The other day during my run a neighbor said in amazement , “You’re a runner now ?”
I replied ,” Yes, I’m training for a half marathon.”
“Wow way to go,” he said .
I kept running and I repeated those words in my head ,“You’re a runner now !” That’s right I’m a runner now!
I wish I could say all the things I tell myself are positive and empowering. But sometimes the wounds of my past make me say awful things about myself .
During my fast I heard the verse , “life and death is in the power of the tongue,” Proverbs 18:21
I feel God is saying I need to speak better words about myself, over myself , into myself .
So yea I’m a runner ...among many other amazing things .
We're more than a week into 2020 and I'm already off the races with projects, events, and fundraising. I have a lot on my heart this year, from producing my first national storytelling show to raising funds for local homeless organizations. You can help with a small donation or by snagging a cool t-shirt. Since my hands are in so much this year I thought I'd share what I've committed to so far and how you can help.
This is My Brave !
As you read in my previous blog, I am bringing the national mental health show, This is My Brave to Hampton Roads for the first time ever. This is Brave is a non-profit dedicated to saving lives through storytelling. They do so by hosting a stage production of people with lived experience of mental illness and/or substance use disorder. Since 2014, This is My Brave has featured 800 people's stories in 87 productions. I wanted to bring this show to Hampton Roads, because being a cast member in 2018 was a life changing experience. It affirmed my desire to speak on mental health and suicide prevention. I know this show will change perceptions around mental health and addiction, and break away at the stigma around these diagnosis.
Our show is scheduled for April 19, 2020 at Zeider's American Dream Theater. In order to make this show a reality we'll need help from sponsors and advertisers to finance our show. If you are a business owner, nonprofit or entity that would like help us email me at lhope@thisismybrave.org or contact me on Facebook at facebook.com/goodgirlchronicles
How You Can Help
You can also make a donation to my sponsorship drive. The top level sponsorship for the This is My Brave Show is $5,000. I would love for my business Good Girl Chronicles LLC to attain this level so I'm hosting a fundraiser. We're currently close to $200. You can make a tax deductible donation here. Check out this video on my YouTube channel about this fundraiser.
Connected Communities T-Shirt Drive
Connected Communities is a non-profit organization that hosts events and trainings to empower their communities. I met with the founders of this nonprofit at a womens event in 2018. We've kept in touch since then and they have support a lot of my mental health events. I am so honored to announce they have created a t-shirt in honor of Good Girl Chronicle's storytelling mission. These t-shirts are on sale for a limited time only. The 'Tell Your Story" shirts will raise funds for us to keep creating events that support storytelling and the charities we support. You can buy one here.https://www.connectedcommunitiesva.com/online-store/Tell-Your-Story-Tshirt-p137683133
Join us for our first
Spark of Hope Storytelling Night of 2020
We're also kicking off our storytelling season with our first show January 24, 2020 6:30 p.m. at Dave & Busters in Lynnhaven Mall. I can't believe this is our third season of these shows. I've changed the name from Good Girl Chronicles Storytelling Nights to Spark of Hope Storytelling Nights. I feel this title is more reflective of what this show is all about. This show features people's life stories, recovery stories, comedy stories. Any story that has a spark of hope is featured in our show.
