Customer Reviews

This Time I Dance!: Trusting the Journey of Creating the Work You Love

5 star:		(35)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

As I read this book I felt like I was along on Tama Kieve's journey. Her book is like a "permission slip" which allows the ability to get off the crowded, usual path and onto the extraordinary path... the different, less traveled way AND the way back to our true selves.

Especially heart warming is the truthfulness of the writing.

Just because Kieves is a "Harvard Lawyer" doesn't mean this whole process was a piece of cake... not at all! Her doubts, her fears, her wonderings, musings and continuings are similar to the ones I have felt as I have traveled my "unconventional path."

As you seek your perfectly unique, beautiful -- and perhaps unconventional path -- you will, like me, laugh in recognition and delight to hear of the first Creative Writing class where Tama writes in amazement, "She had plumbing and plumbing problems! Then she yawned, revealing silver fillings. As if all that weren't enough, I happened to notice that a part of her hem hung longer than the rest of her denim, made-in- America, made-on-my-planet, skirt." followed by her HUGE a-ha "This writing guru was an ordinary woman!"

This book is wise, hilarious, inspiring, thought evoking and much much more than can be put into words.

Kieves chooses her words with artful thought. She literally seems to have lodged herself in my thoughts regularly. I know it is a book I will return to repeatedly.

Read this one now. You won't be disappointed.

Tama's book was a godsend for me. As one who was teetering on the brink of leaving my adequate but soul-draining "corporate job" for years, this book punched through my fears and my doubts and gave me the spark I needed to finally do something about it.

Coming from a person who had much more to lose than I did but "did it anyway", Tama's telling of her story was exactly what I needed to get through the chorus of NO that played in my head every day ("What will I do instead? Oh no, I'll starve! Everyone would want my job...what will people think? What do I really want?") and move on to the next level of honesty with myself: "Get real, or you're wasting your time here, girl."

Everyone should read this book. It's magnificent.

No other book has done for me what this book has! It changed my attitude about how to live my life! It was a joy to read.

I'm 42 years old and when I bought this book, I was still searching for what I wanted to be when I grew up. Not only did this book assist me with that amazing discovery, it's also a wonderful guide in helping you through all of the fears that come up when you are going after something that you really want. While exploring this unfamiliar territory, I found that by following the author's lead, I was able to shift my perspective and transform fear into antisipation, excitement and joy.

I can't say enough about this book and have actually bought it for my friends and family. I would love to see this author, Tama J. Kieves on Oprah! This book can help so many of us who are trying to find ourselves. Not only did this book give me clarity about my life's work, it is a wonderful guide in helping you find your own unique path. This book reminds you to dance while on your journey to make the work you love become a reality!

Being a lot older than Ms. Kieves I look back on the way I lived mine. On the whole I did it her way. I also graduated from college looking forward to a life of working (in physics rather than law but close enough) in a lab or corporation. I found that I hated working for a large organization, especially my time spent in the Army. I also found that I didn't do well there. I tended to speak what I believed rather than what the boss wanted to hear. So I got fired a few times.

It took me a while to find what I wanted to do, run a small company with only me as an employee - along with a few computers. I don't make nearly as much money, but enough. And in 2006 I took off four months to travel. I also started a comunity theater, am active in civic organizations and enjoy life a whole lot more.

Remember the Frank Sinatra song 'My Way?' It's not a bad theme song:

I've loved, I've laughed and cried

I've had my fill, my share of losing

And now, as tears subside, I find it all so amusing

To think I did all that

And may I say, not in a shy way,

'Oh, no, oh, no, not me, I did it my way'

I loved Kieves' book, even reviewed it in my CBS MarketWatch column on May 27, 2004 ("Sometimes today's dream is the key.") Kieves was a Harvard attorney who left to pursue her dream. I was a U.Va. attorney who left Wall Street and Morgan Stanley for Hollywood. A universal journey we all can make. I got the nudge from Joseph Campbell: "If you follow your bliss, you will always have your bliss, money or not. If you follow the money, you may lose it, and you will have nothing." Don't miss your journey, start by reading this book ... then go dancing!!

Tama Kieves was a successful Harvard grad/lawyer who walked away from her office with a view and high paying job to do what she most wanted to do. When she made her choice to jump in with both feet, she lowered her expenses and took a waitress job to sustain herself while she followed her dream.

She believes that people can and should be able to make a living doing whatever they are naturally gifted at and love to do. She wrote this book and when it didn't get picked up by a publisher, she self published it and then a major company approached her and bought it.

I have read a lot of self help and "Do what you love.." type books and I have to say that this one is awesome. I couldn't put it down. There is so much good advice on just about every page, and the thing is, it's all stuff she knows because she's experienced it.

I wish I had known that the secret to life is doing what you love to do when I first started working. But then, how would we know what we love if we didn't do all those things that we didn't/don't love in the first place?

This is a great book that I highly recommend and would give as gifts.

As I read this book, I felt as if I had a new best friend who is on the same path as me. Except she is further ahead the path shedding light so I can find my way. As I get discouraged, she sends just the right words of encouragement. This book was purchased just in time for my journey as an entrepreneur, a budding writer with a few published articles, but no book yet. The artist in Tama inspires the artist in me. On the days I can hardly get out of bed, her book shares her stories of the same experience helping me to get past my "stuff" and carry on with my dreams. Thank you Tama for writing "This Time I Dance". I know you are helping many, many people continue to pursue their dream and their purpose on this earth. Bless you! VBM

I read an earlier edition of This Time I Dance! two years ago while going back and forth with a major career decision. This book, in particular the author's practical(she writes from personal experience)but inspirational writing style, helped me to make the leap I needed to make.

For more inspirational instruction on going for the purpose that wakes you up at night, read Holy Play: The Joyful Adventure of Unleashing Your Divine Purpose.

Tama J. Kieves is more than an author. At heart, she is a poet. And it really shows in "This Time I Dance!" This book is not only informative, but it is also a pure pleasure to read. From start to finish, it is packed with lush descriptions and magical metaphors that elevate this work of non-fiction to a work of art. "This Time I Dance" will not only inspire you to discover your passion in life and give you some practical suggestions for living your dream, but the pure artistry of its words will start your heart dancing before you even put the book down! This is a book you are going to treasure!

Steven Lane Taylor, Author of Row, Row, Row Your Boat: A Guide for Living Life in the Divine Flow

For anyone who gets up each morning, goes to a "job," and quells their dream of finding their right livelihood because bills must be paid, things must be done and life is just the way it is - this book is for you.

Tama Kieves' wonderful book will help convince your mind that your heart knows the answer. She will tell you her story so that you can, perchance, find yours....

Buy one for yourself and a few more for friends.