Power in Our Words: The Top Wf1 Truthteller Stories of 2016

As the year comes to a close, let’s all acknowledge that we’ve been through so much together—including exhilarating peaks and painful valleys. Our strong community of Truthtellers has proven to us, time and again, that no matter what life has in store for us, we have the courage, resilience, and VOICES to respond.

We want to take a moment to acknowledge all the women who spilled their hearts out to us, and who had the bravery to show up and get real. Women For One’s main goal is to transform the world through the words we share and the truths we honor. As a tribute to our community in 2016, we’ve gathered the top stories of the year.

From love to grief to friendship to politics, our Truthtellers continue to prove that the voice of the future is feminine.

Enjoy!

Regina Cates offers a stirring argument for why “the rampant abuse of power against one half of the world’s population is a huge spiritual wake-up call.” More than just a demand for the end of misogyny, Regina’s story is all about challenging the beliefs that we may not even realize we have.

“The first step in domestic violence is to charm the victim; the second is to isolate the victim. Once it begins, it will continue to get worse.” Crystal Sanchez shares her harrowing firsthand story of surviving teen dating violence—and rising above it to become an advocate for other women seeking light at the end of the tunnel.

“Women have the power and desire to take control of their health, and influence others around them to do the same.” Kara Frair’s powerful story about her journey through cancer and back offers a new paradigm for thinking about and taking control of your personal wellness.

After Jennifer Mercuri books a session to freeze her eggs, she begins to realize just how important becoming a mom is for her—and how her ideal of partnership is all about finding a man willing to sign up for both the struggle and the possibility.

“The real gift is knowing there is an infinite source of support that is available when we need it the most.” Read Carolyn Lebanowski’s beautiful “love letter” to the women who have inspired her most.

“I miss my home and my family that we left behind on Canadian soil. But I don’t miss the pain it caused us all.” Nicole Martineau shares her heart-rending story of loss, grief, and getting through to the other side.

“Marriage is hard. But holy hell, divorce is even harder.” C.A. Fabros gets real about life after divorce, including the moments of confusion and the moments when you just know you’ve made the right choice.

“Our challenges aren’t necessarily our obstacles. They can be gifts to carry us to bigger visions for ourselves, bigger lives, bigger contributions.” When Sherrie Laryse discovers that she will never be able to give birth, she finds a restored sense of purpose in the midst of her challenges.

Karen Anderson comes face to face with the painful decisions she made in her marriage, reaching the valuable conclusion that they had everything to do with “the pattern of shame, desperation, and self-loathing, which drove the behavior, not the other way around.”

Sheetal Kongattil’s health “was going downhill and my eyes were burning constantly, like I had already cried a lifetime’s worth of tears.” But when she connected with a new passion, she discovered that on the other side of it, her true self was waiting.