Aces of Trades: McCandlish helps pierced souls find their worth
NEWARK ― She’s a personal trainer, and now author, who wrote about turning life’s pain into a positive.
“As a child, I loved reading,” recalled Tami McCandlish. “My parents read to me often and told me stories, which sparked my imagination and creativity. And I’d envision myself as the author of the books I read. Storytelling was always in me.”
Accordingly, McCandlish recently released her memoir, "Let the Bees Buzz: Finding Redemption in the Aftermath of School Bullying." It’s published by Window Well Books.
A description of her book submitted for this story by McCandlish includes: “Raised in a blue-collar community at the edge of Appalachia, Tami not only fit in, she stood out as an athlete, honor-roll student, and club leader, which made her a friend of many and an enemy of a group of girls who had targeted her happiness, success, and temper since fifth grade. She dealt with their name-calling, gossip, and rumors until her senior year, when they created a swarm of noise she could no longer ignore, and she stood up to them – with devastating results.”
McCandlish grew up in Fairfield County, graduated from high school in 2000 and college in 2004.
“When I started writing about my story in college,” she said, “it was mostly therapeutic. It helped me slow my thoughts and truly think about what I was thinking about and grow from my experience. I received encouragement from family, friends, a professor, and my English classmates to write my memoir, and I knew someday I would.”
Meanwhile, McCandlish is also a fitness coach working alongside her husband, Charlie Smith, at their studio, Elite Performance Newark.
Courtney Brooks is a former fitness coach at EP Newark.
“Tami has been nothing short of a positive light in many people’s lives,” assessed Brooks, “not only as a gym owner helping others achieve their goals, but through her impactful writing. In her recent book, Tami shares her story regarding the raw effects of bullying. But most importantly, how to confront those feelings and find peace through faith. This book healed a part of me that I didn’t know needed healing. Tami is a role model to many through her infectious positivity, endless support and unwavering faith. All who know her are incredibly grateful.”
“I believe my story,” McCandlish responded, “is relatable to so many people who have been impacted by relational and social bullying, name-calling, rumors, gossip, betrayal, and loss of friendship and community. It flows from the deepest part of me, from the place I first discovered my true worth. Because of this purpose inside of me, I must share my story with others because I care so much that they also find their value – not in the opinions of other people or in anything this world has to offer but in God alone.”
“My story,” she summed, “helps those who have permanently pierced souls discover worth, healing, and freedom in Jesus, and shows we can not only survive the damage, but we can also thrive in its aftermath.”
ELITE PERFORMANCE NEWARK
Elite Performance Newark is located at 1567 West Main St. in Newark. For more information, call 740-507-7204 or log on to www.epnewark.com.
Aces of Trades is a weekly series focusing on people and their jobs – whether they’re unusual jobs, fun jobs or people who take ordinary jobs and make them extraordinary. If you have a suggestion for a future profile, let us know at advocate@newarkadvocate.com or 740-328-8821.
This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Aces of Trades: McCandlish helps pierced souls find their worth
