On March 22, I became a mother to a little girl I call Diana Rose. My life has changed radically overnight and my lifelong dreams have come true. We could have shared a March birthday but she decided to come early instead of late like many firstborns. I am slowly falling in love and quickly slipping further into sleep deprivation with each passing day. Yes--nothing has changed in the sleep department over here.
I am only five months in and parenthood with a newborn is the most difficult physical challenge I have faced. Women's bodies undergo enormous hormonal transformations while they are pregnant, great pain while they are in and heal from child birth, and potentially breastfeed. I always was "rah rah women" since I was a Girl Scout, but this experience has given me first hand knowledge on how much women do and are to the children they create, carry, birth and care for. For me, there is no greater challenge or greater reward as a woman than this.
I was in total shock my firstborn was a girl but could not be more elated. Now I get to raise my own little warrior woman, my own benevolent princess, Diana Rose. She follows in the footsteps of many powerful and graceful famous Diana's and will be her own unique person one day which I can't wait to witness. Until then--she needs to get through the poopy diapers and I need to get through the nearly sleepless nights.
Thank you God for my little girl.
Resiliency Programs
We are pleased to announce that we began offering Resiliency Programs in April to homeless parents that are receiving social services through the non-profit Bergen Family Promise.
This program series was designed to guide people to reflect on, discover, or embrace the heights of their potential. The series includes outside journaling and reflection questions to enhance our sessions together. Program sessions are structured to provide deep self-reflection and self-awareness as we explore themes pertaining to the relationship we have with ourselves: rejection and resilience, faith and forgiveness, self-love and compassion, stress relief and coping skills, our body image.
Are you able to forgive yourself? Can you forgive others? Do you like who you are? How has rejection shaped you? They are deceptively simple questions but can carry such weight for us. Our answers determine how we live.
Initially we intended to deliver these programs with children first to address the terrible rising suicide rates, escalated by the global pandemic. However, the opportunity presented itself to help and empower adults which we knew was an eventual reality, and so we took it!
That being said, if we can assist your organization in serving either your adult or youth clientele with our customized and age appropriate Resiliency Programs, please reach out to us at daniellecraig@empoweringuprograms.org
Unexpected Gifts: Finding Joy While Grieving
Margaret’s last Christmas gift to me: the first article on EmpoweringU framed.
This Christmas season has been an unusual one for me. This summer, I lost my mother-in-law, Margaret. She and I had developed a close relationship over the last six years of being with my husband. Nothing can ever prepare you for the death of someone you love, even if you know they are near the end of their road as she was. I loved Margaret and felt a hole inside when she passed.
Margaret’s most beloved holiday to celebrate was Christmas and anyone who really knew her was included in her joyous celebration. Every year without fail, she wrote a letter about her family to update her friends and acquaintances about their lives over the last year. As one of her dear friends told me, “you knew the holiday season could officially start when you received Margaret’s letter. Hers was always the first to arrive.” She had a massive Christmas letter mailing list that flirted with a two hundred letter count.
If you think that was impressive, imagine the house being adorned with nine Christmas trees, each with their own theme. Christmas artwork that her four sons created with little hands still were hung and admired. A beautiful lit Moravian star with its soft glow hung in the window for those outside to see. Margaret was also a great gift giver, and I admit I will miss those thoughtful surprises! She did leave me with one gift that will last a lifetime: she framed the first article on EmpoweringU, in a local town magazine(pictured).
I have been living in her house for the last few months to assist my father-in-law and we truly feel her absence, especially in a barren house during the Christmas season that just doesn’t feel the same.
In the midst of this strange and sobering holiday season, I have recently received some unexpected gifts. Yesterday I received three gifts in one day! It felt so nice to be thought of and while I was not planning on exchanging with these kind souls, it made me feel inspired to reciprocate the kindness. I thought it was interesting that I did not receive gifts from these same people last year and maybe this was an act of divine timing to allow me to feel the Christmas spirit.
Beyond physical gifts, it has been an unexpected gift over the last few months to hear stories and anecdotes from her friends or acquaintances who knew her for much longer than I did. She was notably charitable in her old age, continuing to volunteer in her community and donate to organizations but I had a faint grasp on just how much she did and gave to others during her younger years. Margaret clearly preferred to quietly do kind deeds without speaking much about them to others. But those who she has helped, remember.
It has been a joy to hear people willing to share their memories of her. What a beautiful gift to share.
I will continue to miss Margaret, but maybe I will feel a bit more of that familiar feeling of joy that the season brings thanks to the kind, unexpected gifts that have come to me.
Warm wishes to others grieving their first holiday without someone; may find some solace in the memories you had of them and the magical gifts of the season that could surprise you when you least expect it.
Danielle Craig
All Rights Reserved.
Giving & Good Deeds
Do you give more or do more for others during the holiday season?
Have you noticed others being more kind during this season on the road, in stores, at work or home?
Think about going out of your way to do something nice for someone this holiday season that you know or perhaps do not at all.
An even bigger question to think about: how generous and giving are you being throughout the year to others, and to yourself?
We would love to hear your stories of kindness!
Holiday Greetings!
EmpoweringU wishes everyone a peaceful, joyful, and contemplative holiday season!
Take the time to reflect and pause in stillness throughout the rush of it all. Let us not forget the true meaning of the special time. Think of the non-material gifts we can give each other now, and every day.
It is also a wonderful time to consciously think about all that we have in our lives and are grateful for, rather than what we don’t have.
Join us as we offer questions and thoughts of reflection this holiday season!
“Vote Like a Girl" Event from Historic Hudson Valley on June 1st!
The Historic Hudson Valley does an amazing job with historical based family events year round and this new event celebrating the 100th year of women’s voting is not to be missed!
https://hudsonvalley.org/events/vote-like-a-girl/
143 Day in Honor of Mr. Rogers: What Kind Deeds Have You Done?
On May 23rd, Pennslyvania will celebrate a day devoted to Mr. Rogers called 143 Day by sharing kindness with one another.
1-4-3
This number represents how many letters are in each word for the phrase “I love you.”
Mr. Rogers was a beautiful soul who sought to bring love, healthy attitudes, and coping kills to children around the world with his modest public television show that he had to fight to protect and keep. Because of him, many children grew up learning positive values and learned how to deal with life challenges such as a divorce between parents or including everyone when the world tries to separate us for differences. He taught lessons that schools did not teach and perhaps that some parents may not have directly addressed with their children.
His life mission was based on love and his sincerity in that mission and acute ability to reach children into children’s hearts, minds, and spirits made his legacy.
May 23rd is the perfect opportunity to honor Mr. Rogers life work by doing kind deeds but we would be short sighted to not acknowledge that every day we are alive is the perfect opportunity to be kind.
***PLEASE COMMENT WITH STORIES OF KIND DEEDS!***
What kind deed did someone do for you lately? What kindness have you shown others that was meaningful to you?
Befriend Your Body
Poetry from Nayyirah Waheed
#empoweredbodyimageprogram
