Purpose

Keep the fire burning

We had our first little “bonfire” over the weekend. Though I’ve built plenty of fires in my lifetime, it’s been a while since I’ve built one outside for roasting marshmallows and warming a crowd over a long period of time. We needed to keep the fire going over a four-hour stretch and laughably, my plan was to buy the pre-cut logs at Walmart and call it a day.

I thought I had plenty of wood until about two hours in.

The sun was down and it was becoming increasingly chilly when I threw the last few logs on the fire. There were two hours left in the party, the temperature was quickly dropping, and there was no more wood. We had nearly 60 seventh graders running all-around and the fire was supposed to be the gathering place. These kids had s’mores to roast!

We needed to keep that fire burning.

I started to feel …

In interviews and everyday life, people often ask if I’ve “found my purpose” in my work with HeartStories.

I don’t know where this lands in the Ennegram or other tests, but I’m a person who needs a reason, a purpose, behind why I’m investing my time into everything I do. I would say I’m very competitive, but it’s more of an internal drive of passion than an external measure of competition. I need to do the thing I set out to do, whether anyone else, applauds it, sees it, or even cares.

In fact, the founding tenants of HeartStories have always been “connecting women to inspire joy and the courage to pursue your purpose”.

Even in that, there is an implication that purpose is a singular thing, you inherently understand. Or it’s something you’ve worked hard to discover. As I’ve grown as a person, I realize now, more than ever that purpose …

by Crystal Gornto Girl's Night Out Inspirational Women Inspirational Words Love In Action Loving Yourself Our Story Purpose The Journey Through Life Leave a comment chat

In each season of life, I find myself fighting the story in my brain that says, “But no, really. This next season is going to be calmer. More peaceful. There will be more free time and rest.” I fight it because I’ve now lived long enough to know better, life is not magically going to slow down on its own. It only takes one glance at the folks in the season of life ahead of me to realize, that next season might even be busier. I also fight it, because I want to flip that script from “there will be” to:

“I am making choices that lead to . . . more calm, more peace, more free time, and more rest.”

With these boys of mine quickly becoming teenagers – I do realize that there is a moment coming, not too far away, when my time spent mothering will significantly decrease. That’s …

by Crystal Gornto Inspirational Women Love In Action Love in Family Loving Others Loving Yourself Priorities Purpose The Journey Through Life Leave a comment chat

If you’ve ever read any of my writing or heard me speak about taking the Fascination Advantage personality quiz by Sally Hogshead, you know that learning about her work set me free from any shame about showing up, as the “real” Crystal in my work with HeartStories. It allowed me to stop trying to pretend to be “buttoned up, business Crystal” but instead to boldly let all my quirks show, and eventually shine. (as hilariously pictured above) The premise for Sally’s work is that:

“Different is better than better.”

This was transformative for me. Growing up, I always knew I was “different”. I knew I was a non-conformer. I was wearing a sombrero, making ridiculous announcements about taking a world-wide siesta, with my best friend and a bull horn when other girls were perfecting their curls, wearing the latest trends and trying to fit in. But it goes beyond the current trend …

by Crystal Gornto Girl's Night Out Inspirational Leaders Inspirational Women Inspirational Words Loving Yourself Our Story Purpose The Journey Through Life Leave a comment chat

I ran into Market Street to simply grab a few items for charcuterie spread I was throwing together. It was supposed to be an in-and-out, quick run. But the golden amber vases, burnt orange florals, and them smell of simmering apples drew me over to the floral department like a moth to straight to a flame. I took a quick gander, promising myself to simply “get a few ideas” to come back for later.

You can guess how that turned out.

A gold and glass amber vase full of fall floral later, I was about the head over to the imported cheese section when this display caught my eye. Since the moment we decided to host our next Girls Night Out in celebration of Día de Los Muertos (The Day of The Dead) I see sugar skull art everywhere I go. I don’t know if I merely never noticed it before, or if it’s suddenly …

by Crystal Gornto Girl's Night Out Inspirational Women Love In Action Loving Others Purpose The Journey Through Life Leave a comment chat

I can’t even begin to describe how much I’ve learned since starting HeartStories in 2012 (officially 2013). I was in it for what I could do to help others, but sitting here, looking back, it’s been almost seven years of the most intense season of growth of my life. And I don’t foresee that changing anytime soon. I live in a constant state of walking in the unknown.

Nothing is sure to work.

Every risky choice I make is made from layers of experience, seeking wise counsel, praying earnestly, and then simply deciding it’s worth it to jump. Merely choosing to do the next right thing. Sometimes that process turns out beautifully, even better than I could have hoped. But it also often leads to painful lessons, challenges, and struggles I didn’t see coming. IT’s the essence of the John Ortberg quote that you’ve surely heard me say a million times. I still …

by Crystal Gornto Girl's Night Out Inspirational Women Love In Action Our Story Purpose Roadblocks in Life The Journey Through Life Leave a comment chat

Keep the fire burning

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Is purpose something you simply “find”?

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More than this “busy” life we’re living

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The most fascinating you

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It’s worth celebrating

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Keep believing

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