What if one moment, one discovery, could completely change the direction of your life? In this episode, we're diving deep into a story of courage, resilience, and transformation all spurred by just one moment.

Many of us face unexpected challenges that test our strength and purpose. This episode relates to anyone seeking hope, inspiration, and a reminder of the inner strength we all possess.

What's It All About?

Join us as we explore the remarkable journey of Thandi Montgomery. Her story is not just about surviving breast cancer but discovering her true self, the strength of faith, and the power of family. From finding a small lump to battling through treatments, Thandi shares her raw, unfiltered experiences and the profound lessons she learned along the way. This episode is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the transformative power of facing life's toughest challenges head-on.

Some Key Takeaways:

  1. Embracing Resilience: Learn how Thandi navigated her cancer journey with courage and strategic planning, transforming adversity into strength.
  2. The Power of Support Systems: Discover the importance of leaning on family, friends, and support groups to get through challenging times.
  3. Finding Purpose: Understand how facing a life-threatening diagnosis helped Thandi find her true purpose and inspired her to help others shift from merely existing to truly living.

This is an interview you will not want to miss! Thandi's empowering story paired with her magical personality will capture your attention and warm your heart from the first moment you meet her!


LINKS & RESOURCES

MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE



BE IN THE KNOW!

CLICK HERE to Get on The OFFICIAL Email List for the Podcast!


TODAY'S AMAZING GUEST

THANDI MONTGOMERY

In 2021, Thandi was diagnosed with Stage 1B breast cancer, and won the battle after enduring 4 surgeries, 16 rounds of chemo, and 30 days of radiation. This battle gifted her with a profound sense of purpose and self-awareness.

Now, as a survivor and advocate with over 15 years of marketing experience, Thandi and her team are dedicated to supporting cancer patients, survivors, caregivers, and organizations through transformative courses and services focusing on mindset, habits, nutrition, and creative expressions.

Please visit Thandi's website to learn more.



Hey, it's Kevin!


I hope you enjoyed today's episode! If there is ever anything I can do for you please don't hesitate to reach out. Below, you will find ALL the places and ALL the ways to connect!


  • Start Receiving my Weekly Midweek Pick-Me-Up!

    Show Notes

    What if one moment, one discovery, could completely change the direction of your life? In this episode, we're diving deep into a story of courage, resilience, and transformation all spurred by just one moment.

    Many of us face unexpected challenges that test our strength and purpose. This episode relates to anyone seeking hope, inspiration, and a reminder of the inner strength we all possess.

    What's It All About?

    Join us as we explore the remarkable journey of Thandi Montgomery. Her story is not just about surviving breast cancer but discovering her true self, the strength of faith, and the power of family. From finding a small lump to battling through treatments, Thandi shares her raw, unfiltered experiences and the profound lessons she learned along the way. This episode is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the transformative power of facing life's toughest challenges head-on.

    Some Key Takeaways:

    1. Embracing Resilience: Learn how Thandi navigated her cancer journey with courage and strategic planning, transforming adversity into strength.
    2. The Power of Support Systems: Discover the importance of leaning on family, friends, and support groups to get through challenging times.
    3. Finding Purpose: Understand how facing a life-threatening diagnosis helped Thandi find her true purpose and inspired her to help others shift from merely existing to truly living.

    This is an interview you will not want to miss! Thandi's empowering story paired with her magical personality will capture your attention and warm your heart from the first moment you meet her!


    LINKS & RESOURCES

    MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE



    BE IN THE KNOW!

    CLICK HERE to Get on The OFFICIAL Email List for the Podcast!


    TODAY'S AMAZING GUEST

    THANDI MONTGOMERY

    In 2021, Thandi was diagnosed with Stage 1B breast cancer, and won the battle after enduring 4 surgeries, 16 rounds of chemo, and 30 days of radiation. This battle gifted her with a profound sense of purpose and self-awareness.

    Now, as a survivor and advocate with over 15 years of marketing experience, Thandi and her team are dedicated to supporting cancer patients, survivors, caregivers, and organizations through transformative courses and services focusing on mindset, habits, nutrition, and creative expressions.

    Please visit Thandi's website to learn more.



    Hey, it's Kevin!


    I hope you enjoyed today's episode! If there is ever anything I can do for you please don't hesitate to reach out. Below, you will find ALL the places and ALL the ways to connect!




    Stay Awesome! Live Inspired!

    © 2024 Grit, Grace, & Inspiration

    Show Transcript

    00:00:00.017 --> 00:00:07.677


    What if one moment, one discovery could completely change the direction of your life?



    00:00:07.957 --> 00:00:14.117


    Today, we're diving deep into a story of courage, of resilience, of transformation.



    00:00:14.637 --> 00:00:20.457


    It's the story of my absolutely phenomenal guest today, Tondi Montgomery.



    00:00:21.517 --> 00:00:25.977


    Her journey, it's not just about survival. rival. It's about discovering her



    00:00:25.977 --> 00:00:30.357


    true self, the strength of faith, and the power of family.



    00:00:31.237 --> 00:00:37.557


    Tandi, she's going to share with you her real, raw, unfiltered story that goes



    00:00:37.557 --> 00:00:44.197


    through the course of a chapter in her life that started with a moment, just a second.



    00:00:44.277 --> 00:00:48.717


    It was just the size of a pea, and yet it all changed from that day forward.



    00:00:49.097 --> 00:00:55.377


    So if you were looking for a story to not only inspire you, but to also just



    00:00:55.377 --> 00:01:01.477


    remind you of the strength within us all, then this is an interview you will not want to miss.



    00:01:02.017 --> 00:01:04.857


    This, my friend, is episode 300.



    00:01:05.457 --> 00:01:08.617


    This is the story of Tondi Montgomery.



    00:01:11.457 --> 00:01:15.417


    Yo, are you ready to flip the script on life? Because those bad days,



    00:01:15.537 --> 00:01:17.417


    they're just doors to better days.



    00:01:17.657 --> 00:01:21.577


    And that's exactly what we do here at Grit, Grace, and Inspiration.



    00:01:21.577 --> 00:01:25.237


    Your host, Kevin Lowe, he's been flipping the script on his own life,



    00:01:25.437 --> 00:01:29.877


    turning over 20 years of being completely blind into straight up inspiration,



    00:01:30.097 --> 00:01:32.557


    motivation, and encouragement just for you.



    00:01:32.757 --> 00:01:38.077


    So, kick back, relax, and let me introduce you to your host, Kevin Lowe.



    00:01:38.577 --> 00:01:43.757


    What is up, my friend? Welcome back to the podcast, as always.



    00:01:44.697 --> 00:01:47.657


    Hey, we made it. It's our 300th episode.



    00:01:48.137 --> 00:01:52.897


    I am excited you're here, whether it's your first time or you've been here from the beginning.



    00:01:53.077 --> 00:01:57.817


    I am so thrilled and appreciative that you are here today.



    00:01:58.577 --> 00:02:02.597


    Now, I'm going to get to my interview with Tondi real quick,



    00:02:02.777 --> 00:02:05.897


    but I just wanted to be sure that I told you thank you.



    00:02:06.037 --> 00:02:09.997


    Thank you for being here. Thank you for being a part of this amazing journey.



    00:02:11.137 --> 00:02:14.037


    Podcasting has has brought so much joy to my life.



    00:02:14.137 --> 00:02:19.737


    It has brought so many new opportunities and I just cannot be more grateful.



    00:02:20.780 --> 00:02:23.860


    And so I just wanted to be sure that I said, thank you.



    00:02:23.980 --> 00:02:29.200


    I also want to remind you that right now we are in the midst of summer and I



    00:02:29.200 --> 00:02:36.320


    have my sizzling summer special where I am offering free one-on-one coaching all summer long.



    00:02:36.640 --> 00:02:39.980


    All you have to do is text summer 2024.



    00:02:40.620 --> 00:02:48.940


    That's all one word, no spaces, summer 2024 to the phone number 33-777.



    00:02:48.940 --> 00:02:56.780


    Again, that phone number is 33777, and I will give you a link to book your free



    00:02:56.780 --> 00:02:58.240


    one-on-one coaching call.



    00:02:58.500 --> 00:03:03.220


    30-minute deep dive where we can explore what you've got going on in life,



    00:03:03.360 --> 00:03:08.260


    where you're trying to get to, and figure out what roadblocks are standing in the way.



    00:03:08.400 --> 00:03:13.840


    You can find that information plus a direct link inside of today's show notes



    00:03:13.840 --> 00:03:15.960


    if that makes life any easier. year.



    00:03:16.020 --> 00:03:22.440


    With that out of the way, my friend, it's my pleasure to introduce you to today's



    00:03:22.440 --> 00:03:24.160


    absolutely incredible guest.



    00:03:24.480 --> 00:03:26.700


    Here is Tondi Montgomery.



    00:03:27.700 --> 00:03:32.420


    I refer to the Tondi before the diagnosis as Tondi 1.0.



    00:03:32.520 --> 00:03:35.900


    So I'll give you a little background about Tondi 1.0.



    00:03:36.060 --> 00:03:40.080


    And so I've been in advertising for almost 15 years now.



    00:03:40.240 --> 00:03:48.020


    So led a lot of really great work from Verizon to Capital One to AT&T, so many great clients.



    00:03:48.400 --> 00:03:55.560


    And so Tani 1.0 was and is still ambitious, just really excited about life and what it had to offer.



    00:03:55.760 --> 00:04:00.300


    I've had two little kids and I've also been married for 17 years.



    00:04:00.580 --> 00:04:05.320


    And so life before the diagnosis on paper, you would think that everything was



    00:04:05.320 --> 00:04:08.820


    copacetic, everything was great, But there was still something missing.



    00:04:08.880 --> 00:04:13.840


    And that was my purpose and my desire to do more than just, you know,



    00:04:13.840 --> 00:04:16.360


    live day to day and check the box. Yeah.



    00:04:17.152 --> 00:04:21.012


    I get it. I get it. How would you describe that feeling?



    00:04:21.152 --> 00:04:25.532


    Like to say to somebody that you felt like there was something missing?



    00:04:25.932 --> 00:04:28.972


    You know, when I woke up in the, you know, every day, I'm like,



    00:04:29.032 --> 00:04:30.512


    okay, I know what I'm supposed to do.



    00:04:30.632 --> 00:04:35.252


    I'm Tandi, the wife, Tandi, the mom, you know, Tandi, the ad executive.



    00:04:35.432 --> 00:04:41.872


    I knew that part, but in terms of who I was at the core, I was still trying to find who she was.



    00:04:42.052 --> 00:04:45.952


    So I always felt that something was different. and something was missing, something was lacking.



    00:04:46.172 --> 00:04:51.392


    It was as if I had a mask on every single day, kind of afraid to share and show



    00:04:51.392 --> 00:04:53.592


    the world who the real Tondi is.



    00:04:54.212 --> 00:04:56.392


    Yeah, I love it so much.



    00:04:57.152 --> 00:05:01.892


    So I know the big part of our story is, of course, your cancer diagnosis.



    00:05:02.392 --> 00:05:07.152


    Before we even get to that, though, did you ever have any family history?



    00:05:07.272 --> 00:05:08.892


    Anybody in your family with cancer?



    00:05:09.032 --> 00:05:13.432


    Well, not breast cancer. So my grandfather had prostate cancer,



    00:05:13.592 --> 00:05:16.332


    but breast cancer didn't run in my family.



    00:05:16.672 --> 00:05:23.232


    Okay. Okay. Wow. Interesting. Okay. So unless there's anything before it,



    00:05:23.332 --> 00:05:24.592


    let's go ahead and dive in.



    00:05:24.692 --> 00:05:31.532


    And I would love for you to kind of just walk us through the events from how this even got started.



    00:05:31.732 --> 00:05:35.092


    And I would love to hear that story. Yeah, absolutely.



    00:05:35.612 --> 00:05:39.972


    And so I am, I'm very in tune when it comes to my body and my health.



    00:05:40.132 --> 00:05:43.652


    I eat healthy. I work out five to six times a week.



    00:05:43.772 --> 00:05:47.592


    And so if you can imagine this diagnosis came as a surprise,



    00:05:47.852 --> 00:05:51.172


    but I'm always do my monthly checks. And so what does that mean?



    00:05:51.292 --> 00:05:54.752


    So as females, it's important to do your monthly breast exams.



    00:05:54.912 --> 00:06:00.052


    And so I found my own cancer, Kevin, I found my own cancer and I was like,



    00:06:00.092 --> 00:06:02.712


    something's not right here, but I don't think it's too much,



    00:06:02.752 --> 00:06:06.612


    but I don't want to overlook the lump. It was a small lump, the size of a pea.



    00:06:06.872 --> 00:06:09.272


    And so I went to the doctor immediately.



    00:06:09.732 --> 00:06:12.012


    They did a mammogram, an ultrasound.



    00:06:12.552 --> 00:06:16.452


    They told me to come back for a biopsy. And when they told me to come back,



    00:06:16.492 --> 00:06:19.592


    that's when something, I knew it wasn't right. I'm like, okay,



    00:06:19.632 --> 00:06:20.792


    something is not right here.



    00:06:20.952 --> 00:06:27.252


    And then after all the results came back, my PCP called me. It was November 1st, 2021.



    00:06:27.892 --> 00:06:34.832


    And my PCP, it was over the phone and she said, Tondi, you have invasive ductal carcinoma.



    00:06:35.212 --> 00:06:38.532


    And at that time, Kevin, I was like, is this a new strand of COVID?



    00:06:38.872 --> 00:06:41.932


    Like, I don't, you know, I had no idea what that was. I'm like,



    00:06:42.092 --> 00:06:45.832


    oh, that's interesting. You know, but I said, so what is that?



    00:06:46.272 --> 00:06:49.992


    And she looked, you know, she said, you have breast cancer. Right.



    00:06:50.362 --> 00:06:55.042


    Hmm. And my world literally stopped.



    00:06:55.282 --> 00:06:58.082


    Kevin, I had a meeting scheduled for five o'clock that day.



    00:06:58.242 --> 00:07:02.022


    My appointment was at four o'clock. I no longer thought about the presentation



    00:07:02.022 --> 00:07:03.822


    or my client work or anything else.



    00:07:03.942 --> 00:07:06.802


    The first thing that I thought about was what about my family?



    00:07:07.142 --> 00:07:11.482


    And I'm too young to die. I was 38 at the time.



    00:07:11.502 --> 00:07:15.502


    And so a lot of times they tell you don't get a mammogram until you're 40.



    00:07:15.662 --> 00:07:21.362


    Well, I'm so glad that I took the precaution and did my own exam and found my



    00:07:21.362 --> 00:07:23.162


    own cancer so that I could be proactive.



    00:07:23.402 --> 00:07:26.862


    And of course, start while it was early. So it was a stage one,



    00:07:27.002 --> 00:07:29.962


    which is the very beginning stages of breast cancer.



    00:07:30.382 --> 00:07:36.422


    Yes. Oh, my gosh. I mean, what though a testament to the fact of doing your



    00:07:36.422 --> 00:07:38.822


    own self-exam. Yes, absolutely.



    00:07:39.342 --> 00:07:40.802


    Yeah. Incredible.



    00:07:41.482 --> 00:07:45.462


    Wow. So you get this diagnosis now.



    00:07:45.542 --> 00:07:49.102


    Were you in the doctor's office or was this all over the phone?



    00:07:49.442 --> 00:07:51.102


    It was over the phone. So I was at home.



    00:07:51.642 --> 00:07:55.622


    Wow. Yeah, I was at home and I was literally taken aback.



    00:07:55.642 --> 00:07:59.642


    And, you know, like I said, so many thoughts flooded my head. What about the kids?



    00:07:59.962 --> 00:08:03.022


    I'm too young to die right now. There's still purpose left in me.



    00:08:03.022 --> 00:08:09.122


    There was so much that I thought about because when the reality of death is



    00:08:09.122 --> 00:08:12.402


    kind of in your face, you're like, oh, my God, like, what did I do wrong?



    00:08:12.662 --> 00:08:20.502


    You know, but again, I decided to talk to my family. They have been and continue to be very supportive.



    00:08:20.962 --> 00:08:24.102


    And I was like, Tondi, this is not what you expected.



    00:08:24.802 --> 00:08:28.262


    This is this sucks. It's not what you expected.



    00:08:28.562 --> 00:08:31.542


    I'm going to be honest with you, but you're going to fight through this and



    00:08:31.542 --> 00:08:36.262


    you're going to win. And so after the original diagnosis, we had planned to



    00:08:36.262 --> 00:08:38.342


    just have a double mastectomy.



    00:08:38.382 --> 00:08:40.082


    And that's when you have both of the girls removed.



    00:08:40.402 --> 00:08:44.982


    And I was supposed to get on my merry way and have reconstructive surgery and



    00:08:44.982 --> 00:08:47.782


    get back on to life as normal within two months.



    00:08:48.002 --> 00:08:53.482


    But after my initial surgery, when the results came back, Kevin,



    00:08:53.582 --> 00:08:56.022


    the cancer had spread to my lymph nodes.



    00:08:56.302 --> 00:09:00.962


    And so the two month journey ended up turning into 12 months.



    00:09:00.962 --> 00:09:07.202


    So within that 12 months, it was 16 rounds of chemo, 30 days of radiation and four surgeries.



    00:09:09.482 --> 00:09:14.482


    Wow. Wow. Wow. Wow. Briefly backing up about your family.



    00:09:14.722 --> 00:09:21.182


    You were a mother. How old were your kids? At that time, they were eight and four. Wow.



    00:09:22.662 --> 00:09:24.682


    Yeah. How young?



    00:09:25.849 --> 00:09:30.709


    Does Tondi, the mom, even do that?



    00:09:30.949 --> 00:09:36.409


    Yeah. I mean, continuing being a mom while going through this treatment.



    00:09:36.689 --> 00:09:41.369


    Yeah, absolutely. And that's a good question, Kevin, because life doesn't stop.



    00:09:41.629 --> 00:09:46.729


    You know, the kids still need things. You still have to show up to soccer games



    00:09:46.729 --> 00:09:49.689


    and the PTA meetings and all of those things.



    00:09:49.689 --> 00:09:54.849


    And what I ended up doing was, Kevin, and I want your audience to really hear



    00:09:54.849 --> 00:09:57.489


    this, Tani 1.0 would have had



    00:09:57.489 --> 00:10:01.349


    this superwoman cape on and tried to pretend as if everything was okay.



    00:10:01.549 --> 00:10:05.469


    And I was like, you know what? I can't get through this journey pretending as if I'm okay.



    00:10:05.689 --> 00:10:10.709


    And so I really allowed myself to tell the kids what was going on.



    00:10:10.849 --> 00:10:13.629


    So we educated them on what is cancer.



    00:10:13.789 --> 00:10:17.109


    We educated them on the process. So they knew what is chemo?



    00:10:17.109 --> 00:10:20.329


    What is radiation? how does this help mom feel better they



    00:10:20.329 --> 00:10:23.289


    also knew about like the unconventional side of



    00:10:23.289 --> 00:10:26.009


    that which is the supplements and working out and



    00:10:26.009 --> 00:10:29.129


    exercising just to make sure that those two



    00:10:29.129 --> 00:10:33.389


    were married and really which would help me to expedite the



    00:10:33.389 --> 00:10:36.289


    the recovery process and so we literally my husband



    00:10:36.289 --> 00:10:40.209


    and i sat down and we talked to them about the entire process and it was really



    00:10:40.209 --> 00:10:45.329


    good that they saw mom not just as a strong tondi 1.0 but they saw mom in her



    00:10:45.329 --> 00:10:49.769


    weakest moments which increased their faith and increase their responsibilities



    00:10:49.769 --> 00:10:53.689


    and their reliability on themselves. Yeah. Oh, wow.



    00:10:54.609 --> 00:10:59.489


    That's so powerful. Now, during this basically year journey,



    00:10:59.729 --> 00:11:03.729


    did you have to spend any extended time in the hospital?



    00:11:03.989 --> 00:11:08.129


    So with the surgeries, the only time I had to spend in the hospital was like two nights.



    00:11:08.509 --> 00:11:12.289


    And that's when I had the reconstructive surgery. With the chemo,



    00:11:12.389 --> 00:11:17.369


    it was every week for the first 12 and then every other week for the the last four.



    00:11:17.589 --> 00:11:23.309


    With radiation, I was there every day, Monday through Friday. So I was in and out.



    00:11:23.905 --> 00:11:28.465


    Yeah. Yeah. What kind of like side effects and stuff did you have to deal with?



    00:11:28.585 --> 00:11:31.845


    I mean, I think of, of course, like, you know, like losing your hair,



    00:11:31.925 --> 00:11:34.965


    but just kind of curious. Yes, absolutely.



    00:11:35.245 --> 00:11:39.085


    And so, Kevin, I'm a strategist by by profession and by nature.



    00:11:39.165 --> 00:11:43.025


    So I went in with a strategy when it was my faith.



    00:11:43.165 --> 00:11:48.745


    And then, of course, finding out and researching everything that I had to learn



    00:11:48.745 --> 00:11:54.065


    about breast cancer and everything that I needed to learn about chemo and radiation.



    00:11:54.365 --> 00:11:57.065


    So what are the side effects? What's the recovery time period?



    00:11:57.065 --> 00:12:01.425


    And so I went in there, I had a spreadsheet, Kevin, and I said,



    00:12:01.505 --> 00:12:05.485


    okay, side effects, possibility one can be losing your hair.



    00:12:05.605 --> 00:12:06.605


    Okay. What is the solution?



    00:12:06.905 --> 00:12:11.265


    Okay. Let me go ahead and get my wig first. Side effect option B could be,



    00:12:11.285 --> 00:12:13.965


    you know, low blood cell, low blood count.



    00:12:14.105 --> 00:12:17.565


    Let me go ahead and get some supplements. And so literally, I had a spreadsheet



    00:12:17.565 --> 00:12:24.345


    that light up all the possible side effects so that when and if it happened, I would be prepared.



    00:12:24.565 --> 00:12:28.025


    And so even down to like the gum sensitivity, and there's so many different



    00:12:28.025 --> 00:12:30.545


    things that you, the fatigue as well.



    00:12:30.605 --> 00:12:33.705


    So even when it comes to fatigue, I knew that there were going to be certain



    00:12:33.705 --> 00:12:36.325


    times throughout the week that I'll be very fatigued.



    00:12:36.325 --> 00:12:41.785


    And so I saw an integrative medical doctor and she basically gave me some holistic



    00:12:41.785 --> 00:12:46.285


    things that I could do to help fight against the fatigue, like drinking bone



    00:12:46.285 --> 00:12:50.825


    broth or having a lot of protein to really help my cells rebuild.



    00:12:51.365 --> 00:12:53.145


    Yeah. Wow, wow, wow.



    00:12:53.825 --> 00:12:58.345


    Were you able to work during this period or no?



    00:12:58.625 --> 00:13:04.265


    So I decided to take off. And so, like I said, I have been in advertising over 15 years.



    00:13:04.265 --> 00:13:11.085


    So I had a really great employee and employer, excuse me, and they were so supportive,



    00:13:11.425 --> 00:13:17.185


    Kevin, so supportive in terms of me being able to take off that time because



    00:13:17.185 --> 00:13:21.985


    I really wanted to focus on my health and to make sure that I was able to go



    00:13:21.985 --> 00:13:22.865


    to the doctor appointments,



    00:13:23.025 --> 00:13:28.125


    making sure that I had the time to research and recover without focusing on



    00:13:28.125 --> 00:13:30.605


    the deadlines. Yeah, absolutely.



    00:13:31.685 --> 00:13:34.985


    So here's when we're going to introduce the variable.



    00:13:35.365 --> 00:13:38.945


    Here you are. You're a woman. You're a mother. You're a wife.



    00:13:39.125 --> 00:13:41.925


    You now have cancer. You're fighting it.



    00:13:42.450 --> 00:13:47.770


    And then you have some crazy idea to start posting it on YouTube.



    00:13:50.070 --> 00:13:56.770


    You got to talk to me about this because you documented this entire process.



    00:13:58.350 --> 00:14:01.770


    It's funny that you mentioned that because, again, kind of referring back to



    00:14:01.770 --> 00:14:06.230


    Time D 1.0, even though I was in theater, I did a lot of things on stage,



    00:14:06.270 --> 00:14:10.050


    but I was still private when it came to my personal life.



    00:14:10.050 --> 00:14:14.570


    So I didn't really share a lot of the intimate moments in terms of what I was



    00:14:14.570 --> 00:14:15.990


    doing behind the scenes.



    00:14:16.370 --> 00:14:20.470


    But my brother, who was a videographer, he said, Tondi, I don't care what you're



    00:14:20.470 --> 00:14:24.550


    going through, whether it's a high moment or a low moment, I need you to record



    00:14:24.550 --> 00:14:28.510


    what's going on because you are going to help so many people.



    00:14:28.710 --> 00:14:33.050


    You may not see it right now, but I need you to record it. And I was like,



    00:14:33.130 --> 00:14:35.050


    I don't think I'm going to do that.



    00:14:37.050 --> 00:14:41.610


    No, that's not going to happen. But something prompted me and I knew that was



    00:14:41.610 --> 00:14:46.010


    a part of my mission was to not just share the highs,



    00:14:46.330 --> 00:14:51.850


    but also to show the lows, show me getting my hair shaved, show me going in



    00:14:51.850 --> 00:14:55.790


    and out of the doctor's office, show me crying and in my most vulnerable state.



    00:14:56.170 --> 00:15:00.970


    And to this day, I am so incredibly grateful that he gave me that wisdom because



    00:15:00.970 --> 00:15:06.630


    yes, to your point, I was able to use my experience in advertising and put my



    00:15:06.630 --> 00:15:09.290


    story across different channels. So you mentioned YouTube.



    00:15:09.390 --> 00:15:14.550


    So creating the documentary 16 Tuesdays. So that really focused on every Tuesday



    00:15:14.550 --> 00:15:17.210


    I was getting chemo for 16 rounds.



    00:15:17.430 --> 00:15:23.450


    And so I called it 16 Tuesdays. And I also was able to use my story and post



    00:15:23.450 --> 00:15:27.550


    it across Instagram and Facebook, create an affirmation book,



    00:15:27.770 --> 00:15:30.210


    just so many different things, do motivational speaking.



    00:15:30.210 --> 00:15:35.410


    There are so many things that I was able to do by the grace of God because of



    00:15:35.410 --> 00:15:37.190


    the journey that I went through.



    00:15:37.830 --> 00:15:44.230


    Wow. Wow. So what we're saying is Tondi 2.0 became pretty darn amazing.



    00:15:44.790 --> 00:15:47.230


    She's resilient. She's pretty resilient.



    00:15:48.910 --> 00:15:53.510


    Oh, my goodness. I love it so much. during that time,



    00:15:54.010 --> 00:15:57.590


    is there any moments that kind of stand out for one or two reasons,



    00:15:57.870 --> 00:16:02.570


    either memorable because of something good, even in all that bad,



    00:16:02.650 --> 00:16:05.730


    maybe it was a person or something happening.



    00:16:05.770 --> 00:16:09.670


    And then on the opposite spectrum, one of your lowest moments.



    00:16:09.950 --> 00:16:14.890


    Yeah, that's a really great question. I would say the high moments, Kevin, are,



    00:16:15.227 --> 00:16:21.247


    I jumped off the hamster wheel of life and I slowed down for the first time ever.



    00:16:21.427 --> 00:16:26.407


    And I began to really enjoy the moment with my family.



    00:16:26.567 --> 00:16:31.207


    I wasn't rushing trying to do this and do that, but I slowed down for the first



    00:16:31.207 --> 00:16:34.667


    time and I literally noticed the seasons change.



    00:16:35.047 --> 00:16:38.207


    I noticed the trees and I noticed the leaves coming back.



    00:16:38.347 --> 00:16:43.367


    I noticed the snowfall. I heard the birds chirping. So my sensitivity in terms



    00:16:43.367 --> 00:16:49.947


    of just being in the moment and really appreciating life and my family really heightened.



    00:16:50.527 --> 00:16:53.907


    Yes. Wow. Wow. Wow. Wow. That's so beautiful.



    00:16:54.107 --> 00:16:58.347


    For sure. And then I also, you know, I found my voice, Kevin.



    00:16:58.507 --> 00:17:03.107


    I learned how to advocate for myself because sometimes, you know,



    00:17:03.127 --> 00:17:05.827


    in the health care industry, they can be dismissive at times.



    00:17:05.827 --> 00:17:12.027


    So I learned how to one, be prepared, do my research, you know, have a plan.



    00:17:12.227 --> 00:17:15.467


    And when I went to the doctor's office, it wasn't like, let me just hear what



    00:17:15.467 --> 00:17:17.547


    you want to say. It's like, no, this is my research.



    00:17:17.787 --> 00:17:23.327


    What is best for me? And so I really went in there and I learned how to advocate for myself.



    00:17:23.447 --> 00:17:26.867


    And I'm teaching other cancer patients as well. It's like, you know,



    00:17:26.907 --> 00:17:28.367


    your body better than anybody.



    00:17:28.647 --> 00:17:33.307


    So it's up to you to do the research and advocate for yourself because there



    00:17:33.307 --> 00:17:37.627


    were certain times, For example, when I was having chemo, the pre-meds were



    00:17:37.627 --> 00:17:42.127


    too much. They were giving me the same medication as someone that was probably twice my size.



    00:17:42.307 --> 00:17:46.647


    And so since I did my research, I was able to say, can we bring it down a little bit?



    00:17:46.787 --> 00:17:50.767


    And because of that, the side effects dwindled severely.



    00:17:52.387 --> 00:17:55.507


    Wow. Wow, wow, wow. Yeah, that's incredible.



    00:17:56.167 --> 00:18:01.647


    My gosh. The way that you approach this whole thing with your research is just



    00:18:01.647 --> 00:18:04.707


    that's that's literally amazing.



    00:18:05.227 --> 00:18:08.547


    Wow. Wow. Thank you so very much. Thank you so much.



    00:18:08.647 --> 00:18:12.807


    And to answer the second part of your question in terms of some of the moments



    00:18:12.807 --> 00:18:14.807


    that may not have been as high.



    00:18:15.087 --> 00:18:20.567


    I remember, you know, as a female, oftentimes we identify ourselves based on



    00:18:20.567 --> 00:18:22.307


    our hair and our boobs. loops.



    00:18:22.367 --> 00:18:26.627


    And once you lose both of those, it really causes you to really,



    00:18:26.647 --> 00:18:30.247


    really search deep down inside to figure out who am I at the core?



    00:18:30.427 --> 00:18:33.607


    You know, you lose your hair, you lose your eyebrows, you lose your eyelashes.



    00:18:33.987 --> 00:18:39.167


    And it's like, wow, well, who is Tandi? Who is Tandi behind all of that?



    00:18:39.407 --> 00:18:46.407


    And it really caused me to sit a lot and journal a lot and create a lot so that



    00:18:46.407 --> 00:18:50.867


    I could express myself because cancer is not just a physical journey.



    00:18:50.947 --> 00:18:55.367


    It is a mental journey. It is a financial journey, is a spiritual journey.



    00:18:55.507 --> 00:18:57.447


    And so I'm like, how do I navigate this?



    00:18:57.607 --> 00:19:02.247


    And so I learned the art of yoga and meditation and journaling so that I could



    00:19:02.247 --> 00:19:06.467


    release those emotions because the emotions will come, you know, they will come and go.



    00:19:06.627 --> 00:19:11.547


    And so like, how do I release these emotions in a healthy way so that they're



    00:19:11.547 --> 00:19:13.207


    not all bottled inside? Right.



    00:19:13.787 --> 00:19:19.447


    Yeah, absolutely. Your faith. Talk to me about your faith journey.



    00:19:20.027 --> 00:19:25.447


    For myself, my faith, my family, I say you're the only way I got through my



    00:19:25.447 --> 00:19:27.227


    own, you know, life changing experience.



    00:19:27.587 --> 00:19:31.287


    And I hear you talk a lot about your faith, a lot about your family.



    00:19:31.427 --> 00:19:37.947


    And I would love to hear your faith journey and the impact it had on this whole experience.



    00:19:38.607 --> 00:19:43.967


    Absolutely. And Kevin, when I first heard about the diagnosis, I was so angry.



    00:19:44.267 --> 00:19:48.687


    I mean, just really, really angry. I'm like, God, why would you allow this to happen to me?



    00:19:48.827 --> 00:19:54.487


    Like I said, I ate healthy. I worked out. I checked every box I thought to stay cancer free.



    00:19:54.687 --> 00:19:59.647


    And so I was so angry. And I remember like it was yesterday after I found out



    00:19:59.647 --> 00:20:04.987


    that I had to have the chemo and radiation, I came home and I slept for 21 hours



    00:20:04.987 --> 00:20:09.227


    because I felt like I was literally dead to the world. I had nothing else to give.



    00:20:09.467 --> 00:20:14.647


    And Kevin, I turned off my phone. And in that time, those 21 hours,



    00:20:14.847 --> 00:20:19.487


    again, I went to bed angry, but there was something in my spirit,



    00:20:19.587 --> 00:20:21.847


    Kevin, that said, you will fight and win.



    00:20:22.067 --> 00:20:26.427


    And I knew from that moment that that was my faith. That was God really speaking



    00:20:26.427 --> 00:20:29.607


    to me, letting me know that, Tondi, this is not the end.



    00:20:29.767 --> 00:20:32.487


    This is not the end. As a matter of fact, it's just the beginning.



    00:20:32.747 --> 00:20:38.067


    And when I was in bed for 21 hours, I literally saw saw a bow and arrow, right?



    00:20:38.147 --> 00:20:41.927


    And so if you think about the bow and arrow, the further back you pull a bow



    00:20:41.927 --> 00:20:45.467


    and arrow, when you let it go, the further the trajectory.



    00:20:45.887 --> 00:20:50.167


    And so I felt like I was saying just for a small moment, a small portion of



    00:20:50.167 --> 00:20:52.587


    your life, I'm going to pull you back just a little bit.



    00:20:52.647 --> 00:20:57.347


    But once you're done with this, once I let it go, the impact that you are going



    00:20:57.347 --> 00:21:01.287


    to make on this world is going to be like amazing.



    00:21:02.767 --> 00:21:06.527


    And so I held onto that, Kevin. So I prayed a lot. I said, God,



    00:21:06.827 --> 00:21:10.267


    I need wisdom. Give me wisdom to get through this.



    00:21:10.467 --> 00:21:15.287


    Give me a strategy to get through this. Give me the faith that I need to get through this.



    00:21:15.347 --> 00:21:19.667


    And yes, there were some dark days, but I will say, Kevin, that throughout the



    00:21:19.667 --> 00:21:23.287


    journey, I know that God was with me every step of the way.



    00:21:23.367 --> 00:21:28.107


    I mean, hands down, there's no way that I could have gotten through it if it



    00:21:28.107 --> 00:21:32.567


    wasn't for my faith and my belief in God. Yeah. Oh, my gosh.



    00:21:32.787 --> 00:21:38.227


    And what a beautiful visualization of the Bellinero.



    00:21:38.727 --> 00:21:46.007


    Wow. I mean, that is that is such a beautiful way to look at what you are going through. Hmm.



    00:21:47.168 --> 00:21:54.128


    Thank you. Yeah, that's amazing. What other groups I was curious about,



    00:21:54.288 --> 00:21:59.888


    were there any support groups or or certain friends or anything that you found



    00:21:59.888 --> 00:22:01.108


    yourself really leaning on?



    00:22:01.808 --> 00:22:06.428


    Absolutely. As I mentioned, like this is a journey that you cannot walk by yourself.



    00:22:06.728 --> 00:22:11.848


    And so I learned how to be very transparent. I learned that in this season,



    00:22:11.968 --> 00:22:15.668


    like I'm used to being the strong one, Kevin. I'm used to everyone relying on



    00:22:15.668 --> 00:22:17.448


    me and saying, Tanya, I need this. I need that.



    00:22:17.648 --> 00:22:23.728


    But in this season, I allow myself to be vulnerable and really say when I needed help.



    00:22:23.908 --> 00:22:29.028


    And so my friends from college, my friends in the area, they really rallied around.



    00:22:29.368 --> 00:22:33.108


    We literally, before my first surgery, 30 days leading up to it,



    00:22:33.188 --> 00:22:36.468


    we were on calls every day. They would give me inspiration.



    00:22:36.748 --> 00:22:41.348


    They would pray with me. And it was just an incredible moment to have my family



    00:22:41.348 --> 00:22:44.988


    and my friends and my co-workers be of support.



    00:22:45.188 --> 00:22:49.388


    So they would send care packages. They would come. They created a meal train.



    00:22:49.688 --> 00:22:55.388


    They just did so much to help me through this, to help lift my head up day after day.



    00:22:55.848 --> 00:23:02.268


    Oh, my goodness. We think sometimes it seems like we default to the idea at



    00:23:02.268 --> 00:23:03.968


    times in our lives that we,



    00:23:04.461 --> 00:23:08.281


    It's our burden to carry and we don't want to put it on anybody else.



    00:23:08.801 --> 00:23:12.981


    And the truth is, is we're meant to do this life together.



    00:23:13.461 --> 00:23:21.301


    Yes. You know, and so I am so happy to hear that you were able to find support in others.



    00:23:21.861 --> 00:23:29.361


    Thank you so much. Yeah, absolutely. So talk to me about when this starts to



    00:23:29.361 --> 00:23:32.981


    wrap up all this treatment and you're coming to the end.



    00:23:32.981 --> 00:23:39.981


    And was it like, I'm kind of wondering, like, at the end, did you get that amazing news?



    00:23:40.401 --> 00:23:44.061


    You know, talk to me about that doctor's appointment. Yeah, absolutely.



    00:23:44.321 --> 00:23:47.701


    So after my last surgery, you know, I was counting down like,



    00:23:47.781 --> 00:23:54.641


    yes, the last surgery and really excited about, you know, the progress that was being made.



    00:23:54.881 --> 00:23:59.061


    And then when I went in for my follow up and they told me that the cancer was



    00:23:59.061 --> 00:24:03.081


    in remission, that was like music to my ears. I was so excited.



    00:24:03.241 --> 00:24:07.701


    And what some people fail to realize is, you know, even after the surgery is



    00:24:07.701 --> 00:24:13.241


    over, even after the radiation, the chemo, there is like a post treatment journey



    00:24:13.241 --> 00:24:14.781


    that I didn't know about.



    00:24:14.921 --> 00:24:19.441


    And so I finished my quote unquote, my treatment, thinking that I would go into



    00:24:19.441 --> 00:24:23.221


    this blissful state that, oh, everything was going to be peaches and cream.



    00:24:23.401 --> 00:24:29.221


    No, Kevin, there is a side of the journey that happens after treatment.



    00:24:29.221 --> 00:24:31.521


    You start to worry about a recurrence.



    00:24:31.541 --> 00:24:35.221


    You have to do maintenance checkups. You know, so there are so many things that



    00:24:35.221 --> 00:24:37.341


    I didn't know about that happened.



    00:24:37.401 --> 00:24:41.481


    But yes, it was a breath of fresh air because I wasn't going in and out of the



    00:24:41.481 --> 00:24:43.701


    doctor every week or every other day.



    00:24:43.781 --> 00:24:45.981


    So I have more time to create.



    00:24:46.161 --> 00:24:49.261


    I have more time to think. I have more time to reflect.



    00:24:49.581 --> 00:24:54.401


    I have more time to see my therapist and really figure out, okay, what happens next?



    00:24:54.601 --> 00:24:58.261


    How do I create or how do I build this Tandi 2.0?



    00:24:58.835 --> 00:25:04.975


    Yeah, absolutely. How long did it take you to really get over?



    00:25:05.095 --> 00:25:08.775


    Because I would imagine, and I would imagine maybe even still today,



    00:25:08.895 --> 00:25:10.495


    I mean, goodness, it's not been that long.



    00:25:11.175 --> 00:25:15.075


    Is there still that fear of what if it comes back?



    00:25:15.735 --> 00:25:21.815


    Absolutely. Every week, Kevin. So something I may see, something that reminded me of my journey.



    00:25:21.855 --> 00:25:26.115


    I may hear a song or I may do a certain recipe that I did when I was going through



    00:25:26.115 --> 00:25:29.115


    my journey and it will trigger something in me.



    00:25:29.235 --> 00:25:33.595


    And so trauma, when you think about trauma, it's ongoing, it's recurring.



    00:25:33.855 --> 00:25:38.615


    And so to help me heal, Kevin, and I'm continuing to heal every single day,



    00:25:38.775 --> 00:25:42.795


    I really pour my work into breast cancer advocacy.



    00:25:42.795 --> 00:25:47.715


    I really pour my work into and my time into helping others, you know,



    00:25:47.715 --> 00:25:51.795


    that have gone through trauma, whether it's a loss or a diagnosis or abuse.



    00:25:52.115 --> 00:25:54.995


    How do you turn that trauma into creativity?



    00:25:55.415 --> 00:25:59.375


    And so I've created courses and I just finished a course, an eight week course.



    00:25:59.535 --> 00:26:03.155


    And it has been amazing to help others who have come behind me.



    00:26:03.375 --> 00:26:05.575


    How do you create creativity?



    00:26:05.855 --> 00:26:08.575


    Like whether it's a documentary, whether it's a one woman show,



    00:26:08.815 --> 00:26:13.435


    whatever it may be. So a part of my healing is to really give back to the community



    00:26:13.435 --> 00:26:17.955


    through breast cancer advocacy work, through, you know, health and wellness



    00:26:17.955 --> 00:26:20.215


    workshops, through motivational speaking.



    00:26:20.395 --> 00:26:25.895


    So everything that I do now, it's literally centered around cancer as well as



    00:26:25.895 --> 00:26:27.595


    overall health and wellness for women.



    00:26:27.855 --> 00:26:30.615


    Yeah, that is absolutely incredible.



    00:26:31.875 --> 00:26:38.835


    You mentioned before all of this happened that you felt like you were missing



    00:26:38.835 --> 00:26:40.535


    something. your life's purpose.



    00:26:41.195 --> 00:26:44.975


    Through all of this, do you feel like you found that purpose?



    00:26:45.355 --> 00:26:47.895


    Without a shadow of a doubt, 100%.



    00:26:49.495 --> 00:26:53.835


    Okay. Talk to me about how you knew when you found your purpose and exactly



    00:26:53.835 --> 00:26:56.375


    what you came to identify your purpose as.



    00:26:56.915 --> 00:27:01.355


    Absolutely. I would say throughout the journey, I journaled a lot and trying



    00:27:01.355 --> 00:27:04.555


    to figure out what is this all about? What is this all about?



    00:27:04.815 --> 00:27:08.035


    And what I wrote in my journal is this is not punishment.



    00:27:08.415 --> 00:27:10.255


    This is a realignment.



    00:27:11.795 --> 00:27:14.815


    That's what I wrote down in my journal. And I'm like, okay, what does that mean?



    00:27:15.075 --> 00:27:18.655


    And I just looked at the word realignment, you know, to put in position.



    00:27:18.995 --> 00:27:20.395


    And so I was like, okay, well, what is,



    00:27:21.071 --> 00:27:25.951


    tell me more. So I started writing more. And so I realized that through this,



    00:27:26.771 --> 00:27:32.111


    the mask that I talked about earlier with Tandi 1.0, I was able to remove the mask.



    00:27:32.271 --> 00:27:36.311


    I was able to remove all of the superficial things that quote unquote made me a woman.



    00:27:36.471 --> 00:27:40.971


    And I really dig down deep inside to figure out, okay, Tandi,



    00:27:41.091 --> 00:27:49.671


    your purpose in life is to help women shift from existing to living because Tondi 1.0 was existing.



    00:27:49.871 --> 00:27:55.351


    You know, now after this diagnosis, I feel as though I am living my best life.



    00:27:55.851 --> 00:27:59.591


    Yes. Yes. Wow. So powerful.



    00:28:00.411 --> 00:28:06.451


    You know, you, you're like the epitome of the whole thing of like post-traumatic growth.



    00:28:06.671 --> 00:28:14.431


    Yes. Of growing on the other side of trauma. Yes. That is Tondi 2.0 on the way.



    00:28:16.511 --> 00:28:25.631


    My goodness. Yeah. Talk to me about the growth even of your family, of your children,



    00:28:25.871 --> 00:28:30.991


    because I can imagine they probably grew in that year more than you probably



    00:28:30.991 --> 00:28:31.851


    ever could have imagined.



    00:28:32.491 --> 00:28:36.691


    Absolutely. And even at a young age, they were eight and four at the time,



    00:28:36.771 --> 00:28:41.751


    now they're older, but their faith has increased because I mentioned we had



    00:28:41.751 --> 00:28:45.491


    prayer calls and calls leading up to the surgery, sometimes,



    00:28:45.571 --> 00:28:47.211


    Kevin, they would pray on the call.



    00:28:47.431 --> 00:28:51.671


    Sometimes they would really provide that inspiration for the day.



    00:28:51.831 --> 00:28:53.811


    And so their faith has increased.



    00:28:54.191 --> 00:28:57.751


    Their maturity has increased because mommy couldn't do it all.



    00:28:57.931 --> 00:29:02.311


    I couldn't cook every day. I couldn't wash all the clothes every day.



    00:29:02.351 --> 00:29:06.191


    So they had to learn how to do some of that themselves, which again,



    00:29:06.231 --> 00:29:11.151


    helped them to be more responsible and really dig down deep inside and say,



    00:29:11.211 --> 00:29:12.791


    you know what? I can do this.



    00:29:12.851 --> 00:29:16.591


    I can help out around the house. And so they have grown tremendously.



    00:29:17.151 --> 00:29:21.111


    My husband as well. You know, we've been married. It'll be this year for 17



    00:29:21.111 --> 00:29:24.831


    years. And we have such an appreciation even more now.



    00:29:25.788 --> 00:29:30.028


    For each other than we did before the diagnosis. And I would say for my immediate



    00:29:30.028 --> 00:29:33.008


    family, it's interesting, interesting story.



    00:29:33.148 --> 00:29:35.388


    My mom and my dad, they are divorced.



    00:29:35.628 --> 00:29:40.908


    And so it has been probably 20 plus years since we have spent the holiday together.



    00:29:41.248 --> 00:29:46.408


    So Kevin, the year of my diagnosis, 2021, we spent Christmas together.



    00:29:47.768 --> 00:29:55.388


    My entire family. So my stepmom, my dad, my mom, We spent Christmas together



    00:29:55.388 --> 00:29:57.748


    for the first time in probably 20 plus years.



    00:29:58.028 --> 00:30:03.288


    And so when I say that, this diagnosis not only changed my life,



    00:30:03.408 --> 00:30:06.308


    but it has brought my family closer together.



    00:30:06.908 --> 00:30:08.768


    Yeah. Oh, my goodness.



    00:30:09.488 --> 00:30:11.048


    It's so powerful.



    00:30:11.968 --> 00:30:17.268


    And talking about powerful, I want you to expand on something that I heard in



    00:30:17.268 --> 00:30:19.648


    one of your videos I was watching on YouTube.



    00:30:20.608 --> 00:30:26.388


    And when I was watching it, I couldn't help it, but trying to not cry myself because,



    00:30:26.848 --> 00:30:33.788


    you were crying when you were trying to let the words come out that you felt



    00:30:33.788 --> 00:30:35.808


    like all of this was worth it in the end.



    00:30:37.108 --> 00:30:40.548


    Would you, would you talk to me about that? Oh my goodness.



    00:30:40.608 --> 00:30:46.548


    Those words, it kind of triggers something as well. So it's like, oh my God, yes, I can.



    00:30:46.848 --> 00:30:50.348


    But just thinking Thinking about it, to your point, it just almost brings me



    00:30:50.348 --> 00:30:54.308


    to tears as well, because oftentimes when we go through a journey,



    00:30:54.388 --> 00:30:57.168


    when we go through something, you know, when I was at the very beginning,



    00:30:57.388 --> 00:30:59.808


    I could not see my way out.



    00:30:59.868 --> 00:31:04.848


    I could not understand the why, you know, and so I stopped asking myself why.



    00:31:05.148 --> 00:31:07.688


    And I started asking myself, what now?



    00:31:09.068 --> 00:31:12.508


    Since it happened to me, what now? What do I need to do as a result?



    00:31:12.768 --> 00:31:18.108


    And so when I say it was worth it, would I want to go through it again? Absolutely. not.



    00:31:18.508 --> 00:31:23.108


    No way. But the 12 months of the journey that I went through,



    00:31:23.208 --> 00:31:28.568


    it was worth it because as I mentioned, I found out who I was at the core.



    00:31:28.728 --> 00:31:31.948


    I found out how do I value and appreciate life.



    00:31:32.128 --> 00:31:37.208


    And I learned so much. There were so many lessons. I learned probably over 81 lessons, Kevin.



    00:31:37.368 --> 00:31:41.248


    And one of the biggest lessons that I learned was life is all about perspective.



    00:31:41.648 --> 00:31:44.588


    Your situation changes when your mindset changes.



    00:31:45.648 --> 00:31:49.468


    And that's what shifted during those 21 hours that I talked about when I was



    00:31:49.468 --> 00:31:53.668


    in the bed, sleeping dead to the world, I began to change my mindset.



    00:31:53.788 --> 00:31:58.268


    And when I heard the words, you will fight and win that changed my mindset and



    00:31:58.268 --> 00:31:59.368


    that changed my perspective.



    00:32:00.008 --> 00:32:06.968


    Wow. You are a warrior, aren't you? Yes, absolutely. Yes. Oh my goodness.



    00:32:07.648 --> 00:32:12.928


    Wow. So there's something that's kind of fun that I want to talk about.



    00:32:12.928 --> 00:32:17.408


    And I got a few more questions after this one, but I think it's just time to



    00:32:17.408 --> 00:32:24.048


    get it out there is I am a long time, pretty much lifelong Pittsburgh Steelers fan.



    00:32:24.348 --> 00:32:31.048


    OK, so I don't really understand why I want to talk about the Dallas Cowboys. Oh, my goodness.



    00:32:33.148 --> 00:32:39.768


    But I heard a story about you and the Cowboys that I would love for you to share.



    00:32:40.788 --> 00:32:44.668


    Yes. So we were friends at first, Kevin, before you said that.



    00:32:45.888 --> 00:32:48.808


    I may have to pull that friendship title back.



    00:32:51.788 --> 00:32:57.208


    Oh, wow. Too funny. So I've been a Dallas Cowboy fan for like probably all of



    00:32:57.208 --> 00:33:00.108


    my life and I enjoyed the Dallas Cowboys.



    00:33:00.288 --> 00:33:04.808


    They are near and dear to my heart. You know, it's sometimes I have to take



    00:33:04.808 --> 00:33:08.588


    my magnesium to calm my nerves before a game because you just never know,



    00:33:08.628 --> 00:33:12.128


    Kevin, you know, they'll be up and then they will just come back down.



    00:33:12.288 --> 00:33:13.648


    So I keep my magnesium handy.



    00:33:14.788 --> 00:33:20.248


    But last year, because of the advocacy work that I've been doing in the community,



    00:33:20.428 --> 00:33:22.828


    I was selected by Susan G.



    00:33:22.868 --> 00:33:27.148


    Coleman, as well as the Dallas Cowboys to be one of the five,



    00:33:27.787 --> 00:33:31.967


    star survivors. And it was such an incredible moment.



    00:33:32.087 --> 00:33:33.407


    When I received the phone call,



    00:33:33.607 --> 00:33:37.287


    I thought I was being pumped by Ashton Kutcher. I was like, no, no way.



    00:33:38.747 --> 00:33:43.927


    Who did? No, seriously? And because it was over a hundred applicants.



    00:33:44.227 --> 00:33:50.007


    And so to be chosen as one of the five was, it was an incredible moment that



    00:33:50.007 --> 00:33:51.547


    I will never, ever, ever forget.



    00:33:51.927 --> 00:33:55.947


    And so throughout Throughout that time, they gave us a three-day experience.



    00:33:56.367 --> 00:34:00.387


    And so day one, we were able to go to the stadium. We were able to stand in



    00:34:00.387 --> 00:34:01.667


    front of the practice field.



    00:34:01.807 --> 00:34:05.487


    And so when the players went by, they were able to hug us. So when I hugged



    00:34:05.487 --> 00:34:07.507


    Dak Prescott, I almost fainted, Kevin.



    00:34:11.127 --> 00:34:17.067


    And so it was amazing to see Dak and CD and all of the other players live and in person.



    00:34:17.207 --> 00:34:19.927


    And so they do this every year. So they've done it for, I think,



    00:34:19.927 --> 00:34:26.007


    the past maybe five or six years. And so to be selected as a 2023 cohort was



    00:34:26.007 --> 00:34:27.927


    indeed an amazing experience.



    00:34:28.147 --> 00:34:30.827


    And then we had like a little shopping spree, a pampering day.



    00:34:31.027 --> 00:34:33.947


    And then on that Sunday, we were honored on the field.



    00:34:34.107 --> 00:34:37.647


    So we were able to go to a home game, honored on the field. And then we had



    00:34:37.647 --> 00:34:39.967


    some like box seats up at the top.



    00:34:40.547 --> 00:34:43.667


    Wow. Wow. That is so amazing.



    00:34:44.607 --> 00:34:52.047


    Thank you. Thank you so much. Oh, my goodness, man. Man, that is America's team.



    00:34:52.127 --> 00:34:53.827


    Let's just face it. It is, it is.



    00:34:55.487 --> 00:35:01.587


    Oh my goodness. That is, I heard that story and I was like, oh my goodness, we got to talk about it.



    00:35:01.747 --> 00:35:05.967


    Wow, thank you. Thank you so much. Of course, of course.



    00:35:06.687 --> 00:35:10.887


    Talk to me a little bit about life today. It's been a little bit.



    00:35:11.087 --> 00:35:16.327


    I'm curious how it's impacted your day-to-day life with what you're doing now.



    00:35:16.327 --> 00:35:21.047


    Now, we've talked a lot about your mindset on life, but I'm just kind of curious,



    00:35:21.127 --> 00:35:26.787


    this Tondi 2.0 who's going through life, what does her life look like?



    00:35:27.490 --> 00:35:30.330


    That's a big question. How much time do you have? I'm just kidding.



    00:35:32.850 --> 00:35:37.670


    I will keep it short. But I will say that, Kevin, after I had my last surgery,



    00:35:37.910 --> 00:35:39.810


    I decided to go back to work.



    00:35:39.870 --> 00:35:45.230


    So still a marketing executive. So I went back to work and it was a struggle



    00:35:45.230 --> 00:35:48.930


    for me because the things that were once important, like revenue,



    00:35:49.070 --> 00:35:52.830


    bottom line, client, you know, appreciation, all that stuff.



    00:35:52.970 --> 00:35:55.610


    It was really important before the diagnosis.



    00:35:55.810 --> 00:36:00.290


    And then when I came back, I'm like, you know, I'm in these back to back meetings.



    00:36:00.370 --> 00:36:02.710


    We're talking about revenue and profitability.



    00:36:03.310 --> 00:36:07.870


    I don't really care about this anymore. You know, it's not important to me.



    00:36:07.870 --> 00:36:11.230


    And the clients that we're working on, it's like, yes, it's still good work,



    00:36:11.290 --> 00:36:16.550


    but this is, I didn't survive to stay alive to go back to this.



    00:36:16.970 --> 00:36:20.650


    As much as I was grateful for it, it was just something that was missing.



    00:36:20.690 --> 00:36:22.750


    And so I stayed for five months, Kevin.



    00:36:23.150 --> 00:36:28.430


    And then I've always been on the entrepreneurial path, you know, but this expedited it.



    00:36:28.770 --> 00:36:32.390


    So I've always, it's not like I just snapped my finger one day and decided to leave.



    00:36:32.450 --> 00:36:35.970


    No, I had already been working on the plan even before the diagnosis.



    00:36:35.970 --> 00:36:37.910


    Like, Tondi, what is your exit strategy?



    00:36:38.230 --> 00:36:43.090


    What are your goals for the next five to 10 years? And so on that plan,



    00:36:43.410 --> 00:36:46.210


    I've always wanted to go the entrepreneurial route.



    00:36:46.410 --> 00:36:52.450


    And so Kevin, after five months, I was like, you know, I think I've had enough. I've had enough.



    00:36:52.630 --> 00:36:56.270


    And so even during my diagnosis, I was working on my business plan.



    00:36:56.490 --> 00:37:01.950


    I had my website. I started working on things slowly because I knew that somewhere



    00:37:01.950 --> 00:37:07.930


    along the way, I would have to say say goodbye to the agency world and start my own thing.



    00:37:08.190 --> 00:37:12.270


    And so May 31st of last year was my last day in corporate.



    00:37:13.210 --> 00:37:19.210


    I said goodbye. Yes, I said goodbye. And it was very scary because I had been



    00:37:19.210 --> 00:37:21.110


    doing that for 15 years, very comfortable.



    00:37:21.910 --> 00:37:25.750


    I knew the paycheck was coming, so it was really great.



    00:37:25.890 --> 00:37:29.690


    But when I took a step of faith and said, you know, it's time.



    00:37:29.690 --> 00:37:35.570


    And it wasn't just me, you know, just razzle dazzle. No, I had a plan in place.



    00:37:35.870 --> 00:37:41.470


    And so I began to reach out to a few of my former clients and people in my network



    00:37:41.470 --> 00:37:44.610


    for my doctors or whatever. And I told them that I'm leaving.



    00:37:44.830 --> 00:37:48.510


    I said, but I'll be more than happy to consult to do, you know,



    00:37:48.510 --> 00:37:49.910


    health and wellness or marketing.



    00:37:50.190 --> 00:37:54.330


    If you need help, just let me know. And I reached out to so many breast cancer



    00:37:54.330 --> 00:37:58.030


    advocacy groups to let them know what I was doing. And before you know it,



    00:37:58.050 --> 00:37:59.470


    Kevin, I got my first client.



    00:38:00.570 --> 00:38:04.250


    Woo-hoo! I got my first client last year.



    00:38:04.350 --> 00:38:07.150


    And, you know, one client turned into two, two turned into three.



    00:38:07.370 --> 00:38:09.270


    And it's just, you know, continuing to grow.



    00:38:09.981 --> 00:38:14.701


    The Tandi Monet brand. And so as I mentioned earlier, my purpose in life is



    00:38:14.701 --> 00:38:17.181


    to help women shift from existing to living.



    00:38:17.341 --> 00:38:22.261


    And that is the mission of the Tandi Monet brand is to help women all around



    00:38:22.261 --> 00:38:24.641


    the world shift from existing to living.



    00:38:24.741 --> 00:38:28.001


    And so that's what I do full time, whether it's health and wellness,



    00:38:28.181 --> 00:38:30.901


    whether it's marketing, whether it's breast cancer advocacy,



    00:38:31.261 --> 00:38:35.121


    whether it's working with moms to show them that, hey, even though you're a



    00:38:35.121 --> 00:38:38.181


    mom, you're not just a mom. You're more than a mom.



    00:38:38.321 --> 00:38:43.081


    And so how do you still find your life's purpose, even as you're being pulled



    00:38:43.081 --> 00:38:44.821


    a hundred thousand different ways.



    00:38:45.021 --> 00:38:50.501


    And so through consulting and courses and just really helping those who have,



    00:38:50.581 --> 00:38:54.681


    are going through what I've gone through, that's what I do on a day-to-day basis.



    00:38:54.921 --> 00:38:57.061


    And it's fulfilling work. It's impactful.



    00:38:57.421 --> 00:39:01.781


    It's a lot of work, but at the end of the day, I can, I can rest knowing that



    00:39:01.781 --> 00:39:08.601


    today I did something that will help someone shift from existing to living. Yeah. Wow.



    00:39:09.421 --> 00:39:16.321


    You know, when, when you talk about becoming this almost a new version of yourself and,



    00:39:16.521 --> 00:39:22.201


    and I feel like anybody listening who's been through something dramatic in your,



    00:39:22.221 --> 00:39:25.801


    in your life, one of these life shattering moments, like I referred to them,



    00:39:25.841 --> 00:39:30.601


    the fact is true is on the other side, we're, we're changed.



    00:39:31.221 --> 00:39:34.421


    We, we become a new version of ourselves.



    00:39:34.601 --> 00:39:42.541


    And, and so to hear you talking about going back to that career and realizing,



    00:39:42.801 --> 00:39:44.641


    you know, stuff, it doesn't matter.



    00:39:44.761 --> 00:39:51.141


    It's not important to me because you just literally realized how limited our



    00:39:51.141 --> 00:39:56.981


    time here is on earth and how fragile every single day is. Yeah.



    00:39:57.766 --> 00:40:02.086


    And so I just thought that was such a powerful, you know, realization.



    00:40:02.166 --> 00:40:08.726


    I applaud you for realizing that it is okay.



    00:40:08.846 --> 00:40:10.966


    I have become somebody new.



    00:40:11.086 --> 00:40:15.106


    And so therefore, it's perfectly good for me to pursue it.



    00:40:15.486 --> 00:40:18.526


    Yeah, absolutely. Absolutely.



    00:40:19.346 --> 00:40:24.726


    Yes. Yes. Well, amazing. Well, listen, I have one last question for you.



    00:40:24.726 --> 00:40:29.386


    But before I ask you that question, would you please share with with anybody



    00:40:29.386 --> 00:40:34.026


    listening the best place to get connected in your world? Where can we send them?



    00:40:34.386 --> 00:40:38.166


    Yes, absolutely. So you can go online to my website.



    00:40:38.506 --> 00:40:47.606


    It's www.tandimone.com. And Tandi is spelled T-H-A-N-D-I.



    00:40:47.986 --> 00:40:55.806


    Monet is spelled M-O-N-E-E. You can also find me on Instagram and TikTok at Tondi Monet.



    00:40:56.346 --> 00:41:00.646


    Yeah. Okay. I will be sure that all of that is in the show notes.



    00:41:00.726 --> 00:41:05.686


    And just to mention, you do have a pretty cool resource that I found on your



    00:41:05.686 --> 00:41:10.626


    website that goes back to the affirmations, right? Yes, absolutely.



    00:41:10.906 --> 00:41:17.766


    Yes. So it's called 15 Positive Affirmations to Reignite Passion and Purpose.



    00:41:17.766 --> 00:41:21.766


    And so, as I mentioned before, Kevin, like this is, this is my life now.



    00:41:21.906 --> 00:41:27.946


    This is my life now. And so what I did was put together this really simple PDF



    00:41:27.946 --> 00:41:31.406


    and it's an ebook that people can download for free on the website.



    00:41:31.566 --> 00:41:37.306


    And it talks about, you know, clarity and it talks about your progress and how



    00:41:37.306 --> 00:41:42.106


    you're worthy and just certain things that you can do to reignite your purpose.



    00:41:42.106 --> 00:41:45.786


    So for those who may feel as though they are just, you know,



    00:41:45.806 --> 00:41:50.446


    checking the box or they're on the hamster wheel of life, this ebook will really



    00:41:50.446 --> 00:41:52.966


    help you kind of pause and say, you know what?



    00:41:53.859 --> 00:41:57.799


    There's more to life than what I'm experiencing right now. There's more to me



    00:41:57.799 --> 00:41:59.319


    than what I'm experiencing right now.



    00:41:59.499 --> 00:42:04.019


    And so I want to reignite the passion that I once had, you know, when we were kids.



    00:42:04.159 --> 00:42:08.139


    I reignite the passion that I once had when life wasn't so hard.



    00:42:08.339 --> 00:42:13.499


    And so my hope is that as people begin to comb through the pages of this e-book,



    00:42:13.559 --> 00:42:19.559


    that they will begin to feel and reignite the passion that was once dormant inside of them.



    00:42:19.879 --> 00:42:22.039


    Yeah, that is incredible.



    00:42:22.459 --> 00:42:28.899


    Woohoo! Yeah. No, I mean, I just, I just, I love your spirit.



    00:42:28.979 --> 00:42:34.079


    I love who you are and the way that you, you just view life.



    00:42:34.399 --> 00:42:40.119


    And I think it's really just like a breath of fresh air to speak with somebody



    00:42:40.119 --> 00:42:45.519


    like you, who, I mean, you just, you literally can see your smile simply through your voice.



    00:42:46.059 --> 00:42:50.299


    And, and yet you've been through all that you've gone through.



    00:42:50.299 --> 00:42:54.659


    And yet look at who you are and where you are today.



    00:42:55.539 --> 00:42:59.679


    Wow. Thank you so much. Of course, of course.



    00:42:59.779 --> 00:43:08.019


    My last question for you is for the woman listening today who maybe she's a few steps behind you.



    00:43:08.339 --> 00:43:10.199


    Maybe she just found a lump.



    00:43:11.219 --> 00:43:15.919


    Maybe she just had that mammogram and is waiting on a call back from the doctor.



    00:43:15.919 --> 00:43:22.219


    Or maybe she's a little bit further along in the process and she got that devastating news.



    00:43:23.019 --> 00:43:26.399


    What would you like to say to her right now?



    00:43:26.799 --> 00:43:30.079


    Well, first I want to reach out and give her a hug. So I hope she can feel the



    00:43:30.079 --> 00:43:32.939


    hug that I'm giving her because it's a journey.



    00:43:33.039 --> 00:43:36.499


    And that initial phase is very difficult.



    00:43:36.699 --> 00:43:43.399


    And I would tell her to give herself permission to feel all of the feelings.



    00:43:43.399 --> 00:43:46.419


    Feelings don't try to go into this toxic



    00:43:46.419 --> 00:43:49.659


    positivity and say oh everything is hunky-dory no no



    00:43:49.659 --> 00:43:52.619


    it's really it's really hard right now and



    00:43:52.619 --> 00:43:55.439


    give yourself the space and the grace to



    00:43:55.439 --> 00:44:00.179


    feel those emotions that would be the first step because oftentimes Kevin we



    00:44:00.179 --> 00:44:04.539


    try to rush through those emotions but if you're feeling angry allow yourself



    00:44:04.539 --> 00:44:10.099


    to feel angry if you're if you're mad be mad you know so it's okay to feel those



    00:44:10.099 --> 00:44:13.839


    emotions the second thing that I would say is find a support system.



    00:44:14.059 --> 00:44:17.799


    So whether it's your family, whether it's a cancer support group,



    00:44:17.979 --> 00:44:22.099


    whether it's your hospital, they have support groups as well.



    00:44:22.319 --> 00:44:27.779


    It's very important to find a support group so that you can see someone who



    00:44:27.779 --> 00:44:31.839


    has already made it through what you've gone through and they can hold your hand.



    00:44:31.999 --> 00:44:35.339


    It's very, very important to do that. So I would say that's number two.



    00:44:35.639 --> 00:44:40.659


    And then number three, I would say, what do you want to learn in this situation?



    00:44:41.697 --> 00:44:46.297


    And whether it's you documenting your experience, whether it's you speaking



    00:44:46.297 --> 00:44:49.597


    about your experience, there's something in this journey.



    00:44:49.977 --> 00:44:53.337


    There's a test and there's a lesson in this test for you to learn.



    00:44:53.657 --> 00:44:57.997


    You didn't do anything wrong. You didn't cause it. So give yourself that grace



    00:44:57.997 --> 00:45:05.757


    to release the pressure of saying, what did I do to deserve this? You did nothing wrong.



    00:45:06.097 --> 00:45:08.357


    It's just so happened that it happened



    00:45:08.357 --> 00:45:12.417


    to you, but there's going to be something on the other side of it.



    00:45:12.497 --> 00:45:18.617


    And I pray that you will have the energy and the wisdom to, to make it through



    00:45:18.617 --> 00:45:22.057


    this journey and fight like you've never fought before.



    00:45:23.797 --> 00:45:27.697


    Such powerful words from one powerful woman.



    00:45:28.577 --> 00:45:33.717


    Tondi, thank you so much for being here today, for sharing your story and,



    00:45:33.737 --> 00:45:40.117


    and just making us kind of look at even the hard times in a little bit different light. Yeah.



    00:45:40.457 --> 00:45:44.217


    Thank you so much, Kevin. And thank you again for creating this platform.



    00:45:44.557 --> 00:45:49.737


    I wish you nothing but the best as you continue to allow this platform to just



    00:45:49.737 --> 00:45:54.437


    spread your voice and spread positivity because it is definitely needed in the



    00:45:54.437 --> 00:45:57.137


    world. Yeah, thank you so much.



    00:45:57.377 --> 00:46:04.317


    And for you listening today, my hope, my prayer is that this impacted your life.



    00:46:04.657 --> 00:46:10.877


    And if you have somebody who you feel, wow, they need to hear this story too,



    00:46:11.037 --> 00:46:13.057


    please go ahead and share it with them.



    00:46:13.637 --> 00:46:17.537


    The best thing that we can do for anybody is to reach out. So whether it's a



    00:46:17.537 --> 00:46:20.017


    friend you haven't talked to in a while, but you know they're going through



    00:46:20.017 --> 00:46:26.217


    some stuff, or whether it's somebody you know very well, your sister, your mom, a cousin,



    00:46:26.957 --> 00:46:29.057


    a woman who's experiencing this.



    00:46:29.857 --> 00:46:35.117


    Same thing that Tondi has gone through, send them this episode and let them



    00:46:35.117 --> 00:46:38.177


    experience the love that this woman has to share.



    00:46:38.657 --> 00:46:42.597


    And remember this, we can't control what happens in this life.



    00:46:43.057 --> 00:46:49.297


    But we can control how we react to it. And for Tondi today, she couldn't control



    00:46:49.297 --> 00:46:54.357


    what happened to her, but she sure could control how she reacted to it.



    00:46:54.477 --> 00:47:00.117


    And I think you and me can agree that the way she reacted is absolutely remarkable.



    00:47:00.717 --> 00:47:05.377


    Until next time, I'm Kevin Lowe, and this is Great Grace and Inspiration.



    00:47:05.840 --> 00:47:24.463



    Comments & Upvotes

Listen On

Also Listen