Tenille Byers shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Hi Tenille, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What are you most proud of building — that nobody sees?
A relationship with my sister in law and her family. My sister in law was diagnosed with a brain tumor a little over 2 years ago. She was supposed to have it removed and be sent home a few days later, instead she ended up in a coma for over a month. When she finally did wake up, Thank God! She had lost her short term memory and all feeling on her right side. She had to relearn how to do everything. She has 5 kids, at the time they were 3, 5, 7, 8, and 12 years old. It has been a long road to recovery, two years later she can walk and do most things, but life will never go back to how it was. Is that a bad thing? I don’t think so. Before the surgery she was always stressed about her kids and the many little things in life that can bring a person down. These days she literally can not remember what is causing her stress and she seems much happier if not a little lost. She has gained a more optimistic outlook on life. I have gained as well. To start, I gained her dog. Since she no longer could care for it she became ours and the kids and I love her so much. I also gained a workout partner. She needs a ride to the gym and someone to do the workout in front of her in order to remember the moves. This has given me the motivation I need to get my own butt in the gym as well. Honestly we have a great time too just laughing and working hard! She has started doing the shopping for her family again, since we do our grocery shopping together every Tuesday. This has taken a burden off her husband and makes her feel useful. The best part is the relationship I have with her and her wonderful children that I didn’t have before. She lives less than 10 minutes away, however before her surgery we only saw each other once every few months. Now we see each other several times a week and she has become my best friend. Her kids are so sweet and I genuinely enjoy spending time with them. I do these things because she needs them, but honestly I have gained so much more from it.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My company name is Classy and Sassy DJ. As a DJ who also sings jazz, I can really be both of those things. We can have a buttoned up black tie affair with me singing jazz during cocktail hour, and later on I can teach you how to do the wobble. I love to interact with your guests and really get to know them. For me that is the key to creating magic at your wedding or event.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
The world I grew up in as a child was full of rules and expectations. I was born in a very religious Southern Baptist family who would not exspose the children to “secular” music. I believed that there were certain ways to behave and if you didn’t either God or other people would punish you. As an adult I have been able to break free from that way of thinking and liberate myself through music. I had a lot of catching up to do! Who knew there was so much good music out there that I missed? My life is so much more joyful now than I ever imagined it could be.
When you were sad or scared as a child, what helped?
I was a very lonely and awkward child. I don’t remember having any friends at school until 4th grade. I do remember sitting on my porch swing and singing songs to my cats for hours. This was my favorite thing to do and I feel it did lead me to a singing career later in life as singing was the one thing that always centered me.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What do you believe is true but cannot prove?
That we are all connected as a part of God. In fact God is expanding more through our collective experiences here in this earth life. No one is any better or worse than anyone else. When we all put our collective energies together for a common purpose that is when magic happens. That is why people love church so much, because people are gathering together for the same goal. I have seen magic at church, but I have also seen it at weddings, funerals, and most often kids events. Really anytime many people are gathered together with pure intent these unexplainable coincidences happen and to me that is a sign that we are doing what we are meant to do which is spread joy.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. Have you ever gotten what you wanted, and found it did not satisfy you?
I was taught that you should get a job doing something practical in order to make money. I remembered those days on my porch swing singing to my cats and thought, that’s it! I’ll work with animals! I did get my degree in it, but it was hard. I actually flunked the first time and had to restart my degree. I finally did get my 2 year degree in Veterinary Technology, but it took me 5 years. I worked in the field for another 5 years before I finally realized, just because I loved animals, didn’t mean that was my calling. I finally overcame my fear of possibly failing and decided at 30 years old to go all in and focus my energies in entertainment wherever that might lead me. I am so happy I did. I can’t believe I used to dread getting up every morning and now the difference! I am never happier than when I am working. It is truly unbelievable.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://classyandsassydj.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/classyandsassydj/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/classyandsassydj/?ref=_xav_ig_profile_page_web#
- Other: Google Reviews:
https://share.google/pZxlIJxRNoTrWOzY4
Image Credits
Densley Visuals
Shoot with Bliss Photography
Mollie Tobias Photograpghy
