I accept the challenge to support strong women. I look at this picture of me in college over 20 years ago and remember how strong and confident I was. I had just lost my mom to cancer, I was newly married, I was guest performing with a professional dance company and my path seemed so optimistic. I had already endured hard things but I knew God was by my side. I never anticipated at this time I could possibly face anything more difficult.
Through the years I recognized strong women in my life that I wanted to emulate. I personally was determined and driven daily to be the best version of myself as a wife, mom, sister and friend.
I love how Marjorie Pay Hinkley said “We are all in this together. We need each other. Oh, how we need each other. Those of us who are old need you who are young, and hopefully, you who are young need some of us who are old…We need deep and satisfying and loyal friendships with each other. These friendships are a necessary source of sustenance.”
I never anticipated how badly I would need the women in my life until after my biggest D-Day on Christmas. They are the ones that fed my family for months, drove carpools, made me laugh, held me as I cried, let me take a nap on their couch, helped prepare big events, shared gifts, encouraged me, prayed for us, educated me and even supported and protected us from the other side of the veil.
I now channel that young version of myself because I don’t doubt who she is and what she knows because she hasn’t survived years of painful abuse. She protects me when I feel confused and weak. She is my super hero. She is ME!
Thank you to all the strong women in my life!