Summary: (http://valueofsimple.com/wp-content/uploads/Smart-and-Simple-Matters-Cover-200x200.jpg) I could never see Tammy Strobel walk into a room, not get something she wants, and then proclaim, “Do you know who I am?!” She’s way too kind and humble for that. However… I can definitely see myself walk to the far corners of the Internet, find people who don’t know who Tammy is, and then declare, “What?! You don’t know who Tammy Strobel is or what RowdyKittens (http://rowdykittens.com/portfolio/) is all about?” That’s exactly what I’m doing with this episode of Smart and Simple Matters. Tammy is a lot of things to a lot of people, but she’s also not a lot of things that most people are. And to me and the many people who follow her journey, that’s a very good thing. In shorter terms, her mission is all about “going small, thinking big, and being happy.” It’s something that I can get behind, and so can the people who have heard about Tammy in places like USA Today, The Huffington Post, The New York Times, and The Today Show. In our chat, Tammy and I talk about some of the themes from her book – You Can Buy Happiness (and It’s Cheap) (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1608680835/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=rowdyk-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1608680835) – but we also go beyond happiness. We talk about creating space in your life. How kindness and empowerment work together to become something even more powerful. We talk about… well… we cover a lot. Here’s a glimpse of Tammy’s thoughtfulness: I didn’t realize how much the “stuff” was weighing down my mental state. With a lot of stuff, you have to keep track of it [and] that takes up a lot of space in your brain. - Tammy This was such a good conversation that even I said something useful. It's fun to be consumed when you're consumed with the right things. - Joel [Tweet This] Tammy even complimented me on my curating via spreadsheets, so instantly, she gets bonus points. But don’t let my light-heartedness obscure the serious – and seriously awesome – message that Tammy has for us all. You can read more about it below and I’d encourage you to click on some links if you normally don’t do that. What You’ll Learn Besides increasing mindfulness, creating space in all facets of your existence, and learning to use empowerment, you’ll get a ton from this one. In this episode you’ll learn about: * How to use your personal story to help people find their own happiness. * Why empowerment is so powerful … and can eliminate the feeling of being controlled. * How to have more physical (and mental) space for the things that matter. * Why “should” and “have to” should lead to you judging less. * How to push people towards happiness without shoving them unwillingly. * The strange, wonderful link between photography and simplicity. * How a morning ritual can help you slow down and be grateful. * Acting from a place of kindness and not making assumptions about people. * Approaching the roadblocks on a simplicity journey with a “beginners” mindset. * A double rainbow other than the YouTube guy’s one. Resources and Items Mentioned in This Episode Include: * Websites: RowdyKittens (http://rowdykittens.com/portfolio/), Tiny House Blog (http://tinyhouseblog.com/about/), Tiny House Design (http://www.tinyhousedesign.com/about/), Be More with Less (http://bemorewithless.com/about/), Tammy on Instagram (http://instagram.com/rowdykittens) * Resources: Resources for Life: Small House Society (http://www.resourcesforlife.com/small-house-society/about), Scrivner (http://www.literatureandlatte.com/scrivener.php) (for writers), the Refuge of Simplicity (http://valueofsimple.com/newsletter) * Books: You Can Buy Happiness (and It’s Cheap) (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1608680835/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=rowdyk-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1608680835)
