Welcome to “At Home with Tom and Sandy.”
Here we are, Tom, in a new year. As they say, how time flies. Speaking of time flying, fleeting and anything but coasting – we have been sharing our monthly column with the Quad Cities Business News readers for three years this March. Super cool, over-the-top fun and it is indeed an honor to be your partner, Tom, and share boundless significant information with our readers.
Sandy: I love saying Happy New Year and I promise to stop at the end of February. What about you, Tom?
Tom: It is awesome, Sandy. The close of one year and ushering in a new one inspires us to change.
Sandy: And change for the better. The goal, of course, is improving ourselves so we can improve the world around us.
Tom: Could not agree more. We first take stock of ourselves.
Sandy: I agree, every inspiring phrase I see all points to change beginning from within ourselves.
Tom: And that takes work. Just reading an inspirational quote on a beautiful photograph or work of art does not really cut it for me. We need to put our minds to work.
Sandy: I know. I sometimes get distracted and then pull myself back into focus at the task at hand. There are so many undertakings to do in a day and making sure they are started, completed and/or assigned out is fun, exciting and at times a challenge.
Tom: That is so true for all of us. I find that I need to make time to focus on the positive and to set goals for change.
Sandy: Spot on, Tom. I take some time every day to do something that betters me and the community around me. That is fun, inspiring and rewarding.
Tom: Change really does start with each of us. Whether spiritualness, mindfulness or any other ‘ness,’ I believe there is truth in that.
Sandy: There is truth in that, Tom. You know, I get so busy somedays, with so many ‘irons in the fire’ I need something to keep that fire lit each day. I have a Maya Angelou saying that has been taped to my desk for 15 years now and it says, “Determine to live life with flair and laughter.” I love flair and laughter.
Tom: That is true for all of us. The big question we ask is, ‘How do we get or stay inspired?’
Sandy: I don’t think there is a magic pill out there to instigate that inspirational spark. Like we have been saying, it takes work.
Tom: For me, that work is making time for contemplation. Not only is making time work, but staying focused enough to make that time and my mind sync is not an effortless undertaking.
Sandy: I am loving this conversation, but our topic is supposed to be about the home. Let’s weave that into our dialogue. You know, home is where the heart is.
Tom: I believe that. Your home should have a space in it where you feel comfortable enough to reflect and to get inspired.
Sandy: I love having my first cup of coffee in the kitchen every morning. No phones, no computer; just me gathering thoughts for the day and watching the prisms that I have hanging in my east window separate white light into a spectrum of colors as they float into the kitchen and dining room. Even on cloudy days, a light of color manages to sneak in. I love twirling them and the colors just bounce on the walls.
Tom: Most of us have a place in our home for just that. The important piece of the puzzle is to go beyond the daily routine. Give your mind time to consider matters larger than the day and how we fit into those.
Sandy: So, my coffee every morning may not be getting to it. I am not giving that up, but you make a good point about finding that place in my home.
Sandy: Everyone can take that challenge and find a place in his or her home.
Tom: Great point, Sandy. The first goal of being inspired to change is to find your ‘spot’ in your home.
Sandy: Where that is can depend on the time of day, and day of the week. I, for one, have multiple spaces in my home, sometimes under the bed! Just kidding! Different days and different times, a lot of that has to do with the way the sunlight comes into my house. Gotta have that sun!
Tom: Any place will work where we can consider the thoughts that drip into our minds.
Sandy: Sorting through those thoughts and seizing the ones that get that spark going is where inspiration begins for me.
Sandy: So, readers, what inspires you? We would love to hear from you. What room in your home or yard is there for you to reboot? And how do you reboot?
Tom: Sandy. Good analogy there with the reboot. Where do our readers go to clear out the stuff from the day or start a new day?
Sandy: We all need to remember there are times in our lives where we need to reboot ourselves.
Tom: Yes, it is easy to get stuck or follow the wrong path. We may just simply need a jolt.
Sandy: Tom, rebooting can’t be as easy as pressing a power button or holding down control-alt-delete, is it?
Tom: We all need to step back and survey our surroundings. It is ok to take a day off work, or go into that special relaxing area of our home, turn the music on and clear the mind. The goal is to reset yourself and you can’t do that when you are still wired and still “on.”
Sandy: To our readers, do not quit on yourself and your situation.
Thanks for stopping in and reading “At Home with Tom and Sandy.” You’re in good company and we love sharing educational, fun and important information with you. So, remember and determine to live life with flair and laughter!
We will be back next month with construction talk! QCBN
Tom Reilly, Architect, Contractor, Renovations 928-445-8506 renovationsaz.com
Sandy Griffis, Executive Director, Yavapai County Contractors Association. 928-778-0040.
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