We’re excited to announce The Savvy Girl’s Hall of Fame! At least once each month, we’ll be highlighting a Savvy Girl (or in this case, Girls). She could be in the headlines, or an unsung hero in her community. She could be a healthcare worker, an inventor, someone with a creative mind (across any and all platforms that encompasses). She could be YOU. In the meantime, please meet these truly inspiring women. Each suffered an acid attack: a crime breathtakingly heinous, agonizing and beyond cruel. Many victims retreat from their friends, their communities, their societies. The courage of the women here melts… [Read More]

[Thank you for your patience. My (northern) summer break went a little longer than planned on the blogging front!] You might have noticed: we’re a culture of makeovers. From people to homes to lifestyles, some of our highest rating TV shows, links and sites involve vivid transformations. A so-called “homely” girl emerges as a traffic-stopping beauty.  A dark and dank basement is re-purposed as a teen getaway or streamlined home office. And of course, those extreme weight loss programs milk our curiosity for the final unveiling. But what if we don’t have the time, inclination or resources to indulge in… [Read More]

Hello, and welcome to a blog hop – a post in which I answer a few Qs and then recommend other bloggers. I hope you’ll enjoy it. Why do I write what I do? I write about graceful living, civility, communication, and spirituality (while knowing it’s a work in progress—some days better than others!). Why do I write about it? Because I believe writing taps something in each of us, and by sharing it, we can plant seeds for change. And often I think through my fingers! There’s something meditative about typing. Give me a laptop, a pot of tea and… [Read More]

The Original Savvy Girl. Don’t you love her? La Hepburn was born May 4, 1929. And today, on the 85th anniversary of her birth, she continues to inspire a new generation, with her beautiful films, her genuinely timeless style and her generous heart. The graceful way she conducted herself resonates in this age of rage, speed and (ahem), me-itis. Audrey carried herself with dignity and poise, choosing not to succumb to pretension as many did (and do) under the glare of Hollywood lights. Take that, so-called “reality stars”! (cue: arched-eyebrow) . Allow me to share one of my favorite stories: … [Read More]

“She never reached her potential …” How many times have you heard these words, overheard them, or uttered them yourself? It popped up on TV last night, delivered, seemingly as always, with a heavy dose of pity and maybe a dash of teaching-moment for good measure. And it made me wonder: do we ever really reach our potential? There are myriad ways to quantify it of course, many ways to tick the boxes or label them in the first place. How many degrees, how many cars in the driveway, how many stamps in our passports? Whatever our yardstick, what if… [Read More]

A daughter dabs gently at her mother’s mouth, as she feeds the older woman and holds the thin, papery hand that once dried her tears over a broken toy or a broken heart. A professor challenges her class to pose a dynamic solution to the problem before them. A newlywed grieves a job lost, a dream deferred for her partner, who got laid off today. As women, we embrace compassion and support, selflessly playing cheerleader to others. We listen, coax, encourage and boost our loved ones in their quests, ushering them through their dark times. We remind them of their… [Read More]