secrets, traded personal life stories,
checked on each other when we
were mentally or physically ill. And
when it came time for her to leave
the place that had originally united
to juggle motherhood, divorce,
unemployment, spirituality, dating
and all the other stuff life seemed
to throw at her all at once. And I
watched her throw it all back, in
life’s face. I watched her not give
up. I got stronger because she got
esque fashion.
mind what you do ‘cause you never
know who’s watching.
the man she had been with for
5 years was imminent. It was an
uncomfortable time. She initiated
the divorce but considered the end
of her marriage one of her biggest
failures. And then, the business
that she and I escaped to together
began to crumble, along with
the industry under which it was
housed. It would have devastated
new for her. But she needed it. She
needed those failures to show her
who she really was and what she
was truly made of. These failures
were for her, a blessing.
It was all so empowering, although
to onlookers, it must have seemed
like something else. But I watched
her stand up for herself, for life, for
happiness, for progress. And she
did it against insurmountable odds.
She inspired me. She showed me
without even knowing it that when
power is at optimum force. It’s
the time in which we have every
universal resource at our beck and
call, and that we can rely upon it.
The years that have passed have
been a series of adventures and
sometimes misadventures. It has
been a decade of growing, watching
and learning from each other’s life
the better end of the deal. I got to
observe someone, older than me
only by a few years, take life headon. I often wondered how she did it.
I often wondered how she was able
precocious 12-year-old girl has an
have simmered just a bit—in the
best way. She’s gone from finance
lady to author, empowerment
coach, workshop facilitator, public
So when this time of year rolls
around, I don’t think of all the
things I didn’t do or accomplish all
these months. Instead, I think about
If we lose it, the desires of our hearts
come readily and abundantly.
make positive differences in each
other’s lives. In order to change
how people think about women,
we have to change what we think
about ourselves.
we encounter in our daily lives. We
can be influenced by the greatness
they have accepted as their life.
Once we accept that, life is much
easier to live.
misconceptions is that women can’t
life, every moment, every second
of every day. It is what guides,
what enlightens, what gives, what
redeems. It makes one unstoppable
and grants never-ending peace.
herself in a room somewhere on
on, if you desire it, your spirituality
gets stronger.
I think about her advocacy for
greatness and personal power. I
think about all she’s been through
and how every single time I see
her, she shines like the sun and the
So while replaying all the things you
didn’t do this past year and jotting
down all the things you intend
at the same time. I need sunglasses
just to look.
For every month there is in a year,
I have learned an important lesson
from my former boss, mentor and
friend. They are as follows:
things are hard, have a final cry,
then praise whatever force and
power has allowed me to remain
done and all he will ever do.
inspiration for your life. They will
shape you, mold you, transform you
will look up one day and be moved
suddenly be different because of
the impression they have made in
know, you will be that for some one
else, some one who really, really
needs it.
written by Traci Ricks
www.amazingwomannetwork.com AMAZING WOMEN SPEAK!
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