I Did NOT Wake Up Like This.

When I think of all the things I've accomplished, I can confidently say I did not do any of it on my own.

Our local Opera House puts on a musical every summer, and when I was just seven years old my sister and I went to auditions! The play was "Annie" and of course I imagined myself wearing that red curly wig. When reality hit my on the stage, I choked. All of my nerves jumped into my throat, and I froze. The director kindly offered to let me try again after watching a few other girls sing "The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow." So, I ran to my seat in the audience and buried my face in my mom's shirt. What she did next changed everything for me. My mom got up on stage with me and we both sang my audition song. Needless to say, I was not cast as "Annie." But the confidence that grew in me that summer was immeasurable. And you can bet your bottom dollar that I got a prominent role in the musical the next summer.

Fast forward through all of the school projects I ever had to do, my mom was right there with me working through each one. As a teenager, I held officer roles at multiple levels in student organizations. Each one was earned with the help of my mom and dad, my sisters, teachers, and friends. I had a tribe of people who wanted to see me succeed and were willing to help me achieve my next goal. Looking back on all of that, it's plain to see that I wasn't alone. In any of it.

So no, I did NOT wake up like this. I worked really hard and put in a lot of late nights and early mornings. And thankfully I never had to be alone. I had my tribe with me through it all. Anyone who has never had that kind of support has my utmost respect. Life is hard, especially if you have to "go it alone."

EmpowHer is here to help you find YOUR tribe! I want to connect you with women in this region that will be with you through the late nights and early mornings. If you have been searching for that feeling of "sisterhood" or sense of belonging, look no further. Because YOU belong HERE. This is what you have been looking for.

XO, Courtney