What I Love About My Daughters

“Our daughters are the most precious of our treasures, the dearest possessions of our homes and the objects of our most watchful love.” ― Margaret E. Sangster Empress Empowerment Coaching (https://empress-empowerment-coaching.nl), Tina De Keyzer-van Bruggen‘s interview with Monique (Moya) Wijngaarde-Bekema (July 13, 2021) Tina: Why are your daughters so special? Monique: What I find so special […]

Finding your mission and your moment

“Great harm has been done to us. We have suffered great loss. And in our grief and anger we have found our mission and our moment.” ― George W. Bush addressing joint session of Congress and the Nation. September 20, 2001 Maria Ragonese, Crisis Intervention Volunteer – These words were spoken by our former President […]

Be a Trailblazer and Never Look Back

“My Tribe of people that I work with are leaders, and we all want to follow the same path of creativity and simplicity. It’s taken a while to find them, like a needle in a haystack – but I’ve found the needles and they are amazing. I’m here to tell you, there are good people […]

Awakening of Lewis & Clark

A STORY FROM THE AGES “Your woman who accompanied you [on] that long, dangerous and fatiguing route to the Pacific Ocean and back deserved a greater reward for her attention and services on that route than we had in our power to give her.” ― Captain William Clark Warrior Woman Spirit, Sacajawea – At a […]

Blended.

“Like an angel that shed the heaviness of an earthly body, the blindfold removed, I rise and see only one thing, answer to one thing… His face.” ― Debra Harris Johnson Debra Johnson, Keynote Speaker & Freelance Writer – Back in the day, I was called “mixed,” a term meaning different races and or heritage. […]

Transition Higher

A STORY FROM THE AGES Scene Description from the screenplay, Sacajawea The Windcatcher — It is 1800, and Boinair (Sacajawea) is 12 years old. It is Shoshone tradition that she transition into adulthood, even though she’s still a child. As our story begins, we first see her alone in a small tipi overpowered by the […]

Be Ready for the Ride

“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.” ― Maya Angelou Nathalie Bleser, multi-lingual writer and interpreter – Here I am, struggling with the “blank page” where I must pour words that will share the essence of my story, to inspire other people who share a love for you, Saka.g.k.j.awea. It’s been […]

No Shame.

“An exciting and inspiring future awaits you beyond the noise in your mind, beyond the guilt, doubt, fear, shame, insecurity and heaviness of the past you carry around.” ― Debbie Ford Stephanie Harris, teacher and advocate for others – Life is a compilation of intricate parts from all of our life experiences. Of course, some of […]

On Eagle’s Wings

A STORY FROM THE AGES Imagine riding on the back of a great raptor as it soars through an angry storm of billowing clouds and piercing rain. Up and down, over and around hills and valleys, it bursts through the fog and wind. Your hair is plastered back, you cannot open your physical eyes, yet […]

Fear of Being Alone was Greater than Fear of Staying

“I am a strong woman with a voice, a voice intended to be heard. My passion, my purpose is to help people, especially women in transition.” ― Stephanie Harris Stephanie Harris, an educated and courageous woman who has grappled with adversity, despite life’s challenges. She is curious, humbled, empowered, empathetic, compassionate, and beautifully imperfect. Stephanie […]