We The WOMEN - Strong, Passionate, Purpose Driven And Highly Capable. XO
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International Women’s Day was on March 8th this past week and we want to take the time to thank all of the amazing women that are here with us in this community. We are so proud to be a business that supports women, including those who are staying at home raising babies, women in the workforce, community leaders and overall just RAD WOMEN. We see you and we want to thank you for your presence and the light you bring here.
This past week we highlighted three very special women who inspire us and who are making a positive impact in our community. We asked them some questions to get to the essence of what lights them up and inspires them. You might have seen their features on our social channel this past week but we wanted to show them some love here if you missed it AND I promise it’s worth your time to read all the way through. We’ve included a little gift for YOU too! ❤️
Meet Carolina
3 words we would use to describe her:
Intelligent - Compassionate - Determined
Carolina is a woman who leads by example in all of the ways. She is a pediatric surgeon at The Alberta Children’s hospital, a wife, mama, daughter, sister and friend to MANY. We asked Carolina a few questions to get a little more on the inside scoop on what drives her and lights her up because she inspires us in all the ways.
What’s your favourite quality about yourself and something that you admire most in yourself? It is so easy to find beauty and qualities in someone else, super difficult though to look in the mirror and find what I admire about myself. I think I’m strong and kind. I have gone through many challenges and difficult situations over time and all of them have made me stronger without losing my kindness.
On hard days, what motivates you to get up and start your day? Best remedy for overcoming challenges? Having a list of things that light me up from the inside out has helped me a lot during this difficult season, gratitude and journaling remind me of the small daily things that make me day brighter, simple things from a delicious cup of medium roast coffee, a good book or an early workout session put me in a good mood, ready to face any challenge the day brings.
What advice would you give to your younger self? Don’t compare yourself with anybody. The only person you need to be better than is the person you were yesterday. I also have to remind myself that consistency matters. It is the little things we do each day that add up to big results.
Who inspires YOU? I have a lot of people who inspire me every day from friends in my own community who I admire and love, to the ones who have written amazing books (who are good friends but they don’t know about it). I try to consume and be around positive people. Some of them Mel Robbins, Geneen Roth , Oprah, Rachel Hollis John Maxwell and Stacey Irvine.
One word that you aspire to embody in 2021? Warrior
Meet Dani
3 words we would use to describe her:
Humble - Driven - Leader
For our second International Women’s Day feature this past week we wanted to celebrate someone who is a driving light in our community. Dani is a new momma and entrepreneur who owns Love Your Guts with her sister Lexi. She leads with a full heart and is the first to extend support and practical advice in biz and life! She has grown a successful business while taking her community along with her AND recently gave birth to a beautiful baby girl! We asked Dani a few questions to explore that wise soul and heart of hers.
One word that you aspire to embody in 2021? Intentional. In my learnings of how to be a new Mom to Bergen, the role The Gut Lab will play in supporting the community, how I consume media (and from where), and the goals I set together with my husband Jadan, for our little family. Intentional with grace, eyes open, and presence.
Early bird or night hawk? Early bird always, love an early bedtime — these days though, with a newborn, day and night are one in the same and I’m cherishing it.
Do you have a morning routine that stays consistent or do you like to shake things up? For years it’s been wake up, make a coffee (always with medicinal mushrooms), sit on the couch (bonus in the rising sun) and reflect — the quiet moments in the morning set the pace for the day. I wish I could say I was someone that loved working out in the morning, but I’d way rather journal, pull a card, and visit with my thoughts on the day.
On hard days, what motivates you to get up and start your day? When you’re in the thick of something it’s so hard to recognize and see past it — but even if it’s just for a flash moment, I always settle my thoughts with a reminder that this experience is pushing me out of my comfort zone, it’s difficult, and am going to look back with fondness from the growth of it all (and breatheee). Best remedy for overcoming challenges? Vulnerability. If it’s really hard, a good cry, some sleep, and an open hearted chat with my husband, sister or parents, clear the head and go for it. If extra TLC is needed, I obvi book in for a facial with Stacey.
What advice would you give to your younger self? Buy that Bitcoin! Just kidding, it’d be to collect people, collect experiences and your life will lead the richest in quality and adventure. My Mother-in-Law reinforces the motto always, to ‘Choose Life’, and I think it’s a beautiful lesson for us all.
Life mantra or favourite quote? On lunch box notes, every soccer tryout, job interview — my Mom would leave Phil 4:13; ''I can do all things through Christ”, with me — it was her way of saying you’ve got this, you’re never alone.
Meet Aliya
3 words we would use to describe her:
Connector - Health Advocate - Vibrant
Aliya is one of those amazing women that has this innate power of bringing people together. Her energy is vibrant and she is incredibly kind, always going out of her way to help someone. Not only that but she is resilient. Having gone through her own big health journey she is centred around living a health conscious life and has all of the best health tips and advice. We asked Aliya a few questions to get to know her a little more. I hope she lights up your inspiration as she’s done for us.
What’s your favourite quality about yourself and something that you admire most in yourself? I consider myself a kind and generous person. Karma is a word that is often thrown around, but I never fully understood the concept until I spent time in an ashram in Italy in my 20s, where I took a course on the Laws of Karma. I make sure that I put goodness out into the world to keeps these wheels in motion. Sometimes it’s as simple as letting someone into my lane in traffic or helping a stranger load their groceries, to dropping off a meal to a family in need. I also think these are all important lessons for my kids, and I see them emulating this behaviour which makes me feel like I am helping put good humans out into this world.
On hard days, what motivates you to get up and start your day? Best remedy for overcoming challenges? On hard days, nothing is a better motivator than having to get 3 kids up and ready for school. On those tough days though, I make sure I start the day with a VERY cold shower, which zaps my body and refreshes me for the day. I also commit to a ridiculously early bedtime because a great sleep is something that I know will reset me for the following day.
Early bird or night hawk? Definitely early bird although I do love to linger in bed on the weekends
Do you have a morning routine that stays consistent or do you like to shake things up? Since the pandemic, I am favouring more sleep over my typical morning meditation and self-care routine. However, I never leave my bed without a prayer, an expression of gratitude, and an expression of love for myself.
What is one item that you couldn’t live without? Lip gloss
What advice would you give to your younger self? Be where your feet are.
Life mantra or favourite quote? You cannot serve from an empty vessel
One word that you aspire to embody in 2021? Brave
Take good care of your MIND - BODY - SKIN
All love, all days
Stacey, Lauren & Charlotte
xx
