“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, ‘Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?’ Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
Marianne Williamson

it’s really refreshing to be around people who OWN THEIR STORY.

this past weekend I spent 5 days with women from around the country who are fearlessly owning their stories, and devoting time and energy to speak on behalf of the vunerable.  Yes, I’m talking about my Noonday Collection tribe.  I love these women – women from all seasons of life who are passionate, humble, gracious, and fierce!  Our leader, Jessica, speaks to my heart so much.  She’s a dear friend and sister and her freedom over the years has trickled down to on me.

I see her living her ONE life wild + free on fire for Jesus and I want that.  I don’t want to live in this shame that I so often live in, but I want to OWN MY STORY and truly live alive.

One of my favorite things Jess said over the weekend was “When each of us owns our true story, we exude the type of gracious confidence that other women want to be around.”

Yes, let’s be those kind of women.  “Women who’s identity does not depend on depriving others of theirs.”  Instead of feeling shameful that I am a work-from-home studio mama, I am going to own the fact that God gave me this passion, drive, connection, influence, and vision to be a self starter and creative!  I am going to [so many Jessica quotes!] “understand my limitations and reach out and ask for help,”  I am going to own the fact that when we move, I might need some extra help on non-school days from a sweet college girl.  I am going to own this opportunity as a chance to pour into a college student, give my kids a valuable experience, and give myself grace and permission to do what God has created me to do!

this is vunerability.  this is living alive.  this is owning my story.

** also, never thought I’d be the “infertility girl” but thankful God can use my story to bring Him glory.  read more on the carry camp here.**

what’s your story? how has God created YOU to be?  Because the amazing thing is, He doesn’t create us all the same.  He created me to be creative-dreamer-connector-story teller-visionary-writer-influencer-advocate-traveler-high capacity starter!  How did He create you?

own it and be free.

let’s stop comparing ourselves to each other, and run our own race with humility and tenacity.  let’s speak life into our friends – lets call out the goodness we see in them.  let’s give them words that they can cling to.  so many of my words came from truth spoken into me by someone who knows and loves me.  sometimes they can see things in me that I can’t see in me.  lets speak up!

“lets practice vunerability and connection a lot more, and comparison and perfectionism a lot less.”

love how my friend Megan so vulnerably put it…

“I’m not going to be afraid to do what I’m good at doing, and I encourage you to do the same. We are all playing a vital part in this story, and we all need each other to make the best version of this story, this story that is changing the world. So let’s stop being preoccupied with shrinking back, with looking inward, with being afraid of what others will think…let’s stand and claim the freedom that is already afforded to us. Let’s take action to shine, not for us, but for others. Let’s get over ourselves and be free.”