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inspiration

What Makes a Good Mother

What makes a good mother?

If you would’ve asked me this question before I gave birth, I would’ve said, “Someone who cares for her kids and their needs; someone who protects her children from pain. A good mother is always there. She’s your best friend, making things easier, better.”

Basically Mary Poppins, not a parent.

A few years into this mothering gig my idea of ‘good’ has shifted. I no longer think a good mother is a pain protector, but someone who prepares her children for the inevitable. She’s not always there, because she’s modeling what a full and complete life looks like for a woman.

A good mother makes mistakes in front of her child’s face and then apologizes in plain sight.

A good mother is honest. She doesn’t lie to her kids or let them win at games. There are lessons to be found in difficulty and defeat.

A good mother doesn’t …

by Stephanie Hanrahan Guest Blogs Inspiration Inspirational Women Inspirational Words Love Love in Family Loving Others Loving Yourself Motherhood Leave a comment chat
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If One Woman Wins, We All Do

When I graduated from nursing school, my best friends showed up with their support and this sign.

I remember there was no better feeling than seeing a group of women I loved standing up for me.

Girls in their twenties get a bad rap. Dare I say this was the time in my life I felt the most supported by my same gender.

Because somewhere along the line women are introduced to the wrong side of competition called scarcity. Meaning that if one of us succeeds, another doesn’t. I see this a lot in the writing world. If one author gets a hit, the others start scrambling, analyzing their numbers, and pushing out inauthentic content to keep up.

But honestly, it’s everywhere. We compare bodies, businesses, even our own mothering.

This idea of scarcity is sad, and also completely unfounded. We are not on survivor island. There’s not a limited amount of words and awards …

by Stephanie Hanrahan Girl's Night Out Guest Blogs Inspiration Inspirational Leaders Inspirational Women Inspirational Words Love Love In Action Love in Friendship Loving Others Leave a comment chat
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For the Love of Food

I don’t remember when my issues with food began, but I do know it’s always been my drug of choice. I’ve always found great pleasure in what I feed my body—and often great disgust with how I feel afterward.

When I was young, there was no judgment attached. Pizza parties and double scoops.

Those were the days of eating for pleasure.

In college, I had a love for fast food and convenience. But somewhere along the line, shame snuck in. Those weren’t healthy choices; they were choices I should hide.

Those were the days of self-conscious eating.

Eventually, I turned my attention toward my body. When I moved to Texas, the women all looked like movie stars. I remember feeling like I could never compete. I didn’t have money for the best makeup or a makeover, so I joined a gym instead.

Those were the days of compulsive exercise.

During that time, I met my husband, and …

by Stephanie Hanrahan Girl's Night Out Guest Blogs Inspiration Inspirational Women Inspirational Words Love Love In Action Love in Family Loving Yourself Motherhood The Journey Through Life Leave a comment chat
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When You’re Not Ready to Remove the Swim Skirt

 

Last week when we were at the pool, my five-year-old daughter asked me when I was going to take off my dress and put on my swimsuit.

I didn’t have it in me to tell her I was already in my swimsuit; a skirt to cover my hips and thighs, fat and flab. So I just got in the water in my “dress,” thankful she’s innocent enough to not know my bathing suit of choice is a direct result of the body shame I suffer from.

There’s a bunch of body positive posts floating around the Internet this summer. How we should strip down and swim with our kids. No more sitting on the sidelines. Let it all hang out, literally.

But this isn’t one of those posts.

I’d love to tell you I ripped off my skirt, did a swan dive, and washed away my body image disorder for good—but that’s …

by Stephanie Hanrahan Girl's Night Out Inspiration Inspirational Women Inspirational Words Love Love In Action Love in Family Loving Yourself Motherhood The Journey Through Life Leave a comment chat
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New voices and perspectives; they do a body good

Did you enjoy the latest blog post from our new contributing HeartStories blogger, Stephanie Hanrahan about how to talk to your daughter about her body?  I so appreciate the wisdom she shared regarding positive body image, as well as practical tips on how to address this topic with our children, especially our daughters.  It was obviously born from a journey of work, learning, and dedication to self-love.

Stephanie has been a HeartStories Sister for nearly a year now.  The image above is the actual first moment we met.  She attended our Vines Around The World wine-tasting girls night out last August at Knotting Hill Place.  It was a spectacular night, for so many reasons, but this moment is one of the very best.  Stephanie waited patiently to introduce herself and share what that evening and concept of the HeartStories GNO meant to her.  She shared how much she valued authentic connections …

by Crystal Gornto Community Girl's Night Out Inspiration Inspirational Women Our Story Leave a comment chat
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What do you do with the fear that you feel?

We snuck away to play in the snow last week before I began to truly understand the impact of Coronavirus in the US.  The image above is actually a screenshot of a hilarious video Oakley made of me.  I looked back to say “I’m a little nervous!” before I flew off down the hill, screaming all the way.

The COVID-19 pandemic started out as no big deal in my mind. 

In my naivete, it felt like it was happening so far away, it wouldn’t get to us, so safely tucked away here in the United States.  And even if it did, we would be so prepared, we’d all be fine.  I made choices aligned with that uninformed way of thinking for quite a while.

When we know better, we do better.  

But let’s be clear, knowing better and being better informed, will certainly not take away the fear that we’re feeling.  The rapid-fire …

by Crystal Gornto Community Inspiration Inspirational Words Our Story Priorities Roadblocks in Life The Journey Through Life Leave a comment chat
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