Everything Good by Ashes Remain

You are oxygen
on a late night drive
To clear my head when hope has passed me by
You are gravity
when I’m upside down
You help me find my way back to the ground
And this is why

[CHORUS]
You’re everything good
everything true
When all the world is fading
You’re everything new
You are my eyes
when I can’t see
When all the world is broken
You will always be
Everything good

You are all I have
and all I need
And all I am is what You’ve made of me
And this is why

[CHORUS]

You’re everything
good to me
You’re everything
that I need
that I need
And this is why

Sunday Morning – Sing It Loud is a post from: Inspired Girl* by Jennifer Tuma-Young

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Little Miss Negative by Jennifer Tuma-Young | Make Your Own Book

Little Miss Negative Now Available on iPad & iPhone is a post from: Inspired Girl* by Jennifer Tuma-Young

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Last year I wrote this blog about rethinking resolutions. I’ve worked for over a decade with clients who make “January” or “Monday” or the beginning of a new month, their time to “start”. I myself used to do that quite often.

But, over the years I came to realize the amazing power of  just “being”, and its transformational affects in my life and the lives of many others. So, I decided to re-post this blog for New Year’s 2012:

*********

While New Year’s is a very popular time for everyone to think about resolutions, what we want to change, what we want to accomplish, I am taking a stand against the “mad rush” to “start” (the  phenomenon that happens every New Year), and instead, asking you to consider how awesome you are right now, in this moment, and relish in the fact that you can just “be”.

Be happy. Be healthy. Be inquisitive. Be strong. Be kind. Be yourself.  Be gentle. Be accepting. Be present.

I mean, you don’t have to wait until you lose 20 pounds, or you get a new job, or you pay off the loan, or you get married, to be the person you were born to be now, right? Happiness isn’t about being someone else, or having everything “perfectly perfect”. The beauty is in the flaws, and to me we are each flawed perfectly- we learn, we grow from our experiences every step of the way. So, give yourself permission to just “be”, and  take the actions that align with your being your best self.

We are all works in progress– there is beauty in life unfolding as it should. We have the skill, the drive, the intelligence, the means to do whatever we set out to do. Awareness and vision magnify our best qualities, so we can achieve extraordinary things.

Who were you born to be?

Rethinking Resolutions: Give Yourself Permission to “Be” (repost) is a post from: Inspired Girl* by Jennifer Tuma-Young

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In each moment, in every beautifully wrapped box, we have an extraordinary opportunity to give something to someone. Are you giving gratitude, giving kindness, giving love, giving forgiveness, giving hope, giving happiness, giving peace, giving laughter?

Place an intention on each gift you give, something personal to the recipient. Place an intention on every interaction you have, when you see a neighbor, get your morning coffee, walk into the post office, while waiting in line at the bank or food store- it is all an exchange of sorts.

Be patient with yourself and others, be gentle. We do not know what others are going through- it can be a difficult time of year for some. Smiles are healing, and we never know the effect we have on others.

How are you celebrating the season? What are you giving?

Note: This post was written for LifeGloss, but I wanted to share with my favorite blog readers, too! If you haven’t signed up for the LifeGloss- Sparkle for Your Soul e-mail, you can do so by CLICKING HERE!

What are You Giving this Holiday Season? is a post from: Inspired Girl* by Jennifer Tuma-Young

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I feel like a little girl who has something really amazing to share, so who better to share it with than my favorite blog readers? Last night I decided to try an at-home hair remedy I heard about on a segment of The Doctors when I happened to be flipping through the channels, and saw Kathy Ireland with her thick, flowing, gorgeous hair talking about gelatin. She said she used gelatin hair treatments, and the female doctor on the show said it made medical sense because of its “protein building properties”.

To be honest, I’ve been neglecting my hair a bit and haven’t made time for much more than a simple shampoo followed by a dallop of conditioner in the shower! Since google is a girl’s best friend, and I missed the whole segment, I decided to do a little research. Come to find out, gelatin contains keratin.

On a (coincidental) side note, I recently drove by a sign in a salon window that said, “Stop in for a Keratin Treatment.” I felt compelled to touch my hair, and the dry feeling made me almost immediately drop everything, make a u-turn, and head directly into the salon. I opted to stay focused on my deadlines sans keratin.

So, yesterday afternoon when we went into Target, I decided to splurge on a package of Knox Original Unflavored Gelatin. After all, the package was $1.60, and there were 4 packets inside, so I figured what’s the harm in a 40 cent experiment? Who was I kidding? I was super-excited to try the treatment!

Later that evening, when the kids were snuggled in their jammies and the hubby was content with the Yankees-Tigers game, I boiled some water, dissolved the gelatin, mixed with my conditioner, gave my hair a nice, clarifying shampoo and then went to town with the treatment. My conditioner thickened when mixed with the gelatin, and I took time to cover every strand of my hair with it. I left it on for an hour, even though I read 20 minutes would suffice.

I rinsed it out, and let it air dry. I woke up today, and MAN did my hair feel softer than ever!! But, I still wasn’t convinced if it was just ‘placebo effect’. Then, I went to see my client (Susan) who I meet with weekly, and the first thing she said, “Your hair looks great! Super shiny today!”

Umm…speechless. I wasn’t hallucinating , so I had to share the secret 40 cent gelatin hair fix with her and you…

Thank you, The Doctors, Kathy Ireland, and Google!

“Everything good that I know was taught to me by great teachers and I feel like giving back and sharing the technique is the thing to do.” ~ Betty Buckley

Inspired to Share the 40 Cent Gelatin Hair Fix is a post from: Inspired Girl* by Jennifer Tuma-Young

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You may have seen Susan on QVC, at a Starbucks or simply on the Cape. Susan Zimmerman is not only am amazing mother of three, she is a wife and an entrepreneur that happens to have had 13 businesses! She’s achieving on many levels, and she is the epitome of an Inspirista, sharing about motherhood, finding  your passions, taking the plunge, living life, being balanced and embracing our own journeys.

CLICK TO WATCH THE SHOW

In Benefit Of: Enchanted Makeovers – Embodied by the work and spirit of Terry Grahl (EM’s Chief Executive Officer and Visionary), she aspires not so much to do something as to be something. It’s not a series of “decorating” projects; it is a movement to transform not only the lives of the women and children who are rebuilding their lives in shelters but also to transform those who participate in the giving.This represents a profound shift in the traditional view of philanthropy and the communication of it is the essence of the Enchanted Makeovers brand.

Identity 5 Show ‘Scratching the Surface’ with Susan Zimmerman is a post from: Inspired Girl* by Jennifer Tuma-Young

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As my hubby was setting it up, I couldn’t wait to see Lu and the Man take their first go at it. I knew they would have a blast together! We all had our swimsuits on – it was a gorgeous and sunny day. I figured the husband and I would sit on the sidelines and watch – cheer them on. But, when the kids didn’t exactly know what to do with the thing, Michael decided to give it a go and show them how it’s done.

We were all hysterical watching him plunge and slide straight down the slip and slide, and into the grass! Lu followed suit, and the Man decided he’d rather walk it out and get wet from the sprinkler that ran down the edge.

“Mommy!” Lu exclaimed, “it’s your turn!! Your turn, Mommy!!”

I have to admit, it looked like so much fun, but I was actually nervous. When I gave birth to the Little Man, he kind of  ’broke my back’ in labor. I spent nearly 2 months unable to move properly because no one knew what was wrong, and then finally an angel doctor discovered fragments of my disk in the cauda equina region of my lower back. By removing the fragments (so I didn’t go into real paralysis from the pressure on my nerves) and strengthening the muscles in my back, I haven’t had any issues since.

I realize in order to keep it healthy, I mustn’t be complacent with it. And so (under doctor’s order), I haven’t let my back stop me from moving in other ways – working out, walking, lifting, traveling – for some reason I felt a pinch of fear set in while contemplating the slip and slide.

“Oh, honey, mommy is having a ball watching you! You go ahead!” I answered her.

That night I thought about not doing the slip and slide. Who was I kidding? I could do it. I was a little scared, but really, I rehabilitated and strengthened my back. I know that it was an excuse, that I just had to push myself out of my comfort zone of sitting on the chair watching, and get out there in the wet grass and go do it!

The next day we ventured into the yard again for slip and slide round 2. Lu was jumping even sooner, sliding, and becoming more and more comfortable. Man even took a few tumbles down! Finally, I said, “Watch out kids, mommies turn!!” Lu and the Man’s face lit up with excitement. And with a dash and a dive I slid down the slide smiling the entire time as they cheered me on.

Then, we simply couldn’t get enough of the thing – round and round, over and over again. We spent hours outside. Pure joy from the experience, confidence from overcoming my fear, and fun for us all.

How will you push yourself out of your comfort zone today? What will you do to get out of the sidelines and join the game? 

Summer Fun and a Swift Kick Out of My Comfort Zone is a post from: Inspired Girl* by Jennifer Tuma-Young

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The next morning I woke up rested and ready to take on LA! I had a busy day planned, and was excited to get to my first destination, the nail salon – my nails were in major need of TLC.

When I stepped outside of the hotel, sitting on the curb was an angry man. I smiled and said good morning, to which he replied, “Yeah. Real good. I have been waiting 20 minutes for a taxi. LA is awful. There are no cabs anywhere, takes them forever to pick you up, and the drivers aren’t very nice!”

His huff was loud and intentional, as he got up and said he was going back inside. He couldn’t deal with waiting anymore.

Moments after he disappeared into the hotel, a taxi pulled in the lot. I asked the bellman if we should get the man that was waiting. He called up to his room, but the man declined the cab. I eagerly hopped inside to a friendly driver named Ashmul. We began to chat a bit, he told me about his love for music, I told him about my love for writing, and all in all it was a very pleasant ride.

I told Ashmul of my schedule while in town, and asked him if he knew distances between my stops and approximate fairs. He told me the roundabout cost, and then happily said, “I will be your driver! You just call my cell phone as you are ready to be picked up, and I will be there in moments to get you.”

I was excited at the prospect of not having to wait 20 minutes to get picked up, and of course, the fact that Ashmul was friendly. I agreed, grabbed his card, and went to stop #1.

While getting my nails manicured, Ashmul came back in to the salon. He apologized for interrupting (totally unnecessary, but very gracious), and said, “I’m afraid I overestimated your next cab fair. I looked up your destination, and instead of $30, it should be just $20. I wanted to let you know.”

A huge grin came across my face, and I thanked him repeatedly for letting me know. I looked at my manicurist, Kim, who had recently moved to LA from Korea, and said, “Oh my gosh, he is just so nice!”

She innocently said back, “Because you are so nice, he is so nice back. You nice to him. He nice to you. That’s the way the world works…”

A Man on a Curb, a Taxi Driver, and Insights from My Manicurist is a post from: Inspired Girl* by Jennifer Tuma-Young

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Where there is faith, fear can not exist, right?

So, I kept going, because I just knew with every fiber of my being I had something to share- my story in written word, the lessons I’ve learned from working with thousands of women, in printed written word, with a hardcover, with color, with illustrations, with humor, with tears, with honesty…a book that you can touch and turn pages, take in the bath with you, cozy on the couch with, bring to the beach, share with a girlfriend.

To be honest, I began this book quest with a concept: Finding Balance. This idea came to me after taking a series of coaching courses, and realizing that the idea of “perfectly balancing life” is ridiculous. Finding balance isn’t about being perfect, but rather about embracing imperfection. We must find balance from within. And, we are most in balance when we live in the present moment, when we love, accept, and nurture ourselves & others, when we are creating our vision, when we use our unique gifts to serve the world, and when what we dream happens when we are awake.

Let me explain. I had been on a search for balance probably since birth, but I can really remember it beginning in high school. I was always juggling a lot of things, working at the mall, school, activities, friends, boys, diets – COUNTLESS diets, too many to mention. In college, instead of gaining the freshmen fifteen, I gained the freshmen fifty, sixty, seventy, soon after eighty pounds and became victim to the dieting wheel of frustration, graduated into the world of work-aholicsm , dated a series of awfully uncommitted men, and ended up with a scary health diagnosis of borderline diabetes after gaining back fifty pounds for the fiftieth time.

Smack.

Wake up.

Then I realized I really didn’t have any sense of balance in my life, I didn’t love myself the way I loved friends or family. All of those things were in check. What was way off-balance was how I took care of me. Lightbulb.

Little by little I redefined success, perfection, nurturing. I threw away diet books, vowed never to ask my mom if my butt looked big in jeans (hard to do that one- it took years!), and basically peeled back layers and layers of overworn past experiences that were weighing me down.

So what if the popular girl tried to hairspray my hair to stand straight up while I was asleep at the Franklin Institute at my Girl Scout trip in 5^th grade? Shed it. Who cares if Mr. Wonderful turned into Mr. Wonder Why He’s Not that Into Me Anymore? Let it go. Or that the sales clerk judged my “pretty face” and “ugly body” (her words– not mine)? In the trash.

I knew I was more than the experiences, and that these experiences should not define me. Ok, so my inside-out transformation didn’t happen overnight, but I can honestly say something in me shifted in a single moment, and just like that my eyes opened wider and my life changed. I felt like I viewed myself differently. I walked taller, I took time for me, I thought about my thoughts and immediately changed the ones that made me feel heavy.

I had a calling to work with women, and have spent the last decade doing just that: from owning Curves franchises, to teaching workshops, to coaching clients, to hosting the podcast show ‘Girls Night Out’, to working as Chief Creative Officer for the non-profit, Enchanted Makeovers…

So, after spending most of my life battling with balance & self-esteem issues, and working with thousands of women who had similar stories, I knew I had to share a different message with the world – about defining your own meaning and method for balancing life and balancing the scale! The book is about ditching the ‘dieter’s mentality’ and all of the self-loathing that goes along with it and includes incredible tips and stories from real women, as well as my B.A.L.A.N.C.E principles for living an inspired, healthy, happy life!!

The journey of writing this book has not been an easy one.  As a matter of fact, over the years I received 40 “rejection letters” from agents refusing to even represent the book. I feel very blessed for the people who came into my life and introduced me to my current agent who believed in me and my mission from the start. She worked with me for 2 years before we finished the proposal and submitted to publishers!

And now —

Pinch me!! I am SO SO SO excited to announce that HarperOne (Harper Collins) will be publishing my book!! Let the next chapter of my journey begin!!

The Next Chapter of My Journey Begins… is a post from: Inspired Girl* by Jennifer Tuma-Young

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If you do one thing today, listen to someone share their dreams without judgment, without fear, without calculating the “how the heck can they make that happen?” Listen with your heart. Believe in them with every fiber of your being.

And, what’s quite miraculous, you will also see that when you dream with others- your own spirits lift, your own imagination takes over, your heart beats stronger, your eyes open wider, your own dreams awaken, as you connect and engage with the world around you.

Be a Supporter of Somebody’s Dreams… is a post from: Inspired Girl* by Jennifer Tuma-Young

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