“I’m not going to look at this stomach and wish it was flatter. I’m not going to look at these stretch marks and wish I could erase them. I’m not going to look at this butt and wish it was rounder.”
‘Someone recently asked what my ideal weight loss goal is. I replied, ‘Happiness.’: Woman urges ‘stop chasing a number and start chasing who you are’
‘The night before surgery, Granny and Pap came in a dream: ‘Honey, we’re waiting for you.’ I was terrified.’: Chronic illness warrior survives health complications, adopts 2 pre-teens
“We wanted to adopt siblings from the beginning. After many disappointments, I applied for two brothers I saw in a flyer. Months later, while shopping with my mom in Meijer, my caseworker called. ‘Would you like to learn more?’ I had two options: recover or die.”
‘Unsubscribing from marketing emails in my inbox clutter, a lightbulb went off. Why can’t we unsubscribe from the mental clutter, too?’: Woman urges ‘you don’t have the space’
“Unsubscribe from the people who judge you. Unsubscribe to the idea you’re being bad if you eat bread with your salad. Unsubscribe from the need to be at a certain place by a certain age. Mental clutter is just as tiresome as the inbox clutter.”
10 Things I’ve Learned After 70 Years On Earth
“If you have to decide between doing a few loads of laundry or going on an adventure…choose the latter. The laundry will be there when you return.”
‘It’s something small, but it can change your WHOLE day. We felt the love, even in what seemed like endless darkness. I wanted to HELP.’: Woman crafts handwritten cards to ‘send kindness through the mail’
“I pulled out my stationery box from where it was collecting dust in a closet. For the first time in weeks, I was energized and felt like I was making a difference! As I put the letters in my mailbox, I had the desire for this to become something bigger.”
‘If only he’d ask me to dance!’ He was addicted to drugs, and I was addicted to him.’: Woman marries after divorce, ‘Love is ALL that matters’
“I was tired of the fast lane, the parties, and the men. After holding on for dear life to a complete set of emotional baggage, I finally had to surrender it ALL.”
‘We’d never even taken care of a baby before. ‘By the way, they’re nonverbal.’ Our whole life changed in an instant.’: Woman shares foster parent journey, ‘I’ve loved every single one like my own’
“For the next 3 years, I was their mom and they were my kids. They were a part of our family. All of our hopes and dreams unraveled with a single court hearing.”
‘I know it’s gone, I just know it.’ I sat in the back room, alone and bleeding. The guilt hung over me. We needed answers.’: Woman shares journey to rainbow baby, ‘Your grief is valid’
“I felt like I failed my husband, who had dreamed of being a dad. I was embarrassed to call our family and friends. How do you tell them, ‘Never mind?’ I didn’t want to be pitied. I wanted my life to return to normal.”
‘We have an 11-year-old with identity issues. Would you be able to take him in?’ We said yes to 30 days from now. Then we received a call: ‘Can he move in today?’: LGBT couple adopt 4 children from foster care
“‘Am I too young? Am I good enough?’ The fear set in. Soon, he arrived at our house with nothing but two trash bags, his life packed away in them. His shoes were too small, his clothes barely fit. The days of bouncing from home to home would finally be over.”
‘They’re stripping me of ANOTHER body part?’ I was only 16. ‘I’m sorry, your tumor didn’t shrink, at all.’: Multiple cancer survivor with TP53 gene becomes advocate, ‘I choose to not let fear control me’
“’We need to amputate.’ I’d never be able to play sports again, I’d never walk again, I probably wouldn’t go to college or get married. Everything I planned for suddenly came crashing down on me.”
