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vulnerability

The Journey to Joy

While I was working at a summer camp in college, there was a rule that if the counselors wanted to “play on the lake” they could only go out to do that at the crack of dawn before the campers woke up.  So we’d often meet at the dock in our swimsuits and quietly back the boat out of the slip.  We’d slowly make our way out of the camp cove and into the middle of the lake.  Then we’d ski, tube, and generally laugh and cut up. 

It was the best way to get in the mood to start a full day of work with kiddos.  

I’ll never forget one specific day, I went out with a group of female counselors.  After we’d been skiing, we decided to pull off into a cove to hook up the tube.  While we were there someone (it was probably me, but I honestly …

by Crystal Gornto Inspiration Love In Action Loving Yourself Our Story Priorities Roadblocks in Life The Journey Through Life Leave a comment chat
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You’re not the only one

Have you ever met someone and known instantly that they’re “your people”?

My friend and renowned friendship expert, Shasta Nelson would tell you that friendship is not born that way.  It’s planted, nurtured, and practiced.  And she’s absolutely right!

AND with this work I do, I’ve found that I can learn pretty quickly who my people are.

We don’t always become BFF’s, because we don’t always get a chance to “workout” in the gym of everyday life that brings us the opportunity for what Shasta explains as Frientimacy, in her Ted Talk: “Frientimacy: The 3 requirements of healthy friendships”. But through planning the HeartStories Girls Night Outs, I get the incredible privilege of experiencing that kind of “born” connection every month. As I plan the content and search out the women who will share their stories for the night, I’m looking for people who purposefully exhibit the characteristics of Shasta’s three requirements:

Positivity, Consistency, …

by Crystal Gornto Community Girl's Night Out Inspirational Women Love In Action Love in Friendship Our Story The Journey Through Life Leave a comment chat
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Just me, just you

This is Shakari, she was a fangirl for a minute.  We met last week while I conducting our first “official” site visit at the new Cut! by Cinemark movie theater, where we’re hosting the Chick Flick GNO.  We were there measuring all the spaces, talking to all the people, and of course, taking all the pictures.  As soon as we finished a quick video, we noticed Shakari taking our picture like she thought I was someone famous.  Instantly seeing what was going on, Vanessa offered to take a photo of us together.

I ran back behind the bar, hugged her, and we had a good laugh before Vanessa snapped this photo. 

Shakari is awesome, and I hope she ends up working our event with us.  She instigated a good moment for me because we’ve been having a lot of internal conversations of late, about me stepping out to be more “the face” …

by Crystal Gornto Girl's Night Out Inspirational Women Love In Action Loving Others Loving Yourself Roadblocks in Life The Journey Through Life 2 comments chat
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Wise women gathering

Yesterday, the women of our family (including Becca on Facetime!) celebrated my niece Ashlyn, the bride-to-soon-be, with a fancy, Texas bridal shower.  We gathered to share a meal, laughter, and stories with this beautiful young woman, who will be committing her life to The ONE next Friday.   As part of our time together, we went around the table, taking turns sharing our hard-won wisdom, encouragement, or advice about marriage.

It was so special to hear the unique messages each woman at the table shared. 

There were thoughts about sharing hobbies together, learning to manage finances together, carving out date nights after kids, being quick to forgive, and holding boundaries.  Even the youngest, had beautiful words to share.  It got real pretty fast and was maybe a little more “honest” than any of us expected.  While there was laughter, there were also tears, both tears of joy and of understanding as we …

by Crystal Gornto Community Girl's Night Out Inspirational Women Love in Friendship Loving Yourself Motherhood The Journey Through Life Leave a comment chat
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You with us?

It’s been a few days (maybe a whole week!) since we met here on the blog.  I’m citing the image above from Vanessa Corral, of all the lovely ladies from our Confident Spring Style Fashion show, as the evidence of my “hall pass”.  (kidding, not kidding) Pulling off a fashion show at that level, as one of our regularly scheduled events was, in every way, more than we could actually handle.  It was a wild, hair-brained idea on my part.  Just picture me as Thanos, saying “I am inevitable!” and snapping his fingers. . . if you saw Endgame, you know what happened next.  (If not, you’re not missing much. #boys)  

Of course, I do not think for one second that I am inevitable. 

But this time, I had this wonderful vision, that would typically take a team three to four times the size of ours, eight months to a year …

by Crystal Gornto Community Fashion Friday Girl's Night Out Inspirational Leaders Inspirational Women Love In Action Love in Friendship Our Story The Journey Through Life Leave a comment chat
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Sunshine for your soul

I did something very unusual yesterday.  I dropped the boys off for school and hit the road for Murphy, Texas to visit my friend Alison, the founder of Get Your Pretty On.  Let me first just say that Murphy is WAY further from Frisco than I’d always envisioned in my mind.  But wow, was that drive was glorious.  Big open green fields lined the road.  Creeks overflowing with water and yellow flowers painted the landscape.  Horses grazed in the pastures.  Suddenly, the hustle and bustle that I typically create for myself right after school drop off was exchanged for a beautiful backroad drive.  I knew I didn’t “have the time” for this, but my heart knew it was exactly what I needed.

And it wasn’t just the drive. 

It was also the friend waiting on the other side.  The plan was that Alison and I would meet to broadcast a quick video introduction …

by Crystal Gornto Community Fashion Friday Female Social Entrepreneurs Girl's Night Out Inspirational Women Love in Friendship Loving Others Loving Yourself Purpose The Journey Through Life Leave a comment chat
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