Why Ternura? Because YOU matter! Some background...

YOU are a big deal! You matter! 

Who doesnt want to hear that? 

Unfortunately, the mixed messages we sometimes see and hear in the culture can too often say anything but that to us or others.

Most if not all may agree we need more kindness, understanding and compassion in this all too often hurting world.

Tenderness goes beyond service and perhaps even beyond courteous kindness or civility that mutual respect calls for. It is that sweet spot where kindness, understanding and compassion fuse in such a way that out of what we do shines forth a powerful message: "YOU are a big deal! YOU matter!" "I am truly doing this FOR YOU because you are worth doing this for. Not because I want to think or want others to think I am a good person, or because duty says I'm supposed to, but because of you."

The powerfully uplifting and affirming, sometimes even healing and freeing message in each act of tenderness that says "You are a big deal ... "YOU MATTER"!" also ennobles the person giving and extending that tenderness in each blessed exchange while doubling as a reminder to the giver that they too matter, they too are a big deal, to the point they have a mission and a purpose to make a positive difference in this world, proven by what the very experience of having been a bearer of hope to someone through their tender kindness as a marvels never ending circle becomes greater, wider. It's all connected. And that is wonderful!

Imagine a world where more often than not each of us and the people who are important to us were to consistently be treated with not just basic respect and common courtesy we all deserve, but with great tenderness!  

The Spanish word for Tenderness is TERNURA. ("Tehr - noor- ah")

Spanish was the first language of she who this labor of love was inspired by, my mom Carmen Luisa Diaz de Vargas.

The Tenderness Project, more than a project, is a movement. A movement seeking to unite people of good will desiring to be part of the positive difference together by creating spaces and conversations to bring forth the kindness and tenderness in us so as to enrich our exchanges while we together build a true "culture of tenderness and caring" And because that sense of being cared for and being reminded that we truly matter can be healing and freeing, we can also say that by extension we would be building a culture of healing and authentic freedom.

We do this by becoming home to a whole web of diverse services and collaborative resources meant to help bring more tenderness and hope into our world through words and songs... and a little more.

These resources and services include music, talks, art, inspiring digital content creation for social media, gatherings and events in community, all enfolded in prayer and tender loving care through self-giving service. 

One of our first events that led to the creation of The Ternura Project is Fourth4Souls, a community of hope that prays on the 4th days of each month for the joy of the souls of our departed loved ones, each other's blessings, and for all departed souls and grieving families out there in a spirit of gratitude and hope in mutual support. The are ways for anyone wanting to join in the prayers to do so regardless of whether they can make the monthly meeting as well as systems in place to keep connected and praying for each other in between. Click here or view the icon in the special events section for more details.

BUILDING A DREAM: CASA TERNURA

We hope to organize all our Ternura Project resources in a permanent space or 'headquarters' to be called "Casa Ternura" at what was the home to a special woman of great faith and heroic tenderness who dedicated her home to prayer and is the inspiration behind the Ternura Project, Carmen Luisa Vargas.

While the project was inspired by her and my experiences walking with her through her suffering, CASA TERNURA is inspired by one additional person of great tenderness who my mom loved and so do I, to whom she looked to for inspiration and example as to how to live out great loved expressed in great tenderness throughout her life. That other woman of tenderness is Mary, Mother of Jesus and our Blessed heavenly Mother. Mami's home was dedicated to her and to Jesus as a home of prayer and hope evidenced in how she faithfully remembered and prayed daily for everyone she loved in earth and in heaven as well as poured out so much love for us there in a constant and sometimes sacrificial giving of herself that only wanted one thing in return: Our love, our presence, our tenderness.

This is the portion of the project in most need of support right now, just for the startup costs associated with buying the home and setting it up. We should be good after that as the monthly costs to remain there are already budgeted and the costs to run the project are minimal

THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO SUPPORT!

1. Your prayers.

2. Book an event, talk or music presentation, earning the funding through our work while spreading tenderness is our first preference.

3. Create and spread waves of gratitude. Learn about Wave of Gratitude and invite us to explore the power of gratitude as well as lead the Appreciation Exchange exercise with your church or corporate groups and teams

4. Be a Patron Scout. Connect us if you know ministries who'd be blessed by making the interest on at least partial start up private loans, ministry partners that may be blessed by sharing workspace for their complementary ministry work via co-ownership, and other creative ways to generate the start up funds.

5. Follow us on social media. Actively engage with our content by commenting, liking and sharing posts. Invite friends to follow us. Look for either @theternuraproject or @ternuraproject or click on the following links to go directly to each page: Facebook, TikTok, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube Playlist.

6. Build the dream while adding sparkle to your life supporting the "Sparkle for Dreams" Touchstone Crystal by Swarovski fundraiser https://sites.touchstonecrystal.com/sites/bebrilliance/e/I0ZQIJQ4

7. Ask about current affinity links in the areas of natural wellness (including essential oils) and clean beauty. The links will be posted in the future, contact us for details in the meantime.

8. You can also give via Venmo @wordsandsongs or https://www.givesendgo.com/ternura