How To Attack Paper Clutter — Just Do It!

I was like a mad woman with paper clearing last week. I decided that once and for all, the paper in my home – the majority of it — just had to GO! Unlike what I had been doing — attacking a bin at a time – I decided to just DUMP it all out on the floor of my home office, and go for it. Yes, that did mean stepping over scattered piles for a few days and feeling energy being pulled down just by the mere disgusting sight of it, but taking that approach was my fast track to getting through ALL of it more quickly. So with each new day, I awoke to my temporary “job” with renewed energy to tackle the daunting task.

The rainy, windy days of Hurricane Fay made it the perfect opportunity to stay close to home being drowned by paper. On a few days, I opened the sliding door and windows for some fresh, breezy inspiration from nature. I thought of Jinjee Talifero’s article in the August issue of Pear Magazine about the upcoming raw-vegan village in Ojai, California, and how the houses in that village will be built really low to the ground to give the effect of living in nature. With windows open in my one-story home, I got a similar feeling duirng my paper project because of all of the greenery that surrounds my residence. But when I couldn’t trick my body anymore, I just had to step outside when the rain took a break. There, I retreated to the screened-in porch area, spread a sheet over a lounge chair and rested as though I was basking in the sun. The breeze helped still my mind, and watching the trees blow fiercely yet gracefully was perfect entertainment — a far better sight than piles of paper! However, when I stepped back indoors, the paper reality greeted me once again. Oh Geez! Where did all of this paper come from in the first place?

Well, let’s go back about 14 years when I took on my first newspaper and magazine writing internships while getting my master’s degree at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. My writing clips began accumulating faster than I could get them scrapbooked, so that meant bin storage for them. To that initial pile, online articles of mine that I printed out were added — and even though I managed to get a ton of them nicely stored in a large binder, the paper pile in the bins just didn’t seem to be decreasing. Then, add to that the birth of a son who eventually started producing all sorts of masterpieces of his own – from art to writing and more. Whew!

Fortunately, I did eventually reach the point of knowing I just couldn’t keep it all, so I began recycling many of my son’s paper things and made sure to stay on top of the latest junk mail and such coming into the house. But, doggon it, those bins with older stuff just stayed full for some reason.

Now, with this latest round of paper reduction, I decided to get ruthless like never before. Simply ruthless! I now have one binder designated for my son’s keepsakes and have organized it with tabs from age 4 to present. His binder also includes a section for home-schooled keepsakes. On the other hand, while my writing clips are now out of the bins thanks to my plastic-reduction process, they are stacked awaiting a home — a scrapbook of some kind, I guess.

On many a day I have been tempted — very tempted — to simply let ALL of this paper go! Imagine that….a PAPER-FREE HOME! Ahhh, bliss! But there’s that part of me that wants to hold on to some paper memorabilia from my son’s early years – for his children! Who knows, he or his future wife might want to show it to their kids someday, especially those interesting, creative stories he wrote. Then, because I’ve written so much about parenting and the varied things I’ve done with my darling son, well, I want him to have those “journals” around when I’m not. So, rather than letting it all go, I decided to find my balance; one book with his paper keepsakes and, hopefully, one with mine will do the trick.

To add fuel to the fire — or should I say fuel to the paper – in the process of this major paper-shedding project, a strong urge to get as much plastic as I can out of here came upon me! I had been wanting to go that route for a while, and then, viola, there was Ardis’ article to turn up the heat. So, like a mad woman, I began attacking plastic.

One area I have really nailed is the clothes department. Yes, I have scaled those down to a minimum. Who would have thought I’d want to be a minimalist with clothes considering how many of them I’ve had over the years. These days, it’s all about simplicity for me, though. Who wants to spend forever trying to figure out what to wear? Not me! That indecisive process used to be fun, but long gone are those days.

In fact, I’ve minimized my clothes so much that I decided to give up my half of the master bedroom closet. I got tired of being weighed down by my husband’s many clothes when I stepped in there, so it was best for me to make that an area I don’t have to enter at all. Now, between dresser drawers and a smaller closet in another room, I’m joyfully set with clothes storage. This arrangement works perfectly for me.

My books have also been reduced significantly, but it’s quite a challenge trying to get them down to my goal of only 12 books. Again, who would have thought? Think about it, though….. If Jesus managed to choose only 12 disciples, I certainly should be able to select the 12 books that serve me best at this stage of my life, right?

Now, the only thing that remains to be attacked is one more closet with MORE BINS, and I suspect that’s going to take a while because they have a whole bunch of pictures in ‘em that are yet to join existing photo albums. Anyone have any effective solutions for quick and easy photo organization? If so, please, please let me know.

With Thanks,

Penny

When kids don't listen

Kids get a bad rap!  They are constantly accused of ‘not listening’ or ‘not paying attention’ when nothing could be further from the truth!  Kids from the age of 0- 5 barely understand the concept never mind know how to do that. 

You see, at that stage of development, they just don’t have any filters.  EVERYTHING goes in.  This means that your kids aren’t trying to shut you out- they couldn’t even if they wanted to- and believe me, they don’t want to.  Our kids and men for that matter are very much like dogs- they WANT to please us!

What actually happens is this:  because they lack the psychological software necessary to erect barriers, they are absorbing everything in their immediate environment on a very deep level.  And they become completely engaged.  So if they are playing, or looking at a bug, or seemingly ‘staring off into space’ they are actually so absorbed in their own thought processes which are directly tied into their whole being that they literally can’t hear or see anything else that may be going on around them.  See the truth is they have incredible focus!  It is 100%.

Understanding this gives us a different perspective and appreciation for those moments when we want their attention…we need to learn how to approach them.  What I recommend is to use your discretion.  For example, when they are staring, or equally absorbed in what they are doing, please avoid jarring them out of their concentration with a fast movement like grabbing them to pick them up, or with some loud directive.

Research shows that in those moments kids are literally creating brand new nerve synapses in their brains – they are getting smarter!   Instead, watch them for a moment, and then when you are ready, carefully approach in a gentle way respecting their space as you would anyone else who was concentrating on something.  Get down to their eye level and see if they notice you first so you don’t actually have to interrupt them.  Then say softly, ‘Hi there.  Its time for…” and do what you need to do once you have brought them back to reality.  Like I said, use your discernment- obviously if they were in some sort of danger you wouldn’t worry about interrupting them to do whatever you needed to for their safety.

For kids a little older, around 5-10, what works really well is to let them know what is on the schedule in bite size pieces (not the whole pie! ie:  “First we are going to the bank and then to shopping and then the post office and after that to pay a parking ticket and then…” A simple ‘we are leaving to go shopping and run errands” is enough.  

TRANSITION TIMES like leaving the park, or stopping play to come and wash hands for dinner, etc, can cause alarm in small children…Why?  Because it may be unwanted, but actually more so, it is unexpected.  This can create anxiety.   Children feel secure when they know what is coming.  Give warnings of about 5- 10 minutes just before the transitions.  So if you are somewhere and its time to get going- that is NOT the time to tell your kids.  Five to ten minutes prior to that is what works best whenever possible.  Kids are so focused on what they are doing they FEEL it in their little bodies and it is so unpleasant for them to be ripped away from being in ‘their zone’ without a little notice. 

Just give a friendly reminder, “In 10 minutes we are leaving so begin to pack up…” Then in 5 minute let them know they have a few more minutes and now is the time to finish up. Refrain from just ‘telling’ them.  Go and do it with them and ensure they are ‘hearing’ you.

For things like school, or other events that happen regularly, what is helpful is to plan ahead.  The worst thing is to be rushing around in the morning – it sets the wrong tone and can throw everyone off balance for the entire day.  So the night before, just before bedtime, begin the process of teaching your kids what clothes work best together by doing it with them until they get the hang of it.  Every kid learns differently, so you have to gage when it is appropriate to initiate this and when to hand it over to them. 

But the main thing is you are modeling a success strategy called ‘BEING PREPARED’.  It is a skill for life.  So set aside a few minutes every night for this important ritual.  (In a near future article I will give really powerful tips for how to get your kids to bed and off into dreamland peacefully)   Once the kids are settled for the night, you need to do one more thing to prepare for morning. 

Make sure your kitchen is clean and tidy and you have decided what breakfast will be.  By doing this last step the night before, you are creating in advance a beautiful start to the day.  Some moms even put the placemats and bowls and spoons on the table the night before so the table is all set for morning. 

You might make their lunches now too, unless you are an early bird who functions best rising early before everyone else. I never did that, but I did make sure night dishes were put away and sinks and counters were clear of clutter – I might even put a little spray of flowers that we had gathered that day from a forest walk, or a little stone or leave in the centre of the table, perhaps beside a little candle- anything to make the table and therefore the whole kitchen look cheery and welcoming for us all in the morning.  

So remember, approach focused children with respect and reverence for their learning, use 5 minute warnings for all transitions, prepare whatever can be done in advance to avoid rushing at the last minute, and then smile inside knowing you are ‘creating the space’ for your loving, harmonious home. 

For MORE GREAT TIPS go to: www.rawmom.com/raisingchildren/index.html

SHANNON LEONE is a Mom, Artist, Writer and WELLNESS COACH with 20 years experience in Natural Health whose background includes: Assistant Fitness Director of the Parkview Club in Toronto, Licensed Aestitician and Colon Hydro therapist, Raw Gourmet Chef, Director of THE LITTLE FRIENDS FOUNDATION, Creator of THE FRIENDSHIP FLAG GAME for kids age 1-100, and Filmmaker RAISING CHILDREN RAISES US- a DVD on Conscious Parenting. 

Shannon has appeared on TV’s Woman to Woman, Daytime, Body Mind Spirit, International Radio and many Magazines.  Find Shannon also at rawmom.com.

For personal or group Coaching and Seminars: 1-866-LEONE-11 sjkleone@yahoo.com

Are You Looking After Yourself?

I’ve asked myself that question a few times over the past few weeks.

In my extended family, it’s a line that’s sometimes bandied about, a pop-culture reference to an ad that ran here in Australia a few years ago. A young woman has moved out of home and her concerned father rings to ask ‘Are you looking after yourself’? She rolls her eyes, sticks her fork into the advertised microwaved freezer meal (TV dinner), and says ‘Yes Dad, I am looking after myself’.

No, I’m not at the point of tucking into a freezer meal, but I sure ain’t been looking after myself in the way that I should.

I’ve been burning the midnight oil for a few too many weeks, absorbed in the process of giving birth to my latest baby: a fantastic raw-food recipe book for children. I’ve been testing, re-testing, ditching ideas, dreaming up new ideas and toiling over a hot keyboard. The book just has to be edited, illustrated and designed, and it will make its way out into the world – hopefully to touch the lives of children in a profound way.

But all that giving has taken its toll – like Monique, I tend to be somewhat single-minded when I have a project on the go. I let slip many of those self-nurturing habits that we all know need to be maintained. And now I’m feeling just a wee bit burned out. A 24-hour sleeping stint might just about balance out the sleep debt…

Do you find that, too? Do you give so much to an exhilarating project that you “forget” many of your usual self-care habits in your quest to reach completion?

I heard recently about the concept of extreme self-care. “How indulgent!”, I thought. I dismissed the idea entirely, wondering how people could be selfish enough to justify giving that much to themselves. But, gee, it makes sense. I could actually be enough more productive, even happier, even more “there” for my girls if I actually made my self-care a priority, instead of an “I’ll fit it in when I just finish this…”-type thing.

So, baby steps. Tonight, to bed at a reasonable hour. Tomorrow, maybe a long bath. (“What?” Monkey Mind rebels at this one.) Next week, perhaps 100% raw for, say, five days – although, does “raw” chocolate count?

For a change, I might just be able to answer an emphatic “yes” to the “Are you looking after yourself?” question. Imagine that!
 

Happy Birthday Tera!!

If you didn’t already know it, today is Tera’s 33rd birthday!!

To celebrate the glorious existence of our special lady, we’re having a party and YOU’RE invited! If you are in or can make it to the Montreal area, Tera is rolling out the green carpet on Saturday for a festive potluck picnic at her place. If you’d like to join us, let Tera know so she can fill you in on the time and place.

…and since we like doing things diva-style, we’re making it a birthday weekend for Tera! I’m going to head over to her place, kids in tow, for 3 days and 2 nights of diva giggles and games, starting tomorrow (Friday) night with a special and much anticipated visit from Dr. T.

We’d love to see you there to celebrate the anniversary of the birth our red headed Raw Diva.

I think I speak for many, many people, that a life touched by Tera is a life forever changed for the better. Her insights, understanding, passion, and drive are a wonder to be touched by, and I’m so happy to share in this adventure with her!

California Girls

Well, it is our last day in “sunny, southern California” and it has lived up to every fabulous stereotype. Waking up each morning to the view of pelicans flying over the ocean and surfers riding the waves, and falling asleep each night to ocean breezes and the sounds of crashing waves, has made the busy time we’ve had here, relaxing nonetheless!

This is a beautiful, beautiful place, and I will be longing to return as soon as possible.

For now I will try to enjoy my last 18 hours or so without too much dread of impending winter in the north… Here’s to sipping green smoothies in the sun!

Amy

Another Visit From Moon Man

Ahhh….

Sweet Moon Man.

As I sat here wrestling the ebb and flow of another day of unpredicatability, Sweet Moon Man dropped this in my inbox like a life raft to a drowning sailor.

“Sweet Diva Love,

Fear not the topsy-turvy, and unpredictable day that has unfolded before you, for She has once again begun Her path…all around the world…She squeezes, pushes, tugs, hugs and challenges us all. She must ensure that we are all that we can be, for it is She, that we be, and She must, must be healthy and free. Like the papaya tree that springs forth in a miraculous fashion through the cracks in the concrete, She must envelope us in Her strength, too.

Her nursing may seem odd and unwanted, but as we all know by now, not all is as it seems.

Rise to Her Love…

Moon Man”

If the moon can pull on the oceans and create the tides and waves, it can sure shootin’ do a number on me, too! Thank you, Moon Man, for your wisdom, and your depth of spirit.

It’s Tuesday. Two days until my birthday.

Life is good.

mmmmmmuah!

Tera

Monday’s Inspiration from Mae West

I thought to spice up the blog, we could start doing some diva devotionals–taking the time to honor and celebrate the lives of extraordinary women. I’ve been reading a bit about Mae West in different places. I didn’t know anything about her, really.  I love her curves, and I wish we did more to honor gorgeous shapes like hers these days!

I watched for the 5th time this Dove ad which is so telling about our twisted perceptions of beauty. I have to tip my smoothie jug to Dove for the remarkable work they’re doing in the name of “Real Beauty”. It may be a big marketing tactic, but if it’s empowering women then I’m all for it.

Today’s empowered woman is Mae West. There are all kinds of different stories about her that you can find online by doing a google search, but I thought these divalicious quotes were enough to give us a sassy point of view and inspire us all to embrace our curves and take up more space in the world!

I generally avoid temptation unless I can’t resist it.

The curve is more powerful than the sword.

When I’m good I’m very, very good, but when I’m bad, I’m better.

Cultivate your curves–they may be dangerous but they won’t be avoided.

  Look your best–who said love is blind?

Good women are no fun… The only good woman I can recall in history was Betsy Ross. And all she ever made was a flag.

I didn’t discover curves; I only uncovered them.

You’re gorgeous, Darling. Dress it up and show it off a little!

Welcome to Sunny Southern California

Hello Raw Divas! As some of you know, I am currently in San Diego, California. This is my very first trip to the West Coast of ANYWHERE, and just as I suspected… I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT!!

We arrived on Tuesday night, after a fun-filled flight where I was convinced there were 2 terrorists on the plane (I am officially NOT a happy flier of the wide blue skies), and spent part of the flight in tears – a story my friends, family and co-workers will be teasing me about until the end of time (and rightfully so), until I decided that the 2 suspects (who were turned out in duds just about as American as can be – which is part of what tipped detective Amy off), who were too young to be standing together stoned-faced in line and not speaking to one another, were probably actually just hung over and not mentally preparing for anything more sinister than a nap on the plane. I’ve never been so happy to be wrong in my entire life! Phew!

My poor Mom! Talk about the creative imagination taking charge and making for a relaxing flight for all! (Yes, I even alerted the gate and flight attendants to get in on the fun!)

How embarrassing, but thank goodness for the 2 in question, their travel plans were not disrupted by my paranoia!

Once we arrived, and caught our up with our adrenaline, we were thrilled to discover that the cottage we’re staying at isn’t just “near” the beach, as we were told… it is ON the beach! Our living room picture window faces directly out over the Pacific Ocean! Each day we sip our morning green smoothies on the couch, feed the baby, and watch the surfers. (Of course, having been totally molded by watching JAWS at 4 years of age, I am not only on high alert for terrorists dressed as hung over college students, but also for surfer eating sharks! Thankfully, all is calm and well so far and we spend this time as armchair surfing experts, sharing our “wisdom” on surfing techniques learned from watching too many movies, and laughing at the more graceless wipeouts.)

We enjoyed a raw food dinner (my mom’s first raw restaurant excursion). To be truthful, it was disappointing (no competition to Pure in NYC or Live in Toronto – both of which I highly recommend), but I think my mom enjoyed the novelty anyway.

We are having fun being away from our cooked family and have been eating salads, green smoothies, and fruit galore. We may have also had a few peanut butter cups, but hey… what can I say?

Leora slept through her very first trip to the beach, but we had fun taking our morning walk in the chilly surf, chatting with our neighbours as they pulled on their wet suits.

Sunday we’ll head to a beach in La Jolla to watch our very first surfing competition, which a couple of my friends will be competing in. What could be more California than that?

I’m debating the 1.5 hour trek to Santa Monica… I hear there are great raw restaurants up there!

Wish you were here!!

Amy

Why You Should Avoid Plastic Like the Plague and 10 Ways to Do It!

There are many reasons to avoid plastics. One major reason is bisphenol-A, or BPA, an estrogen-like chemical added to most polycarbonate plastics – from water bottles and food containers to the linings of tin cans, and – most alarmingly – to many baby toys, baby bottles and sippy cups. Research has shown BPA is associated with early puberty in girls, feminizing of boys, and reduced fertility in both sexes. In fact, in utero exposure is linked to abnormal development of the sex organs in the fetus. BPA is also associated with an increased risk for obesity and certain cancers, such as breast and prostate.

Certainly anyone with fertility issues or children should be very concerned. Luckily, it is fairly easy to find bisphenol-A free products now, for children and adults, but is that enough?

Before I became a mom, I led a fairly plastic-free life: I carried my own glass water bottle, brought my own bags to the grocery store, rarely ate out and rarely bought packaged foods, and stored everything in glass or ceramic containers. Now that I’ve got a toddler, however, I seem to be swimming in it; and I can only imagine that, with another little one on the way, it’s going to get worse.

Even if you manage to avoid buying any plastic items for your child, you are sure to be given tons! We are lucky in that most of the things our son has have been handed down from two cousins a year or two older than he. We’ve never had to buy any clothes, and many of his toys are hand-me-downs. However, the toys keep multiplying and – never mind those annoying battery-operated noise-makers – they are overwhelmingly made of plastic!

Besides the fact that plastic can never be truly safe (who knows what other compounds are leaching into the environment and our food), plastics leave a terrible footprint on the environment.

By now, you’ve probably all heard of the big, plastic stew brewing in a vortex in the ocean that is twice the size of Texas – a horrifying visualization and seemingly irreversible prospect; and it is frightening to think that every piece of plastic ever created is still with us. This has many repercussions, to name a few:

• While plastic is not biodegradable, it is photodegradable – sunlight breaks the plastic, still molecularly intact, into little bits which get mistaken for plankton and other food and is ingested by all forms of marine life. This is killing, disabling, and making sick so many of these animals.

• These plastics make it back into the human food chain as well: if you eat seafood, you not only have to worry about mercury, but also contamination from plastic.

• Plastics absorb other toxic substances, such as pesticides and PCB’s and then, transported by the water, leach them elsewhere.

Moreover, recycling plastic is not a viable solution since only a couple types of plastics melt at low temperatures; tougher plastics only melt at high temperatures and release such toxic gases, they are basically un-recyclable. Furthermore, of the recyclable plastics, the quality degrades and the plastics are contaminated with residues (foodstuffs, etc.) so they cannot be remade into food containers. Thus there is still the need for as much new plastic production for food containers.

So, now that you’re convinced it’s not enough to just seek out “safer” forms of plastics, what can we do to reduce the amount of plastic polluting our environment and our bodies? Here is a list of 10 tips to help avoid and reduce your use of plastic:

1. If you must buy bottled water, opt for glass options when available (Voss bottles come in glass in a couple sizes) or try to always come prepared – bring your own bottle of filtered water from home. Sometimes, this just isn’t practical, but consider which has the greater impact: occasionally drinking a glass of tap water or that plastic water bottle….

2. Store produce and leftovers in cloth bags or glass containers.

3. Not only can you bring your own cloth shopping bags, you can also re-use those plastic bags your produce comes in on subsequent shopping trips.

4. Wrap prepared lunches and snacks in wax paper.

5. Bamboo and stainless steel are excellent BPA and plastic-free options for sippy cups, eating utensils, and plates!

6. For gift-giving occasions, like birthdays and Christmas, often friends and relatives ask what you, or especially, your child would like or need. Don’t be afraid to ask for used and hand-me-down items. People will still give you/your child beautifully wrapped boxes of toxic delights – say thanks, gracefully, and accept the lovely thought. If it is not something your child is totally into, consider returning it, or if not, be sure to donate or pass down when the child is done with it!

7. Think long-term. Plastic really can be that miracle product that lasts a lifetime. Try to limit the plastic you get to durable things you will hang on to for a long time.

8. Buy in bulk (bring your own paper bags or re-use those plastic produce ones), and only bag produce when absolutely necessary.

9. If you eat take-out regularly, carry your own cutlery, and for the die-hard, consider bringing your own non-plastic to-go containers!

10. Turn scrap plastic into art projects with the kids! Think of creative ways to re-use plastic – perhaps build a colorful collage or sculpture – or try one of the many suggestions listed here.

Can you think of more ways to reduce our plastic use? Please let me know!

*Gush!* Could Someone Please Pass Me a Tissue.

I sit here stranded in the middle of an ocean of appreciation and while it doesn’t happen often, I’m at a loss for words. And so,  as has become my routine, when moved by emotion, THIS is the place I have learned to come and share the parts of me that ache the most to be expressed.

What do I say to messages like this one:

“You speak to the girliness in me that I’ve buried under dirty laundry, piles of books and an endless sea of toys! I truly feel the love in your emails and I love all the smooches and parsley kisses. I like feeling girly sometimes and I’m realizing too that it is okay to feel girly (: Or maybe a better term would be it feels good to feel like a Diva!”

*Guuuush!*

I love that! And then I was trying sooooo hard to blast through the neverending sea of emails and then I got this one that landed in my lap and left me stunned and speechless.

“Of all of the blogs in all of the world, I tell you honestly that hardly one day goes by that I don’t check in to your website and blog. I miss it a lot if I don’t happen to be near my computer and when I do get back to my computer, your’s is the first website I go to~! I love it all — the messages, the colours, the energy vibrating through every word I read. Even the stuff that you might wonder about being sad, or not quite what you would like to say — it’s all great because it’s all real and that is what makes reading you every day so marvelous.

In spite of the best laid plans, our lives sometimes go more like an old movie with a pile of scratchy lines blurring out our loveliness, instead of like the Doris Day movie we might rather it be! Nobody has all of the answers, but it is sure a huge relief to know that, in sharing some of our struggles, we find the strength to look ourselves in the mirror and say “I will keep going and smiling because there are a lot of green smoothie recipes I haven’t tried yet ..and besides that, he was a jerk ..and whose idea of a perfect body are we talking about anyway…etc.”

I am thrilled that so many people are discovering green smoothies and raw food and I am so grateful to all of you for putting such glorious enthusiasm into making us feel good. Because you are succeeding in making us feel really good about so many more things than just making green smoothies.

THANK YOU WITH ALL OF MY HEART!

Catherine”

And so I sit here, glistening streams of emotion trickle down my cheeks, and I’m paralyzed with gratitude and that universal “mush” that flows within me seems now stronger than myself.

*deeeeeep breath*

I can’t necessarily identify that lucky day when destiny tapped me on the shoulders to say,

“Hey, Sunshine! I’m gonna set you up with two dynamite muffins to love and a whole community of empowered and inspired women to remind you of who you are every day. All you have to do in exchange, is love the world and be yourself.”

While I’ve always known I’m a woman of words, at this moment I have very few that encompass my gratitude for the love and lives that touch my own.

I think that anyone who commits to speaking their truth, who pledges to love the world and her people in spite of countless reasons not to, must feel as I do now–overcome with gratitude at the recognition that we are not alone.

Not even close. While I sit in a silent and sunlit living room I send my deepest gratitude and appreciation to each and everyone of you. The things we see and admire in others must, inevitably, be the things we carry within ourselves or we would never recognize and appreciate them in someone else.

The more validation we receive from others, the more I realize how privileged we are to be connected to so many incredible women (and men) like you.

Thank you for being here and thank you for your big, brave heart.

Love and gratitude,

Tera and Amy