“One day, I chose to sit outside in a park during my lunch break. A stranger complimented my new bag. It was such a little thing, but it shifted something within me.”
‘I bawled my eyes out as I paid for my groceries. ‘I’m failing as a mom.’ I felt so useless, alone.’: Postpartum depression warrior starts mission to spread kindness
‘When I was face to face with someone, it popped up. ‘I want to kill you.’ It tortured me.’: Woman with OCD urges ‘you don’t have a bad brain’
“I had to keep washing my hands until they were chapped and bleeding. I couldn’t stop until the ‘bad thoughts’ ceased.”
‘The doctor said he tested positive.’ I stared at my baby’s sleeping form with guilt.’: New mom raises awareness for sickle cell anemia
“After days of tests, he had lost weight and had bruised heels. I thought it was a death sentence. He didn’t deserve this.”
Body Image Issues Freakin’ Suck, But You Don’t
“Exciting adventures like vacations, poolside hangouts, any night out that begs for you to squeeze into some tight pants or a dress become stress-provoking and unfun. They take what could be your joyful and carefree attitude and turn you into a self-conscious, body-obsessed, judgment-fearing butterball of anxiety.”
‘I thought I looked good, but then I saw a picture of myself.’: Woman shares important reminder ‘you look good when your heart and soul feel good’
“It’s taken 34 years to realize…see yourself through the eyes of the person who snapped the photo of you.”
‘The phone call felt like a punch in the stomach. He’d become part of the family.’: Foster mom starts nonprofit to help families through ‘the cycle of love and heartbreak’
“They described a 3-year-old boy, nonverbal, tantrums; the list was long, but we felt called to say ‘yes.’ We decided to do everything we could for this child. Time was NOT on our side.”
‘I told myself, ‘If I’m strong enough to make it to the top of Africa’s tallest peak, I’m strong enough to take on another round.’: Woman gives IVF one ‘last shot,’ welcomes miracle baby
“It hit me: the hardest things in life are the most rewarding. After devoting 15 months of my life to a failed IVF cycle, I knew I was strong enough for another round.”
‘He struggled to breathe. I’d accidentally fed him the wrong chicken fingers. I felt like I poisoned my child.’: Mom of sons with severe food allergies urges ‘be compassionate’
“I remember being so mad. ‘Why should everyone else have to cater to HIS needs? If HE has the problem, it’s not MY problem.’ Then I became a parent.”
‘The world may not be built for disabled people, but we’re aiming to change that.’: Woman shares journey as disabled business owner
“I don’t know any other disabled business owners. I hope making the world more accessible will afford others the opportunities I never had.”
‘I found Aaron chugging a beer like his life depended on it. I left the room sick to my stomach.’: Wife of recovering addict says ‘shame has NO place here’
“I walked in and there was Aaron, sitting quietly with a 6-pack. ‘He’s only had a couple,’ I told myself. I said a silent prayer.”