Today I am feeling inspired because it is International Women’s Day, and I happen to have some amazing women in my life. I am full of gratitude – I have managed to surround myself with strong, kind, women of depth. I believe in the laws of attraction and know this is no accident. I am inspired by each and every one of them to help me achieve my vision of the person I strive to be.
Today I am feeling inspired – and it is an incredibly powerful emotion – oh if only I could bottle and take it back out on a tough day!! Well – that is why I am writing. I know there will be a day in the not so faraway future that I am going to forget this feeling…I will be stressed, anxious, and full of doubt…and I hope that I remember to pull out this blog post to remind me of how I am feeling in this exact moment. This is an attempt to build muscle memory – so that my body, my brain AND my heart remember all at the same time what it feels like to be in alignment as I feel in this moment.
I create a vision board every year, and here is a picture of my 2018 Vision Board:
This year, my approach was a little different. Rather than setting goals, I focused on what I stand for – how I want to show up – how I want to be seen, and how I strive to embody my values in my actions. My Vision board is both about “being” and “doing” if that makes any sense. It’s about alignment of my head, heart and body to my values.
This year in particular has promised such a shift in gender equality – more than any other period of my 46 years on this earth. I am so encouraged by #metoo and #timesup, and I am actually starting to see some differences in a lot of places including my own workplace. There is still so much work to do – but for the first time I am seeing momentum and alignment where before there was fear and silence. I am working towards speaking up more, and to stand up for what I believe.
Today, I am inspired by my niece Jana (this is her holding a sign at the Women’s March in January).
Jana and her friends are going to be voters in the very near future – and this truly fills me with so much hope. Jana has always been kind – she has a beautiful heart, and is not afraid to speak her mind and stand up for someone or something that she believes in. 
Today I am feeling inspired by the work I do for Pattison’s Academy. Last weekend we completed the big fundraiser I wrote about on my last blog, and not only did our family meet and exceed our $4,000 goal, we also met and exceeded the overall goal for the organization. As the fundraising chairwoman and co-leader of the event, I am not sure I have ever felt this kind of pressure before! We worked our TAILS off. There were plenty of moments of stress and doubt – but the leadership, staff, families, volunteers and fundraisers worked as one. I happen to believe that when we work as one, we can change the world – and we proved that last weekend by raising more than $105,000 for Eric and his school/camp mates.
Here is a wonderful video of Eric’s shout out at the Keeping the PACE ride-a-Thon: https://youtu.be/cakqf7KGs8k
It is so rewarding to me to feel like I am making a difference for Eric and the children that Pattison’s Academy serves. I strive to support and motivate the amazing staff that works with Eric his school/camp mates knowing how hard their jobs are. I work hard to educate our community about our kids – because integrating this population of children into our society is better for EVERYONE! It fills my heart with joy and gratitude that our event was successful, and I am filled with hope for the future as a result. The possibilities are endless!
Today I am inspired by our female Olympians. In 2018, there were 109 females on the US team – compared to only 2 in 1924. Our female athletes kicked butt in PyeongChang!! They won more than half of our country’s medals (even though they were less than half of the US delegation) – and with a lot of flair I might add. Chloe Kim knew she had won the gold before her last run on the snowboard pipe – and blew past her previous score like a boss! The U.S. Olympic Women’s Ice Hockey Team defied the odds by beating Canada for the gold – which by the way has only been an event since 1998 in Nagano. Did you know that they have medaled in EVERY Olympics since?
I am also inspired by the gymnastics athletes that have come forward to share their stories by facing their oppressor, Larry Nassar. I watched every minute of Aly Raisman’s statement during Nasser’s sentencing, and was moved to tears watching and listening. Check out her beautiful photo shoot with Sport Illustrated where she announced the launch of her “Flip the Switch” campaign to end abuse in youth sports:. https://www.si.com/swim-daily/2018/03/08/aly-raisman-stop-abuse-youth-sports-flip-the-switch Even the SI Swimsuit Edition is evolving!
Finally, I am inspired by all my female family and close friends…these “Superwomen” who give their best every day to be the best versions of themselves as they can be.
Everywhere I’m turning
Nothing seems complete
I stand up and I’m searching
For the better part of me
I hang my head from sorrow so much
State of humanity
I wear it on my shoulders
Gotta find the strength in me
Why is that?‘Cause I am a superwoman
Yes I am Yes she is
Still when I’m a mess I still put on a vest
With an “S” on my chest
Oh yes I’m a superwoman(This is for) for all the mothers fighting
For better days to come
They’re coming
And all my women, all my women sitting here trying so hard
To come home before the sun
And all my sisters coming together
Say yes I will
Yes I can-Alicia Keys
Take Heart 