What happens when you let yourself be supported?
I’ve been thinking a lot about what makes the support of a small group of women so special and I wanted to share what I’ve learned with you.
When we moved to Athens, Georgia in March of 2020, we thought it would only be for two weeks.
My partner Blaine’s family lived there and his two brothers and sister in law generously took us in during the pandemic lockdown.
There were five adults and three dogs sharing a 3 bedroom house.
This was at the time when we thought Covid lived on surfaces.
[I’ll never forget wiping off every grocery and pizza box near the front door!]
I had only been to Georgia once before and I didn’t know anyone outside of Blaine’s family.
Surprise surprise, we ended up being there for more than two weeks.
It’s now been 4 years and 2 months. 🤯
During that time and to this day, it’s the support I've received from small groups of women that keeps me going.
The first few years after moving // peak pandemic times, I was part of various [often global] small groups of women meeting together on Zoom.
Oh, the power of Zoom and instant, magical connection across time zones!
Some groups were focused on emotional support, others on creativity, and some on business-building. Many of our sessions crossed into all three.
Being a participant in these small groups of women was such a game-changer for me that I was inspired to lead my own women's circles.
In April of 2022, I led my first Outgrow the Grind women’s circle for a small and mighty group of women.
Last year, I led my second women’s circle.
I also joined a couple of women's groups in person here in Athens.
These groups (both virtual and in person) have been sooooo incredibly supportive and a delight to be a part of.
I think back to how I felt when I moved to Athens in March of 2020 and I'm completely blown away by how I feel so much less alone now. 💜
These women have completely changed my life.
They give me an empathetic ear when I want to be witnessed.
They show up with courage and vulnerability and invite me to do the same.
They give me space to share, or say nothing, or show up exactly as I am (sometimes braless with messy, unkempt hair!).
When life feels extra hard, they ask me what I need and encourage me to take my time when I don’t know.
They show their love and support to me in silly memes, handwritten notes, and heartfelt texts, phone calls, and voice notes.
They really know, see, and hear me. And I’m so grateful to get to really know, see, and hear them.
We stay in touch even outside of group sessions and they ask me about what I’m celebrating, what’s keeping me up at night, and what's beginning to shift.
Being part of groups like this have given me the opportunity to give and receive, which is much different than the one-way friendships I used to find myself in (look for a future email on that topic in a few days!).
To experience giving and receiving with a group of kind and compassionate women is one of the most precious and impactful gifts of my life.
I want you to know this precious gift too.
Photo by Michelle Davina Photography. Thank you to JayJay, Sam, Arienne, Jessica, and Lenica for being my models!
There's NOTHING like the support of an amazing group of women! IYKYK.
If you aren’t already part of a supportive group of women you love, I invite you to join my next women’s circle
There are only six spaces, and I carefully curate the group by reviewing each application and meeting with each woman to make sure we’re a good fit for each other and the format of the program.
The pricing is sliding scale (with 3 different equity-based tiers ranging from $300/month to $700/month).
Check out this page and see if this small, six-month coaching circle for women who want to outgrow the grind of people-pleasing, perfectionism, and proving their worth by how hard they work might just be for you.
In it, you'll get:
Powerful group coaching to help you honor what you need and want
1:1 coaching to focus on your specific stuck points and goals with an action plan for real and meaningful change
Workbooks with thought-provoking and actually fun practices to help you integrate your learning
If you have any questions about the women’s circle, how to find the right group of women for you, or if you want to share about your own experience with sisterhood, reply to this email!
I'm more than happy to tell you more about the upcoming circle, answer your questions, and help you decide if you want to apply on a call or through email.
Filling out the application doesn't commit you to the program - it indicates your interest, and then we'll hop on a free 20-minute alignment call together to go into more detail about what you shared in your application and explore whether the program is the right fit for you.
I just arrived in San Francisco yesterday to dance in my 2nd Carnaval Parade with the Hot Pink Feathers Showgirls for Peace on Sunday.
I'll be sharing pics with you as soon as I have 'em!
Wishing you a restorative long weekend,
Stacy
