The Badass Female Athlete Series Conclusion
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.
It takes grit to work through medical appointments, insurance battles, unwelcome body setbacks, and the sheer exhaustion of managing it all with a family on top of our already chaotic world. But that grit and those circumstances yield a sweet grace from understanding how powerful the female body is and the preciousness of time with loved ones. We hope the light these women shine brightens the path for others on similar journeys.
To close, each woman wanted to share some final remarks.
From Steph: “Don’t be afraid to get pregnant or wait for the ‘right time,’ and don’t listen to all the negative comments about your life stopping with kids. There never is the ‘perfect time’ and you’ll never be quite ready. It’s a rollercoaster of emotions, but the gift at the end of the ride is worth it!”
From Krista: “One of the biggest things I recommend is a strong and supportive community. It’s also ok to give yourself grace if today your body can’t do what it did before! Consistent hard work and not giving up on yourself pays off, even if it’s sometimes hard to see.”
From Ellen: “My life has been filled with some dark times but also a lot of beauty. It can be isolating because you are the one suffering, and despite people’s support, you will feel like you are alone–but there are always people cheering for you. Embrace their support and seek out others on similar journeys.”
From Lisa: “I never thought I couldn’t do anything. I always thought–and still do–that I will be the exception not the rule and that these are temporary setbacks. Be the one that does everything you can to keep going, move forward, and not let your body define you.”
We all hope you’re inspired by these stories, and welcome any of your own similar stories of GRIT + GRACE.
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This is the last of a series of badass female athlete profiles. To learn more about the rest of the women and the series, visit the series home page here.
