Hi there!
I’d like to welcome you to our new “home” in the world. I’m so glad you’re here!
I’ve been anticipating this and thinking about you for quite some time, wondering who you are, how to meet you where you are, and how to give you resources you will want to use.
I’ve thought about your life, your hurts and your joys.
– Do you have a place to be yourself, your real self?
– Do you invest in your fall-back friends and make them a priority in your life?
– Do they with you?
– Who do you call when you’re at your lowest low and your highest high?
– Are you content with the soundtrack that plays in your mind, or deep down, do you wish it was different?
– Do you want to have fun or be deep and reflective? (Don’t worry, we’re going to do both.)
– Will you believe us when we tell you there’s hope for something better or will you just stand back to wait and see? Or do you even care?
The entire HeartStories team cares deeply about you and creating something that will connect you to a truer, better story. We’ve been considering all your possible answers to the above questions and we can’t wait to finally find out the answers!
Join the Conversation
Will you join the conversation and share an answer to one of my above questions in the comments below?
I’d love to hear!
This is about you. It’s about me. It’s about our mothers, sisters, daughters, friends. It’s about all of us. And it’s time for a new story!
Let’s create one together,
Crystal
HeartStories’ Chief Love Amplifier
P. S. I’ll share a couple of answers first to get us started…
My closest friends and I don’t invest in each other the way we should. Most often, we let the busyness of our lives steal away the time that should be given to each other.
I am a fun seeker! But, I have learned the value of the reflective side of me and I’m trying to get more comfortable there.
P. P. S. Your turn! I’m looking forward to learning more about you in the comments.
17 Comments
Brandy Fossett
God has recently started me on a journey to change the sound track that is in my head. Trust me when I say it is NOT a healthy one. Being a single mom who works full time and is the sole support of the house, working on me is not something that I do a whole lot of…whether it is because of time or financial constraints. But I’m no longer willing to accept it any more. I still struggle, but God is bringing amazing people into my life that show me truly what love is and I am looking forward to seeing this movement develop!
Crystal Gornto
Brandy, thank you so much for sharing a little bit about your journey with us. I can’t even imagine what it’s like to be in your shoes. Finding time and resources to work on yourself must be incredibly difficult. I am SO happy you’ve decided that you’re not going to accept the old story! As humans we will always struggle to hear the true story, you’re not alone in that. It’s wonderful that God is proving His love to you through His people! I hope that what we are doing amplifies that for you.
Haley
I am super excited about this site! Such a great idea! I know so many women deal with these stressful life issues and this will be a great place for us to come.
Crystal Gornto
Thank you! I am so glad that this resonates with you. Please keep us in the loop as to whether or not it lives up to what you’re expecting!
Michelle Gage
I’m super excited about the new site and the blog! I think many women will find hope, encouragement and healing here. I look forward to many more blogs!!! I would say I am more reflective by nature , but I value and love to have fun!!! Can’t wait to hear more!
Crystal Gornto
Thank you for all that energy! We are so excited too. We’ll (all) be blogging more soon.
Michelle Meals
These are great questions! And really make a busy girl stop to think. I’ve spent most of life working hard to do the emotional work to turn off those lies and messages that run through my head. Born into a difficult family situation, I had to work hard for a self-esteem that didn’t rely on attention from boys/men, beauty, brains, achieving and performing. It’s been so refreshing for God to bring people (and a loving husband) into my life that long for authentic relationships and honesty. In college I really started to see the value in BECOMING that kind of authentic friend in order that those deeper relationships might help me fight the battle inside my head.
In my 30’s now – I can be so grateful for a handful of friends that accept me as I am. The kind of friends that I’m okay with being seen in my jammies with. 🙂 The kind of people that ask me how my marriage is doing and don’t just comment on my Facebook posts. The kind of relationships that challenge me to be forthright about where I REALLY am in life. It feels so much better than being a professional fake!
I still struggle and am so glad I’ve found a place like HeartStories. To remind me daily to turn off the tapes playing from back in the day. To encourage me and give me hope in the daily grind. I’m here. Ready to be ME. Thanks Crystal for inviting women into this heart of yours. I feel welcome already.
Crystal Gornto
I’m so glad you feel welcome! Sounds like you’ve done a lot of work around this exact issue. Good for you for facing it head on! I’m REALLY looking forward to hearing more about this story of yours. Soon? Thank you!
Amber McCue
Are you content with the soundtrack that plays in your mind, or deep down, do you wish it was different?
My soundtrack varies based on what is going on in life. Keeping it in check is a work in progress and sometimes takes a ton of self-coaching. So excited to see how HeartStories unfolds in the coming days-weeks-months.
I’m thrilled to be a part of this team and love the vision that is coming to life under your leadership!
Crystal Gornto
It’s true- sometimes the track changes daily. So happy you’re a part of the team too!
Amy Taylor
The older I get, the more aware I am about the track playing in my mind — and how many years I have wasted listening to it. It is only now, in my thirties, that I have been able to get honest about who I really am and what I struggle with. In doing so, it has brought so many amazing women into my life to share their own stories.
Within my intimate circle of friends, the challenge is always finding (making) the time to connect. We see each other’s lives whiz by on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, but the frantic pace leaves us with little more than surface level conversations in passing. I want to reconnect with them on a deeper level.
Crystal Gornto
I can relate to that for sure. What a good explanation- it does seem to just whiz by! We all need more of that deeper connection.
Ashley
I do wish the soundtrack sounded different! I can be my real self at home with my family, but I spend most of my time at work, competing, stretching, focusing on my weaknesses and doubting whether or not I have what it takes! Many days, even when I celebrate success at work, I feel inadequate because I didn’t also leave the house in perfect order. Wish I could focus on my strengths and enjoy all the blessings I do have and spend less time noticing the imperfections – my imperfections!
Crystal Gornto
I’m so impressed that you were so vulnerable. It is so easy to let our minds fill with the thoughts of inadequacy when we are trying to do all things perfectly. The pressure can be overwhelming for sure without a tangible way to approach it differently. Thank you for sharing.
Edie
I do feel like I can be the real me at home with my husband and my kids. I do have a safe place at home with my family. However, I feel like after I give all I need to be a wife and a mommy, there is little left for “me time”.
I also hope my dearest friends know I love them dearly, but as stated, the time and effort to spend quality time with dear friends seems to get lost in the shuffle of a busy day, week, month……..
Crystal Gornto
Thank you for sharing. I don’t think you’re alone in that at all! I hear you, big time.
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