Dear Tyler,
Today, I gather with your family and friends to officially say farewell to your physical presence here in this earthly realm. It will no doubt be a difficult day as I don’t think any of us are really ready to say such goodbyes.
We met in July 2012 – almost 6 years ago! Seems like just yesterday. You were literally the first person I met when we got to Asheville (other than Tristan who worked at the shop). My interview with you was the morning after we arrived at our cabin in the mountains after driving all day from Louisiana. You were so cute, in your Buddha shirt and Mala beads, dirty and sweaty from just coming from a cleanout. We immediately clicked, and even though it was a complete change in direction from my career in education, I just knew that I wanted to work for you and that store. I felt it was fate, and everything fell into place perfectly. When you called to offer me the position, you made it very clear that you chose me over someone who had ample retail and management experience, but that you just had a hunch and intuition that I was the best person for the job. Looking back on it now, I know that I was never meant to be there for long. I was brought to that position just as a vessel to bring Nikki, the one you needed to bring your business to be all that you wanted it to be. It’s funny how life works out like that.
When I decided to leave the store, you weren’t that thrilled… ;). And honestly, I wasn’t either. I loved the business and all it was and could be, but I wasn’t happy and didn’t feel I was doing what my soul wanted to do. I was overwhelmed, didn’t know how to ask for help, and missed teaching. Although I don’t regret leaving the shop because I know it’s not what I was meant to be doing, and I know that it was all meant to connect you to Nikki, but I do have regrets on how I left the shop. I should have been more vocal to you about my issues and problems instead of ignoring them and blowing them off until they exploded. But, you can’t live life in the “should’ves” huh? Again, life had a plan bigger than I realized at the time, and all happens in Divine order.
You taught me a lot in the 6 months I worked for you. And the regrets I have over decisions I made back then continue to teach me and help me grow. You taught me how to stand up for myself and view myself as a manager. You showed me what it means to be a true entrepreneur and the magic that can happen if you never give up. You also just taught me how to be a better person. You were the first one to make me think more consciously about the things I buy and consume (so many Earth Fare runs…), and you helped me dive more deeply into my spiritual self. We’d come into the shop in the mornings to see you sitting OMmmming away doing your meditation and chants. Then you’d pop up and continue with your day! You told me the day after you hired me that you were going to be away my first two weeks on the job, unreachable, at a 10-day Vipassana meditation sit. (Which, I still have yet to do, but I’m going to someday, for you. I have to.) The faith and trust you placed in me was inspiring, as was your commitment to your spirit. You helped connect me with others who hold similar beliefs to help us transform and live as consciously as we can. You helped build the foundation of our community in Asheville. For that, I will always be grateful.
Even after I left the shop, you were still a regular part of my life since we were also next-door neighbors. After you let us live in your house for two months, the house next to yours went up for rent. It seemed pretty perfect, especially since the shop was just down the hill from our house. Nikki and Nicole/David were two houses down, Robert was across the street, and Monica was across from you – such good times in our little dead end street! I remember when we first came to your house – you said the door would always be unlocked, that you never knew who would need to get into your house while you were gone so you just always left it open. That idea stuck when we moved into our house – we rarely locked the door. What’s the need when you live on a tiny dead end street with your best friends all around you?! (When we moved out, we didn’t even have our keys to turn into Eric because we hardly used them – ha! We had $5 taken from our deposit to cover them. So funny.) I was so jealous when you and Nicole got pregnant. Happy for you, of course, but oh so jealous. But, that jealousy would be shortly lived as I found out I was pregnant just a month or so before Nova was born. And oh how I remember that day! I woke up and saw a couple extra cars in front of your house – the doula and midwife! Sure enough, within a couple hours we got the text announcing Nova’s birth. I sent you a congrats text, and you sent one back congratulating me on my pregnancy. We were becoming parents together! It was a joy watching you with Nova. You and Nicole created a beautiful girl, and I hope to be in her life more, for her and Cohen to grow up together. I can tell them both funny stories about you.
When I worked for the store and we went to networking events, you taught me the value of confidence and initiating connection. You knew no stranger and were always the one to walk up and introduce yourself to someone and start conversation. You were a little exhausting to keep up with. 😉 But I remember how inspired I always felt when we would leave an event or auction or meeting, etc. You had a vision and a determination to meet that vision, and everyone you met knew it. I hope I can channel some of that passion throughout my life. I feel that’s what I’ll carry with me about you – your passion and enthusiasm, your unending optimism (“It’ll be GREAT!”), and your general love for life. The memories I’ll carry with me will be my inspiration to always be better – work harder, laugh and love more, and never take a single second for granted. Though I’m sure somewhere out there you’re mad that your life was cut so short and unexpectedly, but I also think you’ll be happy because you always lived life fully, and I would think you died with very few regrets. You built an empire that will continue to grow in your name, and you have a legacy to be carried through Nova. She will grow being surrounded by so much love and knowing that her Dad was an amazing human – one that makes others want to be better humans. You’ll be carried on through all of us.
I bless your beautiful soul, Tyler. I bless you as you transition from this life to the next. I bless your spirit as it soars around us today. Be well. Be blessed. Allow us to be sad and be sad with us. Hold us and cry with us. None of us wanted this. But we know it’s out of our power and that this was all part of your soul’s purpose, as hard as that may be to understand right now. Help us as we let you go. We have to let you go so that you yourself can let go and your spirit can continue on. But we love you a lot. So that will be hard.
It still doesn’t seem real, and I know I’m not the only one who feels that way. We’re all just waiting for you to pop in and surprise us. I’m sad I didn’t hug you longer the last time I saw you, but I know you’re still around all of us.
Thank you for all you blessed us with while you were here, and thank you for all the beauty you leave us with. Continue to help us from the other side as we continue this earthly journey without you.
I love you, Tyler.
