“Courage is telling the story of who you are with your whole heart.” –Brene Brown

Each woman in this project is incredibly courageous. For me, the most important goal is to honor each woman’s story and their courage to share it. While I work on the next conversation in the midst of my busy life, I want to share with you another true example of courage.

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 Ginny is like a second mother to me.  Her older daughter, Kira, has been my best friend since we were four, and Raina calls me her “sister friend.” I have lived with their family a few times and often felt that Ginny was not only an amazing advocate for Raina, but somehow found the time to do the same for me. From her work in Sudan to each moment of her days with Raina, Ginny was my first and still best example of the power and importance of practical, hands-on service. In my eyes, she is an amazing role model for how to address life with loving-kindness and compassion in every moment.

The WOW Stories are a local version of TED talks in our community. I know it took a lot of courage for Ginny to share her story and I am so glad she did! I was honored to see her speak live, and what the video does not show is that by the end of her story there was not a dry eye in the room and she was the only speaker to receive a standing ovation. Thank you for everything Ginny and thank you for letting me share this!