What keeps you strong in times of trial? I consistently fall back on methods of self-care as a way to push past adversity and I am emboldened by the strength of knowing I have faced similarly great challenges already in my life. Sometimes the best self care I can do is a warm bath and an early bed time.
Who is a female role model in your life and why? My mother has always had the audacity to try when others would not. She reinvented herself at 50 years old, after having been a stay-at-home mom to return to school and earn a challenging masters degree in occupational therapy and she now works in that field. I like to say she gave me my Geronimo instinct.
How do you encourage other women to be strong? I try to embody the resources that helped me to where I am today. Resources that are compassionate and tactful in their understanding of unique situations and needs. Resources that are fierce in the application of time, money, connections, or skills to plug those gaps.
What’s one thing someone could do today to make them stronger? I am a strong believer in the power of gratitude and forgiveness to the one who finds the strength to forgive. One of the most empowering yet difficult things I do is say “thank you” even when I am not sure I wanted or needed what I received and to say “I forgive you” even when the person who hurt me does not realize how or why they hurt me.
Christine’s Intentional Act of Kindness
How did you use the $100? I gave the $100 to my Uber driver Mohamed in Cincinnati, Ohio. Mohamed’s strength and spirit inspired me and I felt honored to be able to recognize that at the end of the drive. Throughout the Uber ride from the airport to downtown Cincinnati, Mohamed told me about his family. He spoke with such pride for being able to come to America for 9 months in the year and work to provide for his wife and daughter back home, despite how he had to be away from home for 9 months at a time because his family did not travel with him. He told me about how when he finished his Uber shift he will switch over to driving his box truck. It was clear he was living a frugal life in America in order to send back as much as possible to his family. He inspired me with his graciousness and humility and I hope he was able to take some time for self-care as a result of the $100.
What was the 'Intentional Act of Kindness' process like for you? The process was very intimidating! I carried around the crisp $100 bill for multiple months through multiple trips with it constantly at the back of my mind. I felt as though I needed to be a good steward and at the same time, I was afraid of my own “savior complex” where I felt as though I had to judge the potential recipients for their worthiness.