I'd like to introduce to you one of my friends, Erin Beil, who started a new project last month that absolutely speaks to my heart and those around me. Her new adventures titled Truth + Love Designs encompasses a new Etsy shop and blog affirming women of their beauty and worth.

She writes, "I make designs and provide a platform with messages of positivity and empowerment- truth about how beautiful and how priceless you are! EVERY girl is born absolutely beautiful, with a worth that is beyond measure or accomplishments- born priceless. They are delighted in and loved completely- they are precious."

Erin is using her platform to speak truth and encourage women of all ages to fight the negativity and self lies that so many struggle with. She recently sent out a survey asking fifty women questions regarding their beauty, confidence, capabilities, worth, and even struggles. 75%, nearly 3/4 of the women answered the question: “What do you wish you knew as a girl that has contributed to your confidence as a woman?” Response: I am beautiful because I am made in God's image.

As I read more about her project, I realized that it quickly lined with with my heart and my efforts. I thought, "Hey, that's what I'm doing too!" except that I'm in California, she's in North Carolina and the ages of our audiences are slightly different, but the messaging is definitely the same. Awesome, huh? We're on the same team, both trying to make a difference in the community of those around us.

A couple years ago, God opened my heart to create a shift in my thinking regarding community over competition. In a world where the girl power struggle is real (and hard!) and each woman is making a name for herself (sometimes at the expense of herself, her family, integrity, or of others), we face a choice to either build up the girl beside us or tear her down.

At one point I might have felt defeated or conflicted in sharing the same ideas and platform with a friend. But instead, I've been able to look at those around me and see their strengths. See her talents and capabilities, her leadership and vision as a positive thing to help reach more people. What was once a threat (competition) is now community.

At the end of the day, we all want to make a difference right? We want to leave our piece of the world better than when we found it.

I encourage you to take sometime to think about #communityovercompetion in your own community. What does that look like for you? For those around you? The Rising Tide Society has done an awesome job in the creative community to promote this type of thinking. While competition, innovative thinking and goal advancement all have its place, community over competition deals more with matters of the heart. Let's chose kindness first. Let's work together to built each other up and continue to make a positive difference in those around us!

Be sure to take some time to visit Erin's blog and show her some love!

#communityovercompetition
xoxo
Jes

I want this to be true about my life.

For the most, it is. Occasionally, there are days full of wimpy and winey, ones where my life is imploding and I can’t do enough or keep up. Those are the days where I’m just getting by and not aware or focused on the purpose for my life. The truth is I want a joyful and full life. One where I get to the end and am proud of the time well spent. A life that’s focused on Hope bigger than this world, friends and family, activities and adventures, great memory making and passions that bring smiles and life to others. I want to design a life that I love. I want to live a life that I love.

And in doing so, I’m back to blogging. In each of my journals the words “Teach. Write. Speak.” are written over and over again. I’m getting to teach and speak, but I’m not doing much writing. Mostly because writing takes a lot of work…emotional, thoughtful, soulful, heart bearing work and truth be told sometimes that’s tough.

So will there be more stories from “Her Little White Dress”, probably not, but there will be plenty from the girl who wore it. They’ll be real [authentic]; encouraging, soul bearing, funny, make you wonder is this girl serious, with some posts you can relate to and others you can’t, but know they’ll each be written with a truth seeking, prayerful heart.

I can tell you that almost four years post “Her Little White Dress”, life is good. I’m right in the middle of designing a life I love and you are every bit a part of it.

xoxo
Jes