“One day you will wake up and you will be so glad you did not settle. You will be so glad you did not give up. You will be so glad you did not sync yourself to someone else’s pace and you chose instead, to anchor yourself in a steady rhythm of grace.” ~ Morgan Harper Nichols
The images came in last night from Jenny Martell of JMar Portraits, our HeartStories GNO 3rd Birthday Party and I don’t think I’ve stopped smiling for one moment since. The album is brimming with photos of women laughing, smiling, hugging, connecting and enjoying life together. It portrays EXACTLY what I’ve spent 6+ years dreaming of, and 3 years building, through this girls night out. It’s happening.
Every single month, we get the privilege of reconnecting busy women to inspire the joy they crave and the courage to pursue their purpose.
At the end of the night after each event I get to hear the stories of women, often with eyes full of tears, telling me just how grateful they are that we provide this space for them each month. They tell me stories of hope, joy, courage and rest that have come from us simply opening the door and setting the table for them to take a break from their crazy busy lives and gather with their girlfriends each month. From first timers, to the ladies who’ve literally been coming to GNO since Day #1, the stories of gratitude always come.
It means more to me than they will ever know.
It means more because when I look at these images, I see the journey. I can’t help but remember the struggle because, in reality, it’s often still a struggle. I often still skid in, just before the bell, with hair on fire, and a trail of smoke in my path. It’s never been easy, and I can’t imagine that’s going to change any time soon. But I wake up the morning after GNO with no regrets. Just like Morgan said, I wake up glad I didn’t settle. Glad I didn’t give up.
Leaning daily on a steady rhythm of grace.
It means more because when I look at this image above of Team HeartStories (and hold in my heart all those who aren’t pictures), I see the faces of women who’ve been traveling this road with me since the beginning. I see women who’ve stuck it out with me, even when it was insanely hard and we had no idea how it might turn out. Women who’ve believed in me and this thing we’re building, even when I was close to throwing in the towel. I see women who’ve asked me hard questions and also possibly questioned my sanity. I see women who’ve shown me SO MUCH GRACE. I also see women I barely know. Women who’ve come alongside us because they see the vision.
The friendship and love of these women is the best and most surprising gift of this entire journey for me.
The joy of being on this path with these incredible, strong, bright, beautiful women, far outweighs any other reward there could possibly be. I’m so glad I didn’t settle or give up when things were hardest. I’m so grateful for the steady rhythm of grace.
Today, as you look at these images, be encouraged on the journey you are on.
Don’t settle. Don’t give up. Anchor yourself in a steady rhythm of grace. Here Megan’s words echoing in your heart:
“One day you will wake up and you will be so glad you did not settle.
You will be so glad you did not give up.
You will be so glad you did not sync yourself to someone else’s pace and you chose instead, to anchor yourself in a steady rhythm of grace.” ~ Morgan Harper Nichols
to more love,
Crystal
