Meet Tamara Thomas

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Tamara Thomas a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Tamara, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?

I think the thing that contributes to my resilience most, is prioritizing time for continual learning. I love to read to learn. I am not a big fan of fiction, but I really enjoy taking in any type of non-fiction, be it documentaries, books, podcasts, newsletters, etc. I believe the more you know, in every area of life, the better you feel about your ability to get through difficult times, and jump over obstacles. I also believe, if you want something done, you should look inward, rather than waiting for someone or something to get it done for you. Learning to accept responsibility for your own happiness and success, is an important step in developing resilience. Like the story: “The Little Engine That Could,” we should remind ourselves that if we want to do something, we can, one step at time.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I am an interior decorator sharing my designs with my family, friends and the Instagram world. I am currently focusing on collaborating with brands by creating vignettes that incorporate gifted home decor and furniture.

I have always been a creative person interested in diy home projects and creating art. Some of the things I have designed and brought to life in the past are: playful hanging children’s bedroom decorations, greeting cards, and most recently up-cycled wallpaper art. I am always looking for new ways to express my creativity in the form of art.

The most exciting part of collaborating with brands, is never knowing what new project will pop up, and how I will fit the item into our existing decor. It keeps the wheels in my head turning, and helps me expand on my knowledge of interior decorating and design.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

I think the qualities that helped my get where I am today are, a strong desire to continually gain new information, an ability to say, “That’s a you problem, not a me problem,” in the face of unnecessary criticism and judgement, and a willingness to put in the time to read about and listen to the ideas of successful professionals in my area of interest. In my case that includes artists, interior designers, interior decorators, home stylists, diy experts, and home stagers. I have a stack of books as tall as I am that I have read and studied, over and over again, looking for new ways to incorporate art in my designs.

I would tells others, who are early in their journey, to take in as much information in their subject area as they can. You don’t have to invest a lot of money in your education, as long as you are willing to read a book or watch a video demonstration.

As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?

I have two favorite books that have helped me look past the negativity in the world, and continue on with enthusiasm. The first is, “Think Like a Monk,” by Jay Shetty. It taught me that “you can’t be anything you want, but you can be anything you are,” meaning you should focus on your strengths if you want to make money, and channel your passions into your hobbies if the two don’t line up.

The second book is, “Buddhism Today,” by Olivia Rivers. In the book, Rivers emphasizes the importance of “making it a habit to pause and breathe deeply when confronted with stressful situations,” remember that stress is only temporary, and don’t forget, “achieving your goals will take time.”

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.prettypeacockcurations.com
• Instagram: miss.tammy70
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tammy.vandykethomas
• Other: Pretty_Peacock_Curations LTK

Image Credits

Photos by Tamara Thomas