Origin Story of
a hero’s journey

I love the outdoors and nature.
Time stands still. I escape from the words and pictures in my mind to the sights, sounds, smells, and touch of the forest: trees, flowers, dirt... everything. It is there where I live loved.

I also love stories.
As an English teacher, I geek out when the students are able to temporarily escape from their perceived pressures and insecurities that weigh them down. They lose themselves in a story. Life takes on a different energy, and their view of themselves is temporarily silenced. While discussing the deeper messages being conveyed in stories (aka themes), the classroom comes alive. Stories give us an opportunity to connect, clarify, and change the conversations inside our heads and outside in our communities. It is an opportunity to teach life’s true narrative of LOVE and SIGNIFICANCE.

STORYTELLING is the evolution of “a hero’s journey.”
So many stories filled my head. The words I was saying to myself began shaping the themes in my life. I was busy and frantic, trying to keep up with the world’s narrative of success. A race to nowhere.

Sadly, I was never taught HOW to deal with the external narratives that were defining my worthiness and significance. My mom used to say, “It’s an INSIDE job, Mary Pat.” Now I understand that to be self-love. My mom was beautiful, dynamic, and loving. She spent her entire life serving the needs of others, never pausing to celebrate her own life and the strength of herself as a woman. This is the story of many women. The conflict of our story, a serious struggle to see our TRUE selves.

A hero’s journey is a path of loving ourselves as women while embracing the strength and gifts we have to give to others. Through our stories, we see ourselves in others.
As women, it’s time to tell our stories, believe in our gifts, and change the narrative.
We have the strength to inspire and love, a powerful combination needed today.
The journey starts with our heroic journeys. Join our stories. Tell your story.

By sharing my story,
the gift of STRENGTH & LOVE is given.

My hope is you see yourself in our stories
and believe in your strength.

Let the story you tell yourself
”take care of you.”

- Mary Pat Murray