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As a mother to two young children, Sande went through a divorce. She felt disconnect. Sande sought help from a community of like-minded people. She knew she had to change herself and become strong. Sande noticed that a new part of her life was beginning. She felt fulfilled while reconnecting with her creativity, poetry and art work. Sande shares these powerful nuggets of life wisdom: - writing helps us to see the light - challenge your fears - life can be beautiful - believe in yourself - know your heart - speak to those that you trust - you don't need to go through it alone https://www.sandeboritzberger.com/  https://www.facebook.com/sandeboritzberger  https://twitter.com/ezwriter25  tags: Sande, Boritz, Berger, writer, author, Split, Level, The, Sweetness, novel, story, stories, that, empower, empowering, empowerment, inspire, inspiring, inspiration, encourage, encouraging, encouragement, hope, light, podcast, Sean https://storiesthatempower.com 

As a former US Marine tasked with locating explosive devices, Akshay experienced Post Traumatic Stress, depression and drug/alcohol addiction. He studied neuroscience as he was fascinated by it. Akshay learned that he is not defined by a disorder and refuses to accept it. His divorce caused him to break his sobriety. He decided to go 'within' on inward journey. So, Akshay spent 7 days in complete darkness, stillness and silence. Confronting his struggles, suffering and pain brought closer to bliss and enlightenment. Akshay shares these powerful nuggets of life wisdom: - we transcend what is - seek out your fears - our greatness, bliss and enlightenment reside on the other side of pain - we cannot fully experience the light until we've gone into the dark - self transcendence is the essence of enlightenment - conscious stillness is necessary for our growth - develop a positive experience with adversity and pain - remove your attachment of your self identity to the experience of the challenge - be with what is, but do not become what is - serve others - find your 'worthy struggle' - you're not defined by your pain https://fearvana.com  tags:  Akshay, Nanavati, Fearvana, story, stories, that, empower, empowering, empowerment, inspire, inspiring, inspiration, encourage, encouraging, encouragement, hope, light, podcast, Sean https://storiesthatempower.com   

This is a special episode of "Message to Dad" about integrity.  My dad lives in a dementia care nursing home. I've been struggling to stay connected with him. So, I figured that he might enjoy receiving these personal recorded messages from me. I hope you enjoy them too. tags: message, to, dad, stories, that, empower, podcast, Sean, https://storiesthatempower.com 

When her daughter was convicted to a life sentence in prison without parole, it impacted Bonnie's life and she found herself in a dark place. However, spending time in nature and appreciating the tiny miracles of life helped her survive. Bonnie shares the following nuggets of wisdom: - look at your situation in a different light - turn your perspective around - look for the positives - there are blessings that can come out of an ordeal - there's always someone that is less fortunate than you http://bonnieshirst.com/  https://www.facebook.com/BonnieSHirst  tags: Bonnie, Hirst, writer, author, Test, of, Faith, Surviving, my, daughter's, life, sentence, story, stories, that, empower, empowering, empowerment, inspire, inspiring, inspiration, encourage, encouraging, encouragement, hope, light, podcast, Sean https://storiesthatempower.com

This is a special episode of "Message to Dad". My dad lives in a dementia care nursing home. I've been struggling to stay connected with him. So, I figured that he might enjoy receiving these personal recorded messages from me. I hope you enjoy them too. tags: message, to, dad, stories, that, empower, podcast, Sean, https://storiesthatempower.com

While walking back to her university dorm building, Karen was assaulted at knife point. She managed to escape, physically unharmed. However, the assault traumatized Karen. She experienced periods of peace and power, but her life unravelled again, when her marriage was dying, she experienced financial loss and her mother was slipping into dementia. These additional sources of trauma caused her to slip back into anxiety and PTSD. Writing about it required her to excavate and evaluate her feelings. What Karen discovered in the process was life altering and she came to learn a lot about herself. Today, she is a lot kinder to herself and has established better coping mechanisms. Karen shares these powerful nuggets of life wisdom: - be kind to yourself - be mindful of the story you're telling yourself internally - adjust your self talk to something more gentle - make necessary life adjustments - ask for help - seek therapy http://stefanokaren.com  https://soundcloud.com/rarebirdlit/sets/karen-stefano  tags: Karen, Stefano, writer, author, What, A, Body, Remembers, radio, show, podcast, story, stories, that, empower, empowering, empowerment, inspire, inspiring, inspiration, encourage, encouraging, encouragement, hope, light, podcast, Sean https://storiesthatempower.com  

Having experienced life setbacks, Meryl chose not to allow herself to be stuck or feel like a victim. She reinvented herself multiple times and enabled herself to be empowered. Meryl shares the following nuggets of life wisdom: - practice the 3 Rs: reinvent yourself, be resilient and stay relevant - get yourself a project - nothing is permanent - everything is temporary - we are one family of human beings - we should strive not to treat people as 'others' - believe in yourself - you have to greenlight yourself - keep trying - it's all about perspective - every knock is a boost - if you look for it, there's always something else https://merylain.com https://www.facebook.com/MerylAinAuthor  tags:  Meryl, Ain, writer, author, speaker, story, stories, that, empower, empowering, empowerment, inspire, inspiring, inspiration, encourage, encouraging, encouragement, hope, light, podcast, Sean https://storiesthatempower.com  

Stephanie Raffelock and I bring you another episode of “Holiday Stories” with our special guest, Jill Sherer Murray. tags:  Jill, Sherer, Murray, author, TEDx, speaker, communications, expert. Big, Wild, Love, Let, Go, For, It, storiesthatempower.com, story, stories, that, empower, empowering, empowerment, inspire, inspiring, inspiration, encourage, encouraging, encouragement, hope, light, podcast, Sean https://storiesthatempower.com 

As a child, Charlene experienced PTSD from an unhealthy home environment. She ran away from home and was attracted to the 'dark side'. Her life took a positive turn, when she began following in the footsteps of a meditation teacher. Today, she helps people understand there are powerful ways to heal, empowers those that are stuck and teaches meditation. Charlene shares these powerful nuggets of life wisdom: - we can heal from almost anything - you can do this - ask yourself what brings you joy - follow your joy - neurons that fire together stay together - find a way to 'let go', e.g. journal, feel the feelings or cry, weekly for an hour - be mindful of your night dreams, which are metaphors and powerful energy - do the 'body work', e.g. release the memories and energy from the body - practice meditation and visualization - build your conscious mind - make meaning out of your suffering - we are developing a collective conscious - you are the drop that is making the wave happen - practice appreciation, gratitude and be positive http://www.soulsciences.net  charlenej@rogers.com  tags: Charlene, Jones, writer, author, healing, abuse, PTSD, healthy, mind, body, meditation, storiesthatempower.com, story, stories, that, empower, empowering, empowerment, inspire, inspiring, inspiration, encourage, encouraging, encouragement, hope, light, podcast, Sean https://storiesthatempower.com 

Stephanie Raffelock and I bring you another episode of “Holiday Stories” with our special guest, Diane Dewey. tags:  Diane, Dewey, writer, author, podcast, host, Fixing, the, Fates, Dropping, In, storiesthatempower.com, story, stories, that, empower, empowering, empowerment, inspire, inspiring, inspiration, encourage, encouraging, encouragement, hope, light, podcast, Sean https://storiesthatempower.com   

Evelyn grew up as a self-sufficient child and adult. She served in the Peace Corps, where she learned to take risks. Evelyn also found herself questioning certain rules and regulations. She shares the following nuggets of life wisdom: - travel transforms us - people that have the least tend to be the most content - be mindful of the serendipity of life - travel teaches us not to take things for granted - turn the negative into a lesson - know who you are https://www.evelynlatorre.com/  tags: Evelyn, Kohl, LaTorre, writer, author, Behind, Inca, Walls, storiesthatempower.com, story, stories, that, empower, empowering, empowerment, inspire, inspiring, inspiration, encourage, encouraging, encouragement, hope, light, podcast, Sean https://storiesthatempower.com 

Stephanie Raffelock and I bring you another episode of “Holiday Stories” with our special guest, Eileen Harrison Sanchez. tags:  Eileen, Harrison, Sanchez, writer, author, Freedom, Lessons, A, Novel, storiesthatempower.com, story, stories, that, empower, empowering, empowerment, inspire, inspiring, inspiration, encourage, encouraging, encouragement, hope, light, podcast, Sean https://storiesthatempower.com 

Jane initially struggled with being an introvert. However, she discovered that it can actually be an asset. Jane went outside of her comfort zone. Now, she empowers introvert that may be struggling in the workplace and empowers them. Jane shares the following nuggets of wisdom to those that consider themselves introverts: - embrace the 'introversion' - being an introvert helps you build relationships - be mindful if your introversion may be holding you back - take steps to challenge yourself and go outside outside your comfort zone https://janefinkle.com/  tags:  Jane, Finkle, writer, author, career, consultant, introvert's, complete, career, guide, from, landing, job, surviving, thriving, moving, on, up, storiesthatempower.com, story, stories, that, empower, empowering, empowerment, inspire, inspiring, inspiration, encourage, encouraging, encouragement, hope, light, podcast, Sean https://storiesthatempower.com 

Lisa grew up in a home, where she witnessed domestic violence and emotional brutality. She experienced shame and isolation. Lisa managed to get herself out into a healthy life. Writing about it helped her speak her truth. She shares these powerful nuggets of life wisdom: - speak your truth - be disciplined to tell your story - be brave to reach and talk to a trusted person - writing can help make suffering feel more finite, relief and healing https://www.lisabravermoss.com/  tags: Lisa, Braver, Moss, writer, author, Shrug, storiesthatempower.com, story, stories, that, empower, empowering, empowerment, inspire, inspiring, inspiration, encourage, encouraging, encouragement, hope, light, podcast, Sean https://storiesthatempower.com   

Stephanie Raffelock and I bring you another episode of “Holiday Stories” with our special guest, Michelle Cox. tags:  Michelle, Cox, writer, author, Henrietta, Inspector, Howard, storiesthatempower.com, story, stories, that, empower, empowering, empowerment, inspire, inspiring, inspiration, encourage, encouraging, encouragement, hope, light, podcast, Sean https://storiesthatempower.com 

Patricia survived sexual abuse from a family member. Initially, she became very good at self sabotage. Patricia found the courage to thrive, release the shame, and live fully. This enabled her to free her voice.  Patricia shares the following nuggets of life wisdom: - stand up and speak up for the truth - there are gifts even in loss and tragedy - seek people that nourish you - develop compassion for yourself and others - spend time outdoors in nature - we can't change what we refuse to talk about or listen to https://patriciaeagle.com/  https://www.facebook.com/patricia.eagle.94  tags:  Patricia, Eagle, writer, author, Being, Mean, storiesthatempower.com, story, stories, that, empower, empowering, empowerment, inspire, inspiring, inspiration, encourage, encouraging, encouragement, hope, light, podcast, Sean https://storiesthatempower.com/

Stephanie Raffelock and I bring you another episode of “Holiday Stories” with our special guest, Kathryn Taylor. tags:  Kathryn, Taylor, writer, author, Two, Minus, One, Memoir, storiesthatempower.com, story, stories, that, empower, empowering, empowerment, inspire, inspiring, inspiration, encourage, encouraging, encouragement, hope, light, podcast, Sean https://storiesthatempower.com/ 

Rebecca experienced cancer diagnosis through the eyes of a daughter. She knew she could either focus on what isn't (allow fear to creep in) or focus on what is (enjoy each day). Rebecca chose the latter. She shares these powerful nuggets of life wisdom: - appreciate every moment - encourage perseverance - focus on mind, body, spirit connection - our minds have the power to heal our bodies - how you experience life depends on how you see life - there's so much joy when we focus on what is there - every cancer experience is unique - be open - love through the fear - engage instead of withdraw - serve who we are https://rebeccawmunnauthor.com/  https://twitter.com/rebeccawmunn  https://www.facebook.com/rebeccawmunnauthor/  tags: Rebecca, Whitehead, Munn, writer, author, cancer, Gift, of, Goodbye, Story, Agape, Love, All, of, Us, Warriors, Cancer, Stories, Survival, Loss, storiesthatempower.com, story, stories, that, empower, empowering, empowerment, inspire, inspiring, inspiration, encourage, encouraging, encouragement, hope, light, podcast, Sean  

Stephanie Raffelock and I bring you another episode of “Holiday Stories” with our special guest, Jeanne Guy. tags:  Jeanne, Guy, writer, author, gatherings, workshops, Seeing, Me, storiesthatempower.com, story, stories, that, empower, empowering, empowerment, inspire, inspiring, inspiration, encourage, encouraging, encouragement, hope, light, podcast, Sean https://storiesthatempower.com/ 

When Kristen lost her baby, she leaned into journaling as a way of coping and navigating loss. She felt a loss of relationships, identity and dreams. Kristen chose not to allow events to define her. She navigated from the grief and rebuilt herself from the ground up. Kristen put herself back together again in new and better ways. She shares these powerful nuggets of life wisdom: - change and trauma can be a great opportunity/gift if we can keep our hearts open - look for the opportunity to grow - we have the capacity to be resilient - there's a mystery to healing - be patient with yourself - grief is not a straight line - savor moments of peace - look for something to have hope in - look for the good https://kristenrademacher.com/  https://www.facebook.com/kristenrademacherauthor  tags: Kristen, Rademacher, author, writer, life, coach, ADHD, LD, specialist, From, the, Lake, House, A, Mother's, Odyssey, of, Loss, and, Love, memoir, storiesthatempower.com, story, stories, that, empower, empowering, empowerment, inspire, inspiring, inspiration, encourage, encouraging, encouragement, hope, light, podcast, Sean