Presented before you are four badass women from Seacoast Athletics. They are by far not the only badass women at SA, but they are certainly badass by the GRIT + GRACE definition. Every day this week we will feature one woman’s story through a post and video interview.

Meet Steph. Mom of Luke and furdog Maisy, biochemist manager, and lifelong athlete. 

“While I was pregnant, I wanted to do what I used to do at the gym, but I had to come to class every day with an open mind, and try out different options and do what felt good."

Meet Krista. Corgi dog-mom, glowing newlywed, cybersecurity analyst, and lifelong athlete.  

But what you may not know is that Krista has Turner syndrome, a rare genetic condition. From a young age, she has had to work with her medical teams to manage her hormone levels, initially with daily hormone injections and then evolving into estrogen replacement as a teen.

Meet Ellen. Mother of four, math teacher turned cyberdefense project manager, and lifelong athlete.

But what you may not know is Ellen’s fourth pregnancy was a very challenging one, nearly taking her life, and setting her on a path wrought with serious health challenges.

Meet Lisa. Mother of two, grandmother of five, international business owner, and lifelong athlete.

But what you may not know is that Lisa has lived with interstitial lung disease, acute bronchiectasis, and scoliosis all her life. Fortunately, this was manageable and she didn’t let it get in the way of doing the activities she loves.

We hope you enjoyed learning about these badass women this week. They embody the spirit of GRIT+GRACE. You saw how life as a woman with a chronic health condition is not for the faint of heart. Most health conditions—acute or chronic—are invisible. That can be a blessing and a curse. No one wants to be judged for something they didn’t choose to happen to them and yet there’s a hidden battle happening that ought to have light shed on it.

Storytelling and sharing less known truths are a core value of GRIT+GRACE. Today I am thrilled to share a guest post from a G+G badass reflecting on her journey with a body that suddenly doesn't feel her own.

How do you commemorate 25 years of a life with type 1 diabetes? With a story. Bring the creative storytellers and music aficionados together, and let your heart run wild. Then the magic happens, as captured in this short, 10 minute film.

I’ve always been a writer. I was obsessed with Harriet the Spy, and the power of documenting unseen truths and hidden thoughts.

Despite the clearly summer days we are having that can warm the soul and lather it in luscious vitamin D, I was still drawn into this book, long on my list of books to read but only just now coming to me.

5y ago today, at the urging of a friend who insisted this place and these people were different, I trepidatiously set foot in my first CrossFit gym where I met Justin.

With t1 diabetes, the body has no ability nor memory of how to respond to the changes of everyday living—literally every change must be triaged and managed quite manually to compensate for a dysfunctional, core bodily function.

Today marks 24 years.

Have you ever celebrated your body? Given it credit for all the memories it’s brought you to? Thanked it for the thousands of things is does for you behind the scenes without you even noticing?

Have you ever celebrated your body? Given it credit for all the memories it’s brought you to? Thanked it for the thousands of things is does for you behind the scenes without you even noticing?