Community and Women!

 Hola,

This past Friday the 13th our dear friend Chet past away unexpectedly. He and his wife Mandy have been our friends for almost 7 years. Our daughter Myah went to same school with their kids when we first moved to this part of Costa Rica. 

I was due to go over to their house on this particular Friday so Mandy could do my hair and nails. We have 2 hours of uninterrupted girl time and I always look forward to it.  

I was in my office working before heading to Mandy's when I received a phone message detailing what had transpired early that morning and that Chet was gone. I screamed and my husband Jesse came running and we were all in shock! It's been really hard.

What I really want to write about today is how the awesome community of women here in Guanacaste rallied around Mandy and the kids. Within hours there was a food schedule set up so we could bring food to Mindy and a Go Fund Me page was set too! I'm on a group chat with these women called "Mandy Hope Group." 

This is one of the many reasons I love women!! We can create community and support in like 5 minutes. It doesn't matter whether you agree politically, or run with the same crowd. It's just that a woman is in need and what can we do to help?  Makes you wonder why we aren't running the world?

It's so important for women to create our own communities and cheer squads! Last year when Myah was in the hospital and everything was unknown, my friends texted me and checked up on me constantly. I love how on Ladies night my friend Mary becomes the taxi driver and makes sure we all get inside the house before she leaves. 

I am fortunate to have a family of women here in Costa Rica, but also inAustralia, New York City, New Jersey, Florida and California. These have all been years in the making.

Initially, the unconditional support of women  was a gift of my recovery. When I made the decision to enter the12 step program of OA, I never expected the kindness and support that came with it. It felt foreign to me to ask for help, yet there it was from women with shared experiences embracing me and letting me lean on them. This has had a powerful impact on me and my life. 

I know this is why I love to support women to have fulfilling lives and beyond. 

Love & Peace

Ginamarie