM me or even schedule a chat with me.

I have set up a special calendar link for this topic, Thriving Through The Daily Fresh Hell. Simply pick a date/time that works for you.

The beginning

It is human nature to want to live with purpose and meaning.

This could be the beginning of a beautiful conversation and a point of discovery. Let’s answer the daily dose of “fresh hell” with resiliency.

Want to link arms?

~Tiffany

And the birds fluttered around her writing “YES” in the sky

The song hit a chord

Posted on October 10, 2021 by tiffany

Tiffany Eckhardt, master of reinvention and certified life coach helping you find meaning and purpose to midlife.

The other day I was riding down the road in my pick-up truck Miss Dixie, with windows wide open {cuz it’s fall ya’ll}, blasting Gavin Degraw on the radio. Dang! The song I Don’t Want To Be hit a chord.

“I don’t have to be anyone other than the birth of two souls in one. Part of where I’m going is knowing where I’m coming from.”

Now what?

The need for purpose isn’t necessarily a crisis, but probably feels more like a nagging. Now what?

There were times when I was raising my children that I thought, oh my God… when will I ever have time for myself?

Now that I have all the time in the world, I often miss my kids. BTW: Adult kiddos are so much fun!

Wether you’re an empty nester, newly retired or recently divorced, the question of now what can tug at your heart.

Not superficial, but profound!

One of my clients commented to me that she was tired of being superficial. Me too!

If you embrace the typical midlife crisis, you might fill the void with a brand new sporty car… anything to feel young with an exciting future ahead of you.

Instead acting superficial, what if you had a profound shift in how you view all this free time? Could this time be a gift?

The birth of two souls

It’s easy to look to the past for identity. It’s clear where you’ve been, but do you know where you want to go or who you want to BE?

What if getting to know yourself is more exciting than a brand new sporty car?

Maybe you just need to crank up Gavin Degraw for inspiration!

“I don’t want to be anything other than me.”

It is fun!

Creating a profound shift could feel heavy… but I promise it is fun!

I like to say my empty nest is not boring, because I am in it!

You are NOT boring!

Find out what you like.

Discover what excites you.

Decide what really matters to you.

Is this hitting a cord?

Last month I focused on fun… finding your inner artist, taking yourself on a date, getting on the dance floor, and being zesty.

I hope it all hit a chord.

These articles were designed to help you live midlife with meaning and purpose, and see this season as a gift to get to know yourself… what you like to do for fun.

If loneliness or boredom is nagging at you, I can help.

I invite you to schedule a chat with me. This is an opportunity for you to share what is nagging at you and preventing you from living a life of purpose.

Simply click my calendar link and pick a date/time that works for you.

Here’s to riding down the road, windows wide open and blasting a song that hits all the right cords!

~Tiffany

And the birds fluttered around her writing “YES” in the sky

Got zest?

Posted on October 3, 2021 by tiffany

Zest adds flavor to life!

Are you zesty?

“A seasoned woman is spicy,” Gail Sheehy

This isn’t the first time I’ve written about zest. I have always promoted the need to have something zesty to look forward to.

The past few weeks I’ve focused on your creativity, taking yourself on a date and getting on the dance floor.

I hope you saw yourself in these posts and are ready to add zest to your life!

Something zesty to look forward to.

“The quality of life is in proportion, always, to the capacity for delight.” Julia Cameron

It is difficult to have capacity for delight when you live in the land of regret. If you are always looking to the past, it’s hard to see a zesty future.

To stop dwelling in the past, first learn to delight in the present by taking time to be grateful for all the good that you’ve created in your life.

And then look to an exciting future by intentionally planning something zesty to look forward to. This excercise creates more of what you love.

Our need for zest

Midlife is the perfect opportunity to be intentional about your need for zest.

As a midlife woman, it’s time to unleash your spice. It’s time to defy the rules and expectations you’ve followed and start doing more of what delights you.

Working towards a dream or goal, planning a vacation or even planning a garden gives meaning to your life and creates excitement.

Stay open to opportunities for zest

Do you have a list of zesty things to look forward to?

Here’s a great place to start…

Create a list 20 things you like to do. Don’t overthink it or worry if you can’t come up with 20. Once you are open to what delights you, more ideas will flow.

Pick one item and describe how you will feel when you are planning it and doing it.

Does it feel zesty and add spice to your life???

The key is to stay open to opportunities for zest.

Zest zappers

There are bound to be zest zappers in your life.

You may not even be aware of how you are zapping your zest.

Do you worry that it’s too late? Does focusing on yourself seem selfish?

Maybe you just need help believing you are capable of creating a zesty life.

I’d love to help you tackle the blocks preventing you from moving forward toward a life that excites you.

I invite you to schedule a free consultation. Let’s chat about what seems to be in the way of you experiencing the freedom and fullness of midlife. I am confident that I can help you add zest to your life!

Simply click HERE to pick a date/time that works for you.

Here’s to becoming a seasoned women with something zesty to look forward to!

~Tiffany

And the birds fluttered around her writing “YES” in the sky

Get on the dance floor!

Posted on September 24, 2021 by tiffany

Does life sometimes feel similar to attending a high school dance as the wallflower watching your friends enjoying the dance floor?

I’m not trying to be dramatic, but it has taken me fifty years to realize that life is not a popularity contest.

You can choose to get off the wall and dance. In fact, enjoying life is a priceless gift you owe yourself.

My proverbial dance floor

Recently I was invited to share my expertise as a speaker for the Empowered Woman’s Summit hosted by Jillian McGill.

This was my chance to get off the wall and dance.

At one time, I might have turned down the invitation because I was scared to speak in front of strangers or didn’t feel ready.

This time I accepted the invitation, choosing to believe it would be fun. The whole experience turned out to be SO fun!!!

Your invitation to dance!

Thanks to Jillian’s generosity, I am able to share my session of the Empowered Woman’s Summit with you.

Enjoy your personal invitation to get your booty on the dance floor!

In this video I teach from the Four Stages of Reinvention Journal I recently published on Amazon. You can get your copy of it by clicking HERE.

It is my intention to help you dance through what ever stage of change you find yourself, and and empower you to step into what ever you’ve always wanted to do.

Enjoy! ⤵️

Dig deeper

It sucks that trying something new hasn’t gotten easier since high school!

Midlife is the perfect time for you to stop being the wall flower and dance!

I’d like to invite you to dig deeper into reinvention.

In addition to The Four Stages Of Reinvention, I also offer a free guide mentioned in the video. Click here to get your Rise Above Your Own Midlife BS.

Let’s fill the dance floor

Can you see yourself on the dance floor?

If you long to get out where the disco ball is spinning, but you just can’t seem to get past the fear, I’d love to help!

I invite you to schedule a free consultation by simply clicking on my calendar link and picking a date and time that works for you.

Together we can get you to step onto the dance floor!

Here’s to being the Belle of the Ball!

~Tiffany

And the birds fluttered around her writing “YES” in the sky

Riding solo?

Posted on September 19, 2021 by tiffany

Tiffany Eckhardt, master of reinvention and certified life coach, helping women rise above their midlife BS.

My empty nest is NOT boring, because I am in it. Although, there are times when I just need to get out of the nest and explore. And I don’t mind riding solo!

Inspired by The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron, I took myself on a date this week. The idea is take time to nurture the creative spirit within and to allow playful inflow.

“As artists {I’ll add midlife women} we must learn to be self-nourishing. We must become alert enough to consciously replenish our creative resources as we draw on them – to restock the trout pond, so to speak. I call this process filling the well.” Julia Cameron

My date

For me, replenishing my creativity requires a drive in the country to The Antique Rose Emporium. As I drove the pastoral countryside, I had to remind myself it was time to shut down the thoughts about the chaotic world and get caught up in the moment. So, I cranked up the radio and sang at the top of my lungs. I can only get away with that volume riding solo.

Even if I visit the Antique Rose Emporium’s magic gardens a hundred times and see something that I’ve never seen before. I walk around shooting pictures and wondering how the gardeners created the spaces. I always leave with a renewed enthusiasm for my garden and a sense of peace with the world…. And on this trip $100 worth of new plants!

How does the idea sit with you?

The idea of going on a date alone is somewhat intimidating.

Being alone, or lonely, is a very scary thing for midlife women experiencing an empty nest and trying to figure out their purpose in this season.

On the flip side…

What if having the ability to sit alone at a restaurant and enjoy a meal is actually empowering?

How does the idea sit with you?

Community

I’m not suggesting that you don’t need family and friends.

There is plenty of evidence that community is basic to our happiness. Out of the six basic human needs; Significance, Love/Connection and Contribution require community.

What I am offering is the benefit of being able to entertain, nurture and restore yourself. Once you learn this skill, boredom and loneliness loose their power over you.

Could it be fun?

Coming up with ideas for weekly dates can be just as creative as the date itself. Here are a few of mine…. A trip to a junk store, drive in the country, try out the new coffee shop, roller skating, a bike ride, etc.

Are you waiting for your partner to have the time to get out of dodge? What about taking a solo trip somewhere on your bucket list?

What have you been putting off because you don’t want to do it alone? Maybe you are the perfect date for the occasion?

Need a little nudge out of the nest?

You might agree that taking yourself on a date could be empowering, but your mind is working overtime to warn you of all the reasons it’s a horrible idea.

Being lonely sucks, but at least it is familiar.

I’d love to help you discover your inner shenanigans and the wings to rise above the resistance.

You might just discover that you enjoy your own company just as much as you enjoy your family and friends.

Schedule a free consultation by clicking on my calendar link and choosing a date/time that works for you. This is an opportunity for you to ask me all the questions you have about hiring a life coach and a chance for you to talk through an issue that you are struggling with.

Here’s to getting behind the wheel, blasting the music, singing at the top of your lungs… or whatever you need to do to fill the well!

~Tiffany

And the birds fluttered around her writing “YES” in the sky!

A midlife artist?

Posted on September 13, 2021 by tiffany

Tiffany Eckhardt, master of reinvention and certified life coach helping women rise above midlife BS.

“Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.” Pablo Picasso

Jeff and I were grocery shopping when I found myself in the office supplies isle looking at art supplies. Jeff wondered what the heck I was doing buying paints and brushes. I am not usually the arts and crafts type.

A few days prior I was listening to Tonia Jenny teach on the Circle Of Now and was inspired to try my hand at water colors. Watching beauty emerge from her page looked fun.

I literally have no idea what I am doing. It feels playful. The goal isn’t to become an artist, but to connect with something inside that obviously has been neglected.

Taking the artist on a date

You are going to think I’m making shit up. Art seems to be wooing me.

I happened to be looking at books at The Good Will store {always looking for herbal and gardening books}, when I came across the book The Artists Way by Julia Cameron.

It is a book that has been repeatedly recommended to me. So, I bought it for 99 cents.

The Artist Way hooked me in the first two chapters. First of all the author recommends journaling, which she calls the morning pages, and then suggests taking your art for a date.

Brilliant!

I love the idea of scheduling fun!

Boredom

Is it time to stop taking life so serious?

This might be the reason you feel stuck, unable to move forward.

Many of my clients think there is something seriously wrong, when the real issue is boredom.

Somewhere along the way have you lost touch with creativity.

When the student is ready…

I want to encourage you to get curious.

As I wandered through Goodwill, the book appeared to me. This could be your journey too!

Be open to what moves you.

Answers to life appear when you try something new just for the fun of it.

One of my clients signed up for banjo lessons. BTW: I am super jealous. I love the banjo!

Who wants to sign up for art lessons with me????

Let’s connect

Seriously, let’s not be so serious.

I’d love to learn how you are connecting with creativity by leaving a comment!

What have you always wanted to try just for you?

Will you take your art for a date????

If this is resonating with you, but you still feel stuck, I invite you to schedule a consultation. Simply click on my calendar link and pick a date/time that works for you!

Here’s to the emerging artists in us all!

~Tiffany

And the birds fluttered around her writing “YES” in the sky!