Adoring Animals, Classic Rock and What It Means To Deeply Love Your Life

Who are you, sister? Tell us a little about yourself.

I am Tracy and I currently live in Northeast, Ohio with my husband and house full of rescue animals.

My full time gig is for a company called Revolution3 Triathlon. I manage social media, marketing, customer service and volunteers.
I love it!

Let’s do some one word answers. Ready, set, go!

Morning Drink? Coffee. Black.
Indulgence? Pedicures
Lusting after? Crazy cool hair color
Spirit Animal? My dog Asha
Head Space? Controlled
Heart Space? Compassionate
Bloom of Choice? Hyacinth
Turn-on? Laughter
Go-to Gemstone? Amethyst
Celebrity Icon? Jon Bon Jovi
Favorite compliment? Passionate

What does practicing joy mean to you?

Practicing joy means being grateful for the special moments that make up the every day. It means dreaming big and still realizing that life consists of all the things that happen between those big dreams.

I make an effort to notice when something makes me feel particularly joyful. When my dog rests his head in my lap or is happy to see me when I return home; when my husband tells me something nice about myself, when I feel beautiful. I pause and relish that moment.

I have also been working on giving joy to others. Recently for a friend’s birthday present, I gave her a jar full of reasons why I love her. I wrote down all the things that I love and admire about her on pieces of paper and put them in a jar. The joy she showed when she opened and read this allowed me to practice joy!

Biggest life lesson you’ve learned lately?

I recently had a health scare and allowed my mind to go to the worst case scenario -I am 41, what if I die?

(I am totally fine, tests show that I am healthy and while I will die someday, it shouldn’t be soon).

I wasn’t sad or regretful for things I hadn’t done in my life. I didn’t feel like I had so much left to do or give. Instead, I was overcome with the realization that I love being alive. I love a hot cup of coffee. I love freezing my ass off as I walk into the gym. I love the mayhem of my animals, the fulfillment I get from volunteering at the shelter.

I love watching the old ladies in the locker room talk about “old lady” things and I want to grow old – to have wrinkled hands and gray hair. I want to spend 60 more years with my husband.

I learned that I love my life. I learned that while there are things I do still want to do in my life, the experience in each of my days is pretty damn awesome.

What’s your definition of success?

Success means having the freedom to do and be all the things you want to do and be. This can be a job that is fulfilling. Or, it can also be a job that may not be fulfilling, but allows the time and financial ability to pursue those things that are.

I am fortunate right now that I have a job that is fulfilling by allowing me to grow, learn and make a difference. It also allows me the freedom and flexibility to have the type of home and personal life in which I can pursue my other passions.

Success means feeling a sense of calm in who I am and what I stand for. It means that I like who I am and I like my place in the world.

Name 3 things from your Life List that light you up.

#1. Write a book. I am currently working on a book about my life with our special needs dog, Asha, and how she changed my world.

#2. Travel to Easter Island and spread my Grammie’s ashes

#3. Open an animal sanctuary

What do you do when life gets messy?

I sit with my dogs and cats and cry. Then I get my shit together and move on.

 3 songs, 3 books, 3 Instagram accounts?

Tried and true…

Songs:

“Hallelujah” by Bon Jovi

“Jersey Girl” by Bruce Springsteen

“100 Years” by Five for Fighting

Books:

Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

The Pact by Jodi Picoult

Start with Why by Simon Sinek

Instagram accounts:

Goats of Anarchy

Rev3 Tri

Ohio Explored

What has been your favorite journey?

My favorite journey started when I met a 5 month old puppy whom we named Asha. She was born deaf and blind, developed epilepsy and anxiety and destroyed everything I thought I knew about myself.

We struggled to fit her into our world. Finally, we let go of the struggle and started to build a new world for us and for her. This world was way different than I had envisioned and way harder than I wanted or intended.

The journey from how I expected things to be to accepting and appreciating how they are has been the most meaningful journey of my life. It continues every day.

How are you going to change the world?

My biggest passion in life is animal welfare and rescue. I am going to change the world by living my truth. I volunteer at my local animal rescue and have a house full of rescue pets (currently 5 dogs and 4 cats)! I have big dreams of owning an animal sanctuary and having pigs and goats sleep on my couch!

I have embraced a vegan lifestyle and am advocate for all things animal related. I am a resource for friends and family. I am going to continue to live my peace, to facilitate change where I can and to know that I have done my part and so much more to improve the world for all who inhabit it.