I am so grateful of everyone who has crossed my path in life whether it be a season, reason, lifetime or all three. Each one of these relationships and connections has taught me something that I have carried forward with me. Every person I have met is woven into me for better or worse. As I reflect on the blessings of all the relationships I have shared with others over the years I can’t help but notice on how many of those are incredibly inspiring women. Young and old. From every part of my life I have experienced uplifting, hopeful, encouraging, healing, teaching, guiding, listening and so much more from these women.
For starters I was raised in an idyllic childhood with very loving parents. My dad a model of generosity and hard work and my mom a homemaker and professional volunteer. They both loved the outside. My brother has always been my best friend and biggest cheerleader. I was born into a fun large family on my dad’s side with 10 aunts and uncles and 32 first cousins, my moms side blessed me with another aunt and uncle and 6 more cousins (those cousins have given me even more family connection through their children too). My grandparents lived very close to us my whole life and my grandmother and I were very close. She was a kind and complicated lady who suffered with mental health issues and I learned many valuable life lessons from her not all she intended to teach I’m sure but guiding lessons nonetheless. Many strong women in these family lines influenced and guided my journey.
Throughout my young childhood I was surrounded by family friends and the best women friends of my moms, neighbors, teachers in elementary school especially, women leaders in the methodist church I was at every Sunday led with kindness and grace. Their commitment to their beliefs and service to others was very inspiring even if I was the kid that asked very annoying questions they always answered with love. I met and have kept in touch with friends from elementary school whose kindness and friendship are remembered with such fondness and reconnections with recently are so special. I met my oldest girlfriend at age 7 through our dads and she is still to this day an inspiring older sister to me always mentoring me through life and she says I do the same for her. So many win wins between women sharing with each other in an authentic way.
An incredible opportunity opened for me to join a family friend at an all-girls summer camp in Tenn. I went every summer for 6 weeks and returned for 9 summers (ages 9-17). The leaders of the camp, the counselors, the older girls, the younger girls, my peers even the women who worked to support the physical plant because men were not allowed. I was inspired and molded by it all. The belief in our goodness and promise to be the best we could possibly be for ourselves and our world. I am still in contact with many of these friends as well and am grateful for our shared foundations in a place that valued kindness, honesty, simplicity, and teamwork. I am forever changed by each one of those women in the most magical special way in the most beautiful environment living in the woods along the edge of a lake.
While my parents divorce at age 11 was one of my childhood traumas life is very purposeful and through that divorce and my fathers remarriage to my step mom; another amazing woman entered my life who I am so grateful to have in my corner. Her nickname is “Rocky” because she is always there to support me and while I don’t wish divorce on anyone I am so grateful to have her in my life. She has added to my life and my childrens lives beyond measure and models kindness and generosity and gratitude with every action she takes in life.
My oldest best friends I met in Jr high school and are still my daily ride or die friends today. We have raised children together and navigated the trials and tribulations of day-to-day life together. They are my sisters and their children my nieces and nephews. My college best friends are also my sisters and standing right there next to them. Our distance makes it a little harder to see each other as often but we stay very connected and supportive of each other. These are the women I have endured and thrived through life’s challenges in my 20’s through today. They know how much they mean to me and how lucky I feel to have them in my life.
My amazing husband and I had three beautiful children delivered another layer of female influence in my life I wasn’t expecting. At the time I believed highly spirited adhd kids (all three of our children were diagnosed in kindergarten) needed to have an advocate front and center for them in their activities so I started to volunteer day 1 in their classes. It didn’t take long for my mom’s influence to kick in and I really enjoyed the service and being around all these women and children. Over the years that volunteering included running a preschool and volunteering in the class, being a room mom for all 3 kids during the elementary and middle school years, a girl scout leader for 5 years, treasurer for boy scouts and basketball teams. With 2 sons and 1 daughter, I was exposed to both boy and girl moms. I met an unbelievable number of impressive women that shared their broader talents with me as it related to educating, nurturing, parenting, cooking/nutrition, physical and mental health and wellness, service, die hard mama bear fierce protective love. We worked hard to navigate it all and connect and it was incredibly rewarding. I’m very grateful for their influence and connection in my life then and now.
The women I work with every day in my life inspire me as well. Their work ethic, ideas, creativity, intelligence, humor and kindness are a joy to be around, and I love supporting one another. I consider them friends and learn and benefit from their presence around me daily.
Thank you for reading through to the end. My reason for sharing all of this is to take a moment to acknowledge the amazing women who have gotten me here today. Grow my gratitude for them considering the support and love they have poured into me over my entire life. To try and explain why it is so important for me to return the favor. To help and mentor where I can. To connect others to mentorship as well. To grow love and gratitude of each other and our community and the world. Through big and small acts of altruistic kindness. Thank you again to all those who have blessed my life but here and now a special thank you to my Beautiful Badass Warrior Trible of Women!
22 Love!
Carrie
