Hayden Tompkins is widely recognized as being awesome and totally fabulous.
She has an insanely diverse background, due in some part to genetics and in large part to relocation to Miami when she was 11 years old. Having run a household since she was a child, her prowess of organization is unmatched, only to be rivaled by her ability to find chocolate anywhere.
Her husband is a divine combination of computer geek, recreational mathematician, and junior olympian. And while he is often in awe of her ability to read a book in under 2 hours, she is always held in thrall by his mad push-up skillz.
Disclosure
This touches only the barest beginning of her fabulosity but you can be assured of complete accuracy since she is the author of this commentary.
Getting Real
I’ve written hundreds of posts here at Through The Illusion over a period of several years. Why? Because I’m insane. Because I am passionate about personal development.
Growing Up
I was raised by my father in a single parent home, but – you know – in the 80’s when it was totally unheard of. Government housing? Check. Food stamps and welfare? Check and check. Alcoholic rages and abuse? Check and check.
After he tried to kill me, I was placed in a foster home where I was kicked out by my beloved foster parents within a year. (Don’t I sound like a rebel?!)
I’m not going to lie. It was rough.
So I’m sure you can see how I’d be the tiniest bit interested in personal development. And in understanding why people do the things they do.
You…yes, you.
Hopefully you’re interested in a heart centered, soul baring, and truth seeking connection. Because if you are, this is the place. You know that life is precious and finite, that we must savor each moment with verve and mindfulness and joy!
What is the illusion?
The illusion is that we are separate…alone. That life is a game or competition. That we are ever less than we are.
Each falls away and leaves us with a piece of the truth, an understanding that there is more to our experience than we can possibly imagine.
Through The Illusion rocks personal development!
- Featured on Guy Kawasaki’s Alltop as a top lifehack blog.
- “Best of the web” at The Daily Reviewer for lifehacks.
- One of “30 Bloggers to Watch Out For in 2010″ by Sherri at Serene Journey.
- Listified as one of the foremost personal development blogs at
Plugin ID. - Distinguished for outstanding entry on “How to Be A Woman” at StevePavlina.com.
- Highlighted in “20 Must Read Blogs for Married People” at Simple Marriage.
- Recommended as one of the Top 40 Self-Help Blogs at Online Psychology Degrees.
- Awarded a “Kreativ Blogger Award” at Joyful Days.
- Featured on Skype’s corporate blog. Go blog!
- Author of “The Woman’s Relationship Bible: How I Converted a Romantic Atheist“.
What people are saying…
- “Hayden writes in a down to earth style and with a gentle humor that is all about empowering women to take care of themselves, live a life that is going to bring them joy, and not settle for anyone less than “Mr. Man-Of-Your-Dreams”. Along the way she gives her own perspective on all aspects of relationships, including gems this one on the care and feeding of the man in your life…” - Carrie
- “I wanted to say thank you for the simplistic beauty and pointedness in this post. I “googled” “How to Get Over a Relationship”, and this is what I found…This post is the first to give me a sense of “realistic optimism and hope”. Many thanks.” - Lisa
- “Hayden of Through the Illusion ha(s) me linguistically giddy with joy, shooting out exclamation marks like happy arrows and shouting Yes!!”
- Janice
- “I have to say Hayden, this is one of your best and most inspired posts to date. And THAT is saying a lot. How you manage to convey thoughts and emotions so succinctly – it simply astounds me. Your maturity and insight continually inspire.” - Christy
- “Hayden believes in love. No matter what she has gone through in her past, no matter how much she has been kept down or told she didn’t deserve to have it, she has it in spite of that. And, she doesn’t just have it, she absolutely holds love so near and dear, and it is meaningful and deep for her. She believes in it enough that she knows that it doesn’t just come and stay; that it requires work and commitment and desire to continue, and she possesses all of those qualities.” - Vanessaleigh
- “Hayden, this is the first I’ve been exposed to your writing and I find it extremely thought provoking. As a man, I was obviously looking at this from my “cat” perspective. I think your insight is accurate. And in the spirit of being open, I’ve emailed it to my wife and requested that we have a discussion about the dogs and the cats. You’ve made a difference. Thanks.” - B. Wilde






7 comments
Comments feed for this article
May 20, 2009 at 3:53 pm
Happy dance! « Learning to Say Yes
[...] with the others included including, Dani of positively present, and Ivan McKeithen. And of course, Hayden [...]
October 1, 2009 at 3:13 pm
The Awesome Post of Awesome « Through The Illusion
[...] About [...]
October 2, 2009 at 12:46 pm
janice
Whatever you write, I’ve come to love the friend behind the words. Wishing you strength and lots of love and joy, wherever your life takes you next and whatever you do with your blog. ~Janice
Some day…
PS Don’t smack me, but a photo of you on this page would be lovely
October 4, 2009 at 9:50 pm
Simple Marriage - A Private Affair
[...] Corey is the author of “The Simple Marriage Matrix,” – click here to download a free copy, and “A Simple Marriage,” – click here for details. “Corey Allan’s book, A Simple Marriage, is wonderful in its simplicity and elegance. If you’re looking for a way to help you and your spouse self evaluate your marriage, where it’s going, and how to get it back on track, then this is it.” – Hayden Tompkins, throughtheillusion.com [...]
November 8, 2009 at 7:57 pm
thecatsman
I just subscribed to your RSS feed and will be looking forward to the reading to be done.My special ladyfriend also has access to my blog and I’m sure she will be reading as well..
January 3, 2010 at 5:30 am
Starting 2010 with a different kind of resolution | The Journey of Story
[...] you can imagine that I was interested, but not terminally excited when I first read a blog post by Hayden Tompkins about How To Rock 2010. (Let me stop here and say that Hayden’s blog Through the Illusion is [...]
January 8, 2010 at 10:09 pm
thedailydish
Wishing you every happiness today, tomorrow, and always, my friend.
xoxo
Christy
hayden tompkins says:
{HUG}