The Top 12 Stories of 2018

Happy almost-2019! We’re pleased to bring you Women For One’s top 12 Truthteller stories from 2018.

In these stories, which captured the hearts, minds, and collective hopes and longings of our community over the last 12 months, you’ll find themes of sisterhood, love, loss, and the power of connecting with our deepest truths and innate resiliency as women. The authors of these stories are by turns poetic and direct, playful and starkly honest, resolute and brimming over with life’s most important questions.

Most of all, these are women who, no matter what their background or life experience, are offering stories of hope and humility. No matter where life takes you or how far it takes you, they seem to be saying, there is always an opportunity to reconnect with yourself: your power, your truth, your own unique and messily brilliant voice.

Grab a cup of tea or a glass of wine, and let yourself be inspired by the stories below!

Clare O’Nan spent months avoiding writing her story because she thought she didn’t have anything new to offer. Until she realized that’s exactly why she needed to write it.

Naomi Karsudjono shares her wish that all women truly understood how perfect and one of a kind they are.

Keegan Watters overcame her anorexia through therapy, positive self-talk, and practicing the “reverse golden rule.” She hopes that other young women can see the harm in negative self-talk, and understand their self-worth and value are not tied to their weight.

Ceci Bordayo grew up in a house full of secrets, but she discovered that within her lay the power to bring those secrets into the light.

Jackelyn Kastanis’s life was forever changed after losing her best friend Brooke to cancer—but as she discovered, this gave her the sense of purpose she needed to live her life fully.

Nikole Potulsky learned to recognize that although she might have days of not feeling good enough, she’s here on a spiritual journey—and that journey isn’t about how much she has, but how much she is tending the flame of her truth.

Kim Robin wrote this story after reflecting on her own teenage years, when she used to panhandle on the streets of Toronto. This is her way of reaching out to other souls who live on the streets and brave the struggles of each passing day.

Michelle Pfeiffer shares her story of how welcoming her daughter Anna into the world changed her life for the better.   

Shalandra Johnson updates readers about her recovery process after stage 4 cancer and a fatal car accident—and how she has found strength and courage throughout her pain.

Chit Lumibao offers her perspective on having a sister with physical and mental disabilities, as well as some of her regrets about how her family handled the situation.

Mackenzie St. Onge originally wrote this piece as a spoken-word performance reflecting on her drive for perfection and its impact on her mental health and body image.

Grace Presley is a passionate entrepreneur on a mission to help others find their voice, tell their story, and change the world—and it all began with claiming her own past.