Purpose

The season of Thanksgiving is a wonderful opportunity to pause from everyday life, reflect, and list the plentiful things for which we are thankful. Many of us can easily fill a piece of paper with items that deserve our gratitude: family, friends, faith, jobs, health, homes, kindness shown every day. I’m capable of getting on a thankful roll, adding a comfortable couch, a clean house, a new hair color, or a great pair of new boots. (In fact, we made an entire podcast episode about funny things women are thankful for… click here to give it a listen.) The reality is that we have much to be grateful for. But living life means going through the tough stuff too. There are seasons when […]

I’m no stranger to the temptation to give up, throw in the towel, and walk away when life is too hard to handle. After I was diagnosed with a birth defect that required me to move out of college for the second time and undergo major surgery, I was tired. I wanted to quit pursuing my dream of becoming a writer. I was tired of moving in and out of college, making new friends, dealing with the aftermath of losing my Nana, and the broken relationships that resulted from my grief. It is hard to persevere when you are worn, tired, and just want everything to calm down in your life. As I spent the summer of 2013 recovering from surgery, I

I was a professional figure skater, performing in ice shows on cruise ships around the world for six years. When I would tell people what I did for a living, their response was always the same, “Wow, you’re living the dream!” When looking at my life, yes, it did seem as though I was “living the dream.” My job was to entertain, and I was basically getting paid to explore spectacular cities and places around the world, with no bills to pay or real stress of any kind. And to be honest, for the first few years I agreed with them—it was an amazing life I was living. But, the longer I was there, the more I realized I was just going

As we drove away down a windy road in a musty, hot van, I watched out the back window as young children began running after us over a dirt road covered in glass, garbage, and rocks. They seemed numb to the pain as they ran barefoot over rough conditions, still so full of joy and laughter. Even though we were beginning our long journey back to the United States, it was as if this moment in time was in slow motion, allowing our hearts to feel and experience things like never before. The things that we experienced; the sights, smells, and sounds of children and adults fighting for their lives will forever be ingrained in our minds. I remember coming home and

What defines a strong woman? Can I become strong? How do I find my purpose? Do I have to know my purpose? These questions can become increasingly difficult to answer as the water becomes muddier in today’s society. As a place for strong women and those who want to be, we know you have everything it takes to face each day with strength, grit, and grace. And as for your purpose… well, that’s personal, deep, and ever-changing. Just know that you are not defined by one box, one title, or one role in your life. You are defined by your heart and character. Living each day of this #gritandgracelife means facing them head-on and being confident in who you are. These articles

Back when I was newly widowed, I emailed a farewell letter to the community I served in my position at the cancer center. A friend wrote back, pleased that I was able to take an early retirement: “Define your purpose; live your reason.” These words were his mantra as his young daughter was dying of cancer. I had a clear idea of my purpose for the next season of life: I wanted to write. I wanted to speak hope and courage to other people through my writing. And so I listened to podcasts, signed up for an online course, redesigned my website, and drafted a list of goals and action steps. In his study on strategies for achieving goals, Dominican University’s psychology professor,