fbpx

An Autographed CD and Hope

Here’s my daughter, holding an autographed copy of Taylor Swift’s latest CD.

And here’s the miraculous story about how she got it:

It’s no secret that Campbell is a Swiftie. I’ve written about it at length. But a few months ago I recounted a day when Campbell told me Taylor Swift’s music saved her. More specifically, “If I close my eyes and listen to this song, all my sadness goes away.”

This is the restorative power of music. It changes people.

And it also connects them.

A friend on this page—a stranger, someone we’ve never met—read that story and resonated so deeply with Campbell she decided to send her this signed CD. She said she had bought two, not knowing who the second one was intended for, until she read that post on that particular day—a day when she needed it the most—and it all became clear.

Taylor Swift likes to sing about an “Invisible String,” …

by Stephanie Hanrahan HeartBeats Inspiration Inspirational Women Inspirational Words Love Love In Action Love in Friendship Loving Others Purpose The Journey Through Life Leave a comment chat
read more

The Right Friends Can Be Found

Let me tell you about my uterus.

(Or at least my stuffed one.)

When we moved into our new home, I prayed a specific prayer for good neighbors. We lived in a nice community before, but mostly everyone kept to themselves. It’s always been my hope I could grab a cup of sugar or watch my kids grow with good people.

A few weeks in, I posted a picture at the neighborhood park when a follower on my blog page said (in the least creepy way possible) she could see me from her porch. What resulted was coffee and finding out we had too many similarities to count.

Adult friendships are tricky because so much has to align. The kids, the values, the time you have to invest. And then there’s the fact that a lot of women fall victim to competition over community. Throw in some gossip and CLOSED-knit groups vs. CLOSE-knit groups …

by Stephanie Hanrahan Community Girl's Night Out Guest Blogs HeartBeats Inspiration Inspirational Women Inspirational Words Love Love In Action Love in Friendship The Journey Through Life Leave a comment chat
read more

I’m Doing My Best

They put this baby in my arms and I knew exactly what to do.

Parenting a newborn was perfect for me. Not only was I professionally trained for it as a former Labor & Delivery nurse, I was instinctually good.

As my kids have grown, I’ve lost some of that confidence.

It was easy for me to swaddle and sleep train. It’s not so easy to navigate around a bunch of unknown. And that’s exactly what these little humans are: a big ball of uncertainty. One minute they like a food, the next it’s on your wall. Some days they’re happy, seconds later they’re screaming. Add in some autism and a pandemic, and it’s a whole mess of unpredictability.

I often feel like I’m coming up short with my kids. I yell. I zone out and stare at my phone. I don’t pretend play. There are times I wonder if they would be better …

by Stephanie Hanrahan Guest Blogs Inspiration Inspirational Women Love Love in Family Loving Yourself Motherhood Leave a comment chat
read more

Love Looks Different for Everyone

This week social media will be overflowing with hearts and flowers and all sorts of mushy feelings. Bless us, we love a good commercialized holiday.

But my heart is with the ones who are single, searching, and unsettled. My loyalty lies with the wife who sent her spouse to work today without a kiss because there’s so much distance between them right now it’s insufferable. I stand with the ones who know “soul mates” and “best friends” are fluffy and fun, but the most attractive thing alive is someone who rolls up their sleeves and commits to the hard work of marriage.

Love is not always bright and shiny and full of clichés, but we seek it out anyway because even though painful, it’s equally powerful. Love can change us (especially if we are generous enough to give it to ourselves).

So take some time today for your significant other—and for you. Kiss …

by Stephanie Hanrahan Guest Blogs HeartBeats Inspiration Inspirational Words Love Love in Family Love in Friendship Loving Others Loving Yourself Motherhood Leave a comment chat
read more

Love Looks Like a Two Door Coupe

It’s been ten years this month since that scared, uncertain girl in that photo packed whatever could fit into her tiny two-door coupe and moved to Texas.

At the time I thought I was leaving a broken relationship with a boy, but unknowingly I was moving toward a better one with myself.

For the first time since I was sixteen, I was single. I secured a random MALE roommate off Craigslist (we’re leaving that part out when I tell this story to my daughter). But instead of being the Craigslist Killer, he turned into my best friend. The breath of fresh air I needed to begin again.

I spent the next year drinking Bloody Mary’s on my brownstone porch, free and alive. I met the most magical group of friends, the kind who don’t care about anything except your core. And I also made one crucial choice:

I did the work on myself—and reaped …

by Stephanie Hanrahan Inspiration Inspirational Leaders Inspirational Words Love Love In Action Loving Yourself Purpose The Journey Through Life Leave a comment chat
read more

Working Out Our Strengths

I am a creature of habit.

I’m the girl who looks at the menu online before arriving at a restaurant.

I like sticky notes and strict schedules.

I find comfort in knowing what’s coming next.

You can imagine this kind of personality doesn’t do well with a lot of unknown.

And yet here I am, post-workout on my bedroom floor. Feeling sweaty and tired and strangely at peace.

These last few months have taken a tremendous amount of mental strength, and the upcoming ones might as well. This means we, solely us, are responsible for our own survival. And I’m not just referring to our health. The unknown has the power to destroy us psychologically before it ever touches us physically.

So here’s how I’m coping:

Every day I get up and make my bed. I do an online workout. I feed my body fuel (except for Sundays. That is the day of rest and Andy’s ice cream). …

by Stephanie Hanrahan Love In Action Leave a comment chat
read more