Wisdom worth sharing, words worth remembering.
I'm still really close with everyone at home and their parents – and their brothers and sisters. I was so so so lucky to grow up as part of a community and I don't take that for granted. I try very hard to stay part of it.
I'm privileged because I have a lot of freedom. I want to use it to make as warm and normal a life as I can for our daughters.
I wasn't a woman who stayed tiny like I thought I would. I definitely gave myself the freedom to eat what I wanted.
I try to eat in a way that makes me feel good. If that means a little bite of chocolate I do that but I try not to use food as a reward for myself.
My mom was really vigorous about making sure that we saw things and that we questioned things. Education was so important to both of my parents.
We all have a responsibility to volunteer somewhere and I'm lucky that I get the education and get taken to places to see what's out there and see what's happening and to then be a part of it in hopefully an impactful way.
My parents came from a poor background and worked their way up because of education. They saw it as a way to succeed. So they cared about me getting straight A grades when I was growing up.
My mom grew up in poverty in Oklahoma – like Dust Bowl nine people in one room kind of place – and the way she got out of poverty was through education. My dad grew up without a dad with very little and he also made his way out through education.
I am lucky to have had an attentive curious and loving dad and heart-smart down-to-earth gifted mother. They changed the outlooks of their own lives and have never forgotten the people and organizations that helped them dream bigger than their circumstances should have allowed.
In my teens I was never part of the cool crowd.
My mother is a big believer in being responsible for your own happiness. She always talked about finding joy in small moments and insisted that we stop and take in the beauty of an ordinary day. When I stop the car to make my kids really see a sunset I hear my mother's voice and smile.
Beauty comes from a life well lived. If you've lived well your smile lines are in the right places and your frown lines aren't too bad what more do you need?