Tag: love

Woman Wednesday: 2025 Words of Wisdom

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We’re starting 2026 the right way! We’ve selected some of the best words of wisdom from a few of our past featured women from the 2025 Woman Wednesdays. Happy New Year, everyone! Let’s do our best to make it the best year yet! 

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Joy from Ondo, Nigeria, says: “One of the most important lessons I’ve learned in life is to take charge of your own journey early on because you can’t always rely on others to help you.

“When you’re passionate about something especially if it’s a good and meaningful pursuit, give it your all. Invest your energy and effort to do it to the best of your ability.” Read full article here.

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Jen from Johannesburg, South Africa, says: “Family and upbringing shaped so much of what I do today. I personally experienced patterns of trauma, emotional suppression, and conditioning that kept me small. It took me years to realize that healing is not just about what happened to us – but about how our body and mind stored those experiences. That realization set me on the path I’m on today.

“You are not broken. You are operating from patterns of protection that your nervous system and subconscious mind created to keep you safe.” Read full article here.

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Jocelynn Mitchell from Hill Country, Texas, says: “I’ve learned that it is possible to make your dreams happen! I never imagined that I would be where I am today, but here I am, 15 years old with four published books! I want others to learn to believe in themselves because, if you put your mind to it, you can do it.” Read full article here.

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Vinti from India, living in San Diego, California, says: “Life is the most valuable thing we have. It is the root of everything, the chance to feel, to grow, to create, to love, and to be loved. We should cherish every moment we have with our loved ones and surround ourselves with people who care and uplift us. Stay humble and close to our roots.” Read full article here.

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Lucie from Quebec, Canada, living in Mexico says: “Your story is not over. In fact, the best chapters might still be ahead. I’ve learned that clarity and confidence can come at any age, but only when you give yourself permission to evolve.

“I want women to know they’re not behind—they’re just getting started.

“When we embrace our age as a superpower, we become unstoppable.” Read full article here.

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Joelee from Kingston, Jamaica says: “What I’ve learned is that consistent self work is the key to becoming your best self. Using your voice is how you change your life and create an impact. Creating your life vision and clarifying your “why” is how we truly life a happy life. And lastly, happiness is something that we create, craving out our happiness is a long-term goal that we should thrive to achieve.” Read full article here.

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Nadine from the beautiful island nation of Niue says: “I’d like to encourage others to explore and celebrate their own cultural roots. I also value one’s voice– speaking your truth and holding yourself accountable to what matters to you, regardless of what others think, is crucial.

“If you believe in yourself, nothing can change your mind, if it’s for the greater good. In this world where we self-sabotage and compare, it can be challenging to block out the negativity and stay true to who you are. There is power in knowing who you are. Seeking out what’s already yours, what is meant to be will find you, with the right conviction. Knowing self is knowing God.” Read full article here.

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Alisha from Dallas, Texas, says: “Obstacles aren’t stop signs; they’re detours that can build strength and wisdom if you don’t give up.

“I want others to take from my story that faith, persistence, and purpose-driven action can change the trajectory of your life. 

“You don’t have to come from privilege to build a legacy; you need the courage to keep moving forward.” Read full article here.

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Sabrina from Oliver, British Columbia, Canada, says: “Growth begins when you commit to moving forward before everything feels perfect.

“It may sound counterintuitive to someone who builds systems, but iteration is part of reality.

“Holding out until version one feels flawless only makes it harder to reach version two, three, or four. That lesson was shaped and reinforced when I went back to school as an adult. It wasn’t about timing or convenience; it was simply about starting, and then starting again, until I reached the finish line.” Read full article here.

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Lychee from Brussels, Belgium, says: “I think one thing that I’ve learned is that whenever you think a story has ended, there is always a new beginning coming; it’s really just a matter of perspective.” Read full article here.

Tune in every Wednesday to read about a new featured woman!

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Happy New Year, everyone! Let’s do our best to make it the best year yet! 

Woman Wednesday: 25 Christmas Gifts That Don’t Cost a Thing

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Merry Christmas to all of our readers who celebrate the wonderful holiday of Christmas! And warm wishes and Happy Holidays to our readers around the world who may or may not celebrate other holidays. In the spirit of Christmas, we’ve collected 25 “gifts” for you. These “gifts” are 25 life “gifts” that cannot be bought with money, and they are “gifts” mentioned by our featured women on The Woman Wednesday Blog. Enjoy! 

  1. Family. They might not always be there, so appreciate the time you have with them. “Three years ago, I lost my Dad to cancer and that has been one of the most difficult things I’ve ever been through. He was gone 3 months after his diagnosis. My family and I barely had time to process one piece of information before being hit with something new. It rocked my world losing someone so close to me.” ~Jessica M., Maryland
  2. Friends. True friends are there for your ups and downs, successes and failures. They like you for the person you are, and they cannot be bought.
  3. Love. True love is one of the most beautiful and magical aspects of life. Of course, it cannot be bought!
  4. Positive mindset. You can make today a good day or a bad day. It’s all about your mindset. “I learned very early on that I could either be a victim of circumstance or I could take those challenges and grow from them. I try really hard to be a force of positivity and a problem solver.” ~Melissa, Utah 

    “If you don’t believe in yourself first, you will fail every time. So for me, first and foremost is get your mindset right in the beginning, and set the foundations to build an amazing life for yourself and stick at it! The only way you will stick at anything is self-reliance, discipline, and self-belief.”   ~Carly, Melbourne, Australia

  5. Moral support. Whether giving moral support or receiving it, being there for someone does not cost a thing.“He was so understanding of my situation and was like the perfect puzzle piece to the kids and I.” ~Lisa, Canada 
  6. Giving back. Giving our time to others is one of the greatest gifts we have to give, whether we are making dinner with our family, visiting a grandparent or old friend, or volunteering for a good cause. 
  7. Hard work. It feels good to know hard work.“I have learned that nothing comes easy that is worthwhile, and this is where hard work and grit comes in.” ~Sarah, Washington
  8. Success. When you finally achieve what you set out to achieve, there is no other feeling like it! 
  9. Independence. “Be you, stay you, do you. There is no one like you and the moment you appreciate that about you, the rest of the world will!” ~Maria Tan, Philippines 
  10. Passion. “Passion is what makes you persevere through setbacks, unhappiness, and fear of failure to achieve your dreams. It is the core drive of your motivation.” ~Ashlee, Florida
  11. Proving haters wrong. “People will judge you, try to change you, try to break you, and even try to stop you. But that is all in the process of getting to the top!” ~Felissa, Georgia
  12. Health. We don’t have full control over our health, but what we do each day matters. If you are able to get out of bed right now, that is a gift. “The doctors told me I might never walk again. When you’re faced with that kind of news, you have a choice—accept what you’re being told or try and do something about it.”  ~Kezia, England
  13. Exercise. People would pay big money to live longer. Here is one FREE way to live longer: exercise! Though it may be difficult to get started, exercise has amazing benefits! The studies don’t lie; exercise can make you live longer! So, if you are able, find something you like that gets your body moving! If you have the ability to move your body, that is a gift. 
  14. Creating. Creating something with your own hands feels amazing. Create a story, a poem, a drawing, build something. “Don’t be afraid to put your work out there. It’s very daunting at first, but it’s so rewarding when people read your book and tell you how much they love it.” ~Dee J. Stone, Surname authors in USA

    “Whenever you feel completely disappointed, desperate, and that life is completely pointless, turn to that color or canvas, pot or music, or whatever makes you feel joy.” ~Ioana, Romania

  15. Patience. If it does not come easily to you, it can be learned.
  16. Mindfulness. “I have to take care of myself by sleeping, eating healthy, exercising, spending time with God through prayer, and meditation as well as reading my Bible. I have to be intentional about making time for myself, family and friends, as well as work.” ~Ruby B. Johnson, West Africa
  17. Curiosity. We can be curious and try new things and explore this beautiful planet. “Something I’d like others to know is that whatever you want to do is possible if you really want to make it happen. I make traveling and seeing the world a priority. This isn’t to say that I spend an extreme amount of money on it either. I budget it into my expenses just like groceries. I need to see the world. And while I love my job, I always feel a constant urge to know that the world and my life is bigger than sitting at a desk or on a train. It’s always worth it, and it is totally possible!” ~Justine S., New Jersey  
  18. Knowledge. You never know what you might learn next and how it may impact the rest of your life. “I signed up for one design class and absolutely loved it! I found that I not only had a passion for interior design, but I had a God-given gift to envision a space based off my clients’ wants and needs.” ~Ariel, Texas
  19. Choice. Knowing you have choice to eat that sandwich, see that friend, to remove someone negative from your life. It’s your choice. “You are amazing! Take care and love yourself. You are worth loving! You have everything you need inside of yourself. You have the cognitive power to improve your life through your thoughts and emotions. If you’re stuck in a bad relationship or situation, know you have the power to change that.” ~Lisa, Canada

    “In my point of view, during our lives, we have the chance to make positive impacts in our environment by understanding that life is full of good intent. I am passionate about people. Each of us has a story—something to tell the world. As human beings, we all deserve to be unique and to make mistakes in order to learn.” ~Idoia, Spain

  20. Forgiveness. Forgiving someone doesn’t necessarily mean letting someone who is negative back in your life. You can forgive without compromising your happiness. Forgiving someone will most likely make you happier; you can forgive this person to their face or just in your heart. 
  21. Appreciation for the good and bad. Being able to appreciate not only the good but the bad. See the bad as opportunities to make you a better person, to learn, to experience the world fully. It is all a part of the ride. “What I’ve learned in my journey is that life is a journey full of hills and valleys. I used to believe that I was a victim to life’s circumstances, but what I had to be awakened to is that I also had choices in the decisions I was making in my life.” ~Amiee, Indiana

    “I have learned to enjoy every moment. I wish I could go back to my 16-year-old self and tell her that nothing in life is as important as you think it is when you think about it. Everything in life moves on and changes, and everything is about different stages.” ~Leire, Spain

  22. Nature. “My favorite quote is ‘There’s a sunrise and sunset in every single day, and they’re absolutely free. Don’t miss any of them.'” ~Stacy, Florida
  23. Senses. The smell of roses. The feel of cotton. The sight of flowers or clouds in the sky. The touch of a hug from a loved one. The taste of pizza. We derive a lot of happiness from our senses. They compromise the human experience! Having a bad day? Go pick yourself some flowers, eat your favorite food, take a warm shower, watch the sunset, or give someone a hug! 
  24. Ability to read. When you can read, the world is at your fingertips. You can learn anything, do anything. Anything is possible. “I learn from these stories and it’s important to me. They color the dreams of my reality and future and help me find the adventure in my life. Find your life’s adventures.” ~Lachelle, California
  25. Being alive today. 

You are alive today. While you have probably heard the saying, “Life is a precious gift,” a question you must ask yourself is…

Do you live each day as if it were a gift?

It is easy to get caught up in the day-to-day stresses and activities and requirements we face each day. Requirements to go to work, to feed our family, to clean our apartment or house, to pick up this, do that, cancel this, and so on…

Maybe someone cut you off on the road, you got in a fight with your mother, or you got stuck in traffic for two hours…

Or worse, you are drowning in debt, you lost someone near and dear to you, or you are suffering from a health condition (physical, mental, you name it).

The fact is you are alive now. You may not be tomorrow.

It’s simply the truth that you just don’t know what tomorrow could bring.

We need to try our best to enjoy every single day that we are alive. And that may be hard sometimes, especially if you are suffering from a terminal disease in a hospital bed, or you lost someone who means the world to you, or you suffer from depression and you constantly feel it.

No one lives this life without suffering, and no one makes it out alive.

While we could be sad and harp on death, choose to harp on life. Because you are here now.

Make choices to live your life the best way you can. Choose to see the good. Choose to see life. Choose to live it the way you want. 

At the end of the day, there is nothing greater than the gift of life.

You are alive.

So, what do you want to do today with your precious gift of today?

Do you want to say hello to a stranger and make their day? Do you want to go for a walk outside? Do you want to bake cookies with your mom or go to lunch with dad? Do you want to catch up with a sibling or an old friend? Do you want to snuggle with your cat? Do you want to finally take the first step toward following your dreams? Do you want to tell your family how much you love them? Do you want to watch the sunset? Do you want to go try the tacos at that new Mexican restaurant that just opened? Do you want to drive or fly to a place you have never been to before? Do you want to profess your love to someone you can’t get out of your mind? Whatever it is you have always wanted to do, ask yourself, “Why not do it today?”

Because today is a gift. Use it however you choose. 

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! 

Wishing you health, happiness, and the power for you to create your day as you wish.

cold snow holiday winter
Photo by Public Domain Pictures on Pexels.com

For more inspirational content and stories of women from across the world, visit The Woman Wednesday Blog.

Woman Wednesday: Jaycel

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Q and A with Jaycel from Papua New Guinea, living in England, UK

“I remember one of my uncles discouraged me to take up law as he believed it was a male’s profession. I did not let that crush my spirit and dream of becoming a lawyer. I proved him wrong.”


Q: What are you passionate about? 

A: I love helping people in whatever ways I possibly can and reading and watching inspirational or motivational quotes or videos, gardening, cooking and baking.

Family time is important to me. I love spending time with my husband and my three-year-old son, my family, my extended families.

I like discovering new adventures and traveling! I am an outdoorsy person, so I just love nature because it makes me feel refreshed and helps me think clearly.

I have a career in law, but I was always passionate about venturing into the entrepreneurial world. I guess my profession aligns with my interest of helping people. I wanted something that I could do from the comfort of my own home, which is what I’m currently working on. I mentor and teach people to work online.

Q: What were your younger years like?

A: I was the second born of six children. Since my elder brother was adopted, I was seen as the older one and looked out for my other four siblings.

Our parents were average hard-working people who sacrificed a lot. They did not have so much money, but they had enough to make sure there was food on the table, enough to buy our necessities, and enough to put us all to school. What they really wanted was for us to get a better education and excel in life.

Seeing how much my parents had sacrificed really pushed me to study hard and do well in my primary school days to high school and eventually to university.

I was fortunate to be selected to university amongst the top students around the country and completed my bachelor of law degree (LLB). Coming from a society where women were seen as inferior due to cultural and ethnic beliefs, I really wanted be the voice of the voiceless and prove that women can take up any role in the society.

I remember one of my uncles discouraged me to take up law as he believed it was a male’s profession. I did not let that crush my spirit and dream of becoming a lawyer. I proved him wrong.

My parents, especially my mum, had the greatest impact on my life. She pushed forward in life no matter what obstacle she encountered. She always believed in me even when sometimes I did not believe in myself.

Q: What is something valuable you’d like others to know?

A: The most valuable thing I’ve learned is to never trust anyone but yourself. I’ve watched people go from being someone I loved, trusted, and looked up to…to being people I never speak to or even want to talk to ever again.

I’ve experienced so much deceit, lies, manipulation, and disgusting behavior from people I thought I knew and cared about; it broke my heart.

I had experienced the worst relationship in the past to being conned and deceived by my own friends whom I trusted. That’s why I’ve learned not to ever trust anyone but myself. I’ve faced so many challenges in life.

I’ve learned that life can be messy and painful sometimes, but always learn to be focus on what you can learn from these moments and become stronger and smarter. That’s the only way to keep forward.

Do not let other people’s negativity or opinions discourage you from what you truly want in life. You can conquer anything! You just have to have that self-confidence to deal with whatever life throws at you. You are responsible for yourself and no one else is. Always be yourself. If you want to be happy, you go to work for it.

Q: What does feminism mean to you? 

A: To me, feminism means standing up for yourself and for the voiceless. It’s about empowering other women about anything really. It’s about women being accepted and recognized in leadership roles and given the same or equal treatment and respect.

MORE FROM JAYCEL: I’ve paused my career for a while to concentrate on my online business. I mentor and teach people especially moms to set up their own online business.

Thank you for reading!

I’d love to connect with you! 🙂 Comment below!

Woman Wednesday: Lychee

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Q and A with Lychee from Brussels, Belgium

“…whenever you think a story has ended, there is always a new beginning coming...”


Q: Tell us about yourself. What are you passionate about? 

A: I’m passionate about well-being, in-bodiment, good music, shaking that booty, and eating healthy!

Açaï in particular is amazing!

[Lychee is an alchemist, herbalist, and psychosomatic therapist at AINÚ holistic therapy, as well as a certified yoga instructor.]

Q: What were your younger years like?

A: Growing up in a separated household, I mostly looked up to my older brother, who has a beautiful mix of both masculine leadership and feminine radiance. He’s now married with two beautiful children and co-creating therapy with his wife, as they are both psychologists.

As a white female born in Brussels, I don’t think I was always aware of some of the luxury my parents gave me, until later in life.

Q: What is something valuable you’d like others to know?

A: I think one thing that I’ve learned is that whenever you think a story has ended, there is always a new beginning coming; it’s really just a matter of perspective. Sounds cliché? That’s because it is!

I also hid away a lot as a kid, could easily play, doodle, read, or listen to music and stories for hours on repetition. Not that those qualities are completely gone; but as an adult, I do value the sense of togetherness and sharing time a bit more.

Q: What does feminism mean to you? 

A: Feminism means many a thing, but to me, it represents freedom where in other ways softness, vulnerability, and adaptability have been mistaken for weakness and/or prone to only one gender.

As the copy dude in friends would say: we are the same, yet we are not. It’s in those different flavors that we can marinate life and in-joy ourselves.

All those different experiences and make-up is not what defines us, but it does allow for certain processes and patterns affecting our decisions. I think (self) respect has something to do with it too. And love. A LOT of self-love.

Thank you for reading!

Holistic Therapy with Lychee

Connect with Lychee on Facebook here.

Thoughts, questions, or comments? Comment below!

Woman Wednesday: Jennifer S.

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Q and A with Jennifer S. from Conway, South Carolina, USA

“Honesty goes a long way when dealing with clients, and honesty will get you more business because you build relationships and trust.”


Q: Tell us about yourself. What are you passionate about? 

A: I am a seamstress and quilter. I began sewing when I was five or so. I would sew with my mom and gram. I went through high school and took all the home economics (home ec) classes I could and then became a home ec teacher. While I was teaching, I continued sewing for myself and others. I taught for 25 years and then quit my job in education and moved. When I couldn’t find a job that I truly was passionate about, I decided to do my business full time. I have been making quilts and doing alterations for people as a full-time job, along with my Etsy shop, where I have a quilt pattern for sale and I sometimes list quilts for sale.

Q: What were your younger years like?

A: I grew up with one sibling. My mom was a nurse, and my dad a coal miner. We were a fairly frugal family, and I would make my clothes and prom dresses to get exactly what I wanted rather than buy what everyone else would have at the school. I learned how to do tile and carpet/flooring work from my dad because he also did that as a part-time job. It was helpful when I moved as I started a job in that field and was a top producer for the company but hated what I was doing after while, so I came back to what I love.

Q: What is something valuable you’d like others to know?

A: I was always taught that hard work and doing your best built good character. I never take on a job that I know I’m not able to do just to make some money. Honesty goes a long way when dealing with clients, and honesty will get you more business because you build relationships and trust.

Q: What does feminism mean to you? 

A: Feminism to me is having equality of the sexes. Feminism is a dynamic concept that is constantly adjusting to things in the world. I am able to many things men can do (carpeting a home, installing LVP/laminate, installing tile, changing a tire and oil, etc.). And sewing isn’t women’s work; many men make beautiful quilts and clothing, and people don’t always see that. I feel, if you really want to know how to do something, even if it considered a job not for your gender, you can learn it and be good at it and maybe even better than those who came before you. Work hard to be your best!

MORE ABOUT JENNIFER: I am a mother of three, and a wife of 27 years. I love the flexibility my career has given me to travel and visit my kids. I worked hard to get myself to where I am now, and I want others to know they can do the same.

Thank you for reading!

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