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Today on the blog, we have an inspiring piece from the Neuromuscular Disease Foundation (NDF) who share the story of Tara Voogel, a woman who has been using her personal blog to raise awareness about her rare disease, with the hope of empowering others to know where they can find resources and support. Tara, her sister, and many members of her family live with GNE Myopathy (GNEM). GNEM is a late-onset genetic disease that causes progressive wasting of the body’s muscle tissue, rendering patients in its late stages to a life confined to a wheelchair. With each life challenge, Tara strives to self-educate, equipping herself to tackle day-to-day life head-on. In her new role on the board of directors at NDF, an organization that serves the GNEM community through education, awareness and research, Tara focuses on being a dedicated patient advocate and program manager. During her tenure with NDF, she has exceeded her goal, providing support to hundreds of patients globally. “I am here for a unique purpose, to help those with rare diseases who are either searching for a diagnosis, lost in the maze of a misdiagnosis or those who are diagnosed; and to assist them with navigating the various challenging aspects of living with a rare disease," she says. Learn more about Tara's incredible work and personal story via the link in our bio. 💪🏾🧡 . . . #raredisease #advocacy #NDF #TaraVoogel #blog #inspiration #empower #awareness #community #story #family #purpose #health #instagood

"Let’s face it: Vision boards are not a magic portal to your best life." Oof, that is some hard truth that entrepreneur and life coach @jesaverhart is sharing with us on the blog today in a timely post about strategically tackling our goals for this year, without burning out. She shares some really great insight into how we can put a plan in action to achieve those #goals and dreams that we envision for ourselves and our career. But we also have to be realistic, as well as gentle on ourselves. This bit is our fave... "In today’s climate, with burnout rampant and cynicism high, we need something more concrete and practical to help us get from point A (dreaming) to point B (mission accomplished). Here’s what I’ve discovered: Intentionality is key...you have to be flexible and nimble because things change. Ways of work change. And ultimately, goals change." How will you adjust your outlook and goals this year in a way that doesn't sacrifice your well-being? Hit up the link in our bio to read Jes's list of ways to get it done in 2023! 💆🏽‍♀️💻 . . . #dream #vision #career #burnout #intention #change #flexibility #visionboard #achieve #success #instagood #best #advice

"I think joy is a human superpower." 💛✨ February is Black History Month and one of the things we love to do is highlight strong Black female voices who are sharing their creativity and talent to better the world. With that in mind, we’re excited to celebrate Grammy-nominated musician and author @thevaleriejune. Valerie's new picture book ‘SOMEBODY TO LOVE: The Story of Valerie June’s Sweet Little Baby Banjolele‘ , illustrated by Marcela Avelar, is inspired by the song “Somebody to Love” from her album Pushin’ Against a Stone. A portion of proceeds from the limited edition book will be donated to an organization supporting children’s literacy. We had the chance to speak with Valerie about her advocacy for children’s literacy, how following your dreams can be an act of community care, and the importance of J O Y "Joy allows us to transcend the struggles and challenges that could otherwise weigh on our hearts so heavily that they break. If we lean on it, though the world may be complex or challenging, our spirit will never be broken. It is enough to even change the world–one heart at a time. Joy is essential for all races, but I love uplifting my lineage through the magic of joy because I am Black." Read more of our interview with Valerie and buy a copy of her book via the link in our bio! 🪕 . . . #valeriejune #Joy #BlackHistoryMonth #grammynominated #artist #musician #Blackwomen #BlackJoy #Somebodytolove #literacy #music #friday #instagood #empower

Feb 2nd is #TimeToTalkDay in the UK, a day that focuses on how we can open up conversations around mental health to support one another, and ultimately change lives. One of the best things you can do for your mental health is exercise. @puregymofficial have put together a list of ways to prioritize fitness this year and make it an integral part of your mental health and wellbeing regime. Puregym spoke to TikTok fitness influencer Sydney Cassidy (@sydgrows) to see how the gym has benefitted their mental health. Sydney joined her local gym at the end of 2021, in a bid to help ease her anxiety and overthinking during a particularly low point in her life. Since then, she’s gone on to become a fitness influencer with over 300,000 followers, undergoing a huge mental transformation and now regularly posting helpful videos that inspire many more women, and men, to feel less nervous about entering the gym. "There’s something about overcoming a challenge or achieving a goal at the gym that gives you this kind of mental toughness and resilience to tackle whatever it is you’re dealing with outside of the gym. Your stress levels are lower, and your head is clearer. Going to the gym regularly can be really impactful.”  Find out how to create your own exercise regime to help your mental health today.🧘🏾‍♀️🧠 . . . #mentalhealth #fitness #exercise #community #support #wellness #wellbeing #confidence #instagood #health #breathe

Our fave NYC gallery, @untitledspaceny, is holding a special exhibition and auction, from January 30 to February 8, called ‘Living For Love’. Created by artist @fahrenhaute, this exhibit will benefit an organization supporting women’s mental health. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), women are twice as likely as men to suffer from mental health disorders. This exhibit is a timely response to an urgent crisis. Featuring 25 unique works including several new releases, a portion of proceeds from the sale of each artwork will be donated to @seekherorg Foundation, a non-profit advocacy project of WellSeek, a social impact collective that is reimagining women’s wellness in our workplaces and communities. SeekHer Foundation is on a mission to bridge the gender gap of mental health through advocacy, research, and support to empower women to thrive in their work and lives. Fahren’s watercolors give new voices to women of the past and present while exploring larger notions of female constructs in contemporary society. “Through my own journey with mental health, I am constantly seeking out ways to expand and be more empathic,” said Fahren in a press release about ‘Living For Love’. "My paintings act as a quiet dagger of truth, exposing the beauty of the feminine form from the female gaze, emphasizing the female body as a great thing to behold, free of judgement and objectification. My paintings of the female figure expands the footprint of women painted by women, celebrating sisterhood and empowering female themes.” Head to the link in our bio to see more of the artists' paintings and how you can support women's mental health today. 🎨💜💛🧡❤️ . . . #art #Artist #love #untitledspace #NYC #livingforlove #femalegaze #mentalhealth #watercolor #female #painting #instagood

She is a New York Times Bestseller, and a fave pick for Reese Witherspoon’s Book Club in the Fall of 2021. Now author @laurenblackwoodwrites is back with a dark fantasy inspired by Jamaican folklore from her heritage, in which a magical woman must face the horrors of a monster-infested jungle, insidious colonialism, and what lies within her own heart in ‘Wildblood’ (Macmillan) our February 7, 2023. Eighteen-year-old Victoria is a Wildblood. Kidnapped at age six and manipulated by the Exotic Lands Touring Company, she works as a tour guide with a team of fellow Wildbloods who use their magic to protect travelers in a Jamaican jungle teeming with ghostly monsters. When the boss denies Victoria an earned promotion, she’s determined to prove herself on their next expedition: leading a renowned goldminer named Thorn to an untouched gold supply deep in the jungle. Wildblood’ tells the story of a girl who must find the strength to defeat the demons of the jungle as well as her own to find where she truly belongs. On the eve of her YA release, Lauren spoke to us about drawing on her heritage to create the kinds of characters she never got to see as a young girl: "Growing up, I never got to see girls who looked like me who also got to live and thrive and love and kick butt. Not everyone can relate to western/European culture, and it’s beautiful to be able to see yourself in a hero who thinks like you and experiences things in the way you do." Read more about WILDLBLOOD via the link in our bio! 🌿💛 . . . #wildblood #laurenblackwood #author #YAfantasy #magic #folklore #colonialism #story #womenofcolor #character #heritage #jamaica #reesewitherspoon #bookclub #NYTbestselling

Today on the blog, author Angela Greenman, whose new book is called 'The Child Riddler’ and features a strong female lead who is a badass, writes about wanting to see more Spy Thrillers featuring more women. She says we don't have to look that hard to see that real life female spies already exist, and we know them! "I have this amazing idea for a spy thriller: An escapee from servitude becomes a spy and collects intelligence behind enemy lines. The spy becomes a military commander and leads three US gunboats and 150 soldiers on a raid that rescues more than 700 enslaved people. Oh, yes, it’s a true story. Harriet Tubman did this. Okay, how about this one: A linguist with a prosthetic leg recruits a network of spies and poses as a dairy farmer, scouting out drop zones. In addition to radioing intelligence reports, the linguist oversees sabotage missions and enemy ambushes. Another true story? Yes, Virginia Hall did this. Well, here’s another one: A wireless operator is sent into enemy-occupied territory with a radio suitcase weighing over 30 pounds. While trying to evade capture for months, the operator single-handedly maintains communications and helps dozens of soldiers escape. Really? This happened? Yep, Noor Inayat Khan did this." So why do the majority of Spy Thrillers center male characters? And what is the long-term impact of young girls seeing more female characters? "Thinking that a woman belongs in a secondary role—not out front leading the action—seems rooted in our early culture as human beings. While women’s advances are beginning to be acknowledged more publicly, only a generation ago I was expected to make my goals secondary. Women have been and are accomplished leaders in all walks of life, and their achievements should be celebrated!" Read more about the real life female superheroes Angela drew inspiration from for her own novel via the link in our bio! 🕵🏻 . . . #spy #thriller #novel #book #female #character #superhero #protagonist #author #instagood #bookstagram

"The shame and ache from losing my firstborn to adoption in 1969 nearly destroyed me." Today on the blog we're featuring a heartbreaking yet powerful story from author Cathryn Vogeley, whose new book "I Need To Tell You" recounts her experience of being a pregnant teen and being forced to give up her baby for adoption due to the shame and stigma at the time. Today, as we look around at an America that is fast taking away the choices of women and girls, Cathryn's book reminds us of what life looks like in an era where choice was not considered common. "Pregnant unwed girls were labeled tramps and their babies were called bastards. Shotgun weddings were common but raising a child as a single woman was not. I kept the pregnancy a secret and left town, spending the last trimester in a Catholic Charities home for unwed mothers... In the delivery room, I was put under with ether. When I awoke from the anesthesia, I heard only sounds of water running and chattering nurses. I listened for a baby’s cry but she had already been taken away... At home afterward, my mother insisted that I forget it ever happened. “Leave it behind,” she repeated again and again until it became a part of me. My baby was taken in a closed adoption with the records expunged of my name and sealed for ninety-nine years. For the rest of my life, I ran from that decision and the grief that was never allowed but existed in me just the same. Losing a child is the most painful experience a mother can have but I had to act as if it never happened." Read the full post via the link in our bio. 💔 . . . #adoption #pregnant #maternityhomes #Catholic #shame #teengirls #Roevwade #choice #trauma #mother #author #bookstagram #story #instagood #women #girls