Heartache

Have you ever thought there was more than one meaning for the word heartache? I did, today.

I was searching for a title for this post on the drive home from  empowerHER‘s Summer Beach Bash—or as Miss M called it—Best. Beach. Bash. Ever., and heartache was the word that kept repeating itself over and over in my mind.

Makes sense—tears were coursing down my cheeks after dropping Miss M off to spend the rest of the week with her BFF.

And my heart was certainly aching… Aching with an intense longing to have my niece, Terri, here by Miss M’s side. By my side. Where she belongs.

But fate, or some random universal roll of the dice decided that was not to be… Not for Miss M. And not for the 20 other girls attending today’s extraordinary event for girls who have lost their mothers.

As I drove, I realized there was another side to the ache within my heart.

Visions of the afternoon filtered in and out of my consciousness— achingly beautiful visions…

Like the squeals and giggles of the girls helping Miss M catch horseshoe crabs.

Or the reunion of Miss M and the little girl who joined her at an empowerHER photoshoot earlier this month, where they both got to dress up as princesses and strut their stuff for the incredible photographer, Ivana Doria.

And the absolutely triumphant radiance emanating from Miss M’s face as she mastered the art of paddle boarding for the first time.

As I sit here with both sides of my heartache, tears flowing again, I am filled with a deeply intense gratitude for this newest gift from my beloved niece—the opportunity to connect with a tremendously compassionate group of empowerHER women and to touch the lives of these tender, resilient young girls.

I invite you to consider connecting with empowerHER. I assure you, it will open your heart to the many forms of heartache, and in so doing, enrich your life immeasurably.