The Gardenia Project -Women's Storytelling

Ep. 6 Michelle on Receiving the Greatest Trust that can be Bestowed

Life plan= Fall in love. Get married. Have a baby.

OR.... Attempt to get pregnant and experience many losses over a long period of time. Try alternatives. For months that drag out and turn into years. 

There are so many children out there that need homes. But adoption is expensive (though this couple did start down that road) and foster parenting with the hope of adoption is daunting at the very least. Or so that is what we are told. But as this story shows a lot of how things play out may depend on your heart. And your actions. And on the way you treat and respect others. 

Listen to Michelle's story for proof of just that. I love a story with a happy ending. And I am so excited to share this uplifting story as the start to our second season of storytelling!

And in her own words she wanted to say this about being part of The Gardenia Project: 

"I left our session not only feeling beautiful, but heard and empowered that maybe someone will listen and not be ashamed of their story maybe someone will be inspired." - Michelle

I hope the same thing, that you will feel inspired by this story. And maybe even share yours. If you are interested go to the Gardenia Project Project Application page (just click on those words to be taken there!) 

Jen

Episode 5 Nora- No Shame, Life After Attempting Suicide

Nora's story is heart breaking and powerful. She suffered a huge loss as a teen and spiraled into darkness that wouldn't lift. It lead her to rock bottom. More than once. She hid her feelings and pretended she was fine for many years. She learned the hard way how hiding and stuffing sadness down doesn't work for her and what she needed to do to change the course of her life. She learned to live. It was a long hard road. 

Check out the portraits from her portrait session here: 

http://www.jendeanphoto.com/blog1/noranoshame

Or click here to be taken to the page where you can fill out a form to be considered for the podcast. Scroll to the bottom of the page. 

http://www.jendeanphoto.com/the-gardenia-project/

Episode 4 - Kathy, Dealing with Darkness

Kathy is just like you and me. Someone you might see in the line at the grocery store or meet in your networking group. She is married and has two kids and a runs a successful business. That's the stuff we all know about each other. The things that we share with people. What we let people see of us.

Then there are the things that we don't share. Kathy decided that she wanted to get brave and share her story about dealing with depression and anxiety. She has dealt with both of those things her whole life. 

 

The Gardenia Project Episode 3-Maura, The Invisible Illness Caretaker

So what happens when your child gets diagnosed with an illness that currently isn't curable? How do you deal with that pain, and then learn to cope with it every single day? That is Maura's story.

Listen to her story and learn what this illness has taught her and how she copes.  Every time I hear a woman's story I find something I can relate too. My guess is you will too. 

To see images from our session together and get contact information for her go to my blog here: 

http://www.jendeanphoto.com/blog1/2017/5/2/one-caretakers-strength-a-child-with-the-invisible-illness

 

If you or someone you know would like to be considered for the project please head over to this page and scroll to the bottom to send me an email. 

http://www.jendeanphoto.com/the-gardenia-project/

 

The Gardenia Project Episode 2-Elizabeth - Trusting & Standing up for Yourself

The second episode is all about standing up for ourselves. Or rather the times when we don't. What are the repercussions when we stop ourselves from saying what we need to. It's a pretty amazing story. This is the interview that made me realize I had to do a podcast for the project. The story was too compelling and emotional in the telling to be translated and written down to be read. Elizabeth needed to speak her story to others. 

"Cold air stung my face as I peered up at the face of Hauyna Potosi (6000m) just barely after midnight. Stars filled the Bolivian sky and a serial glow reflected off the snow.  The silence was peaceful as I assembled my multiple layers, crampons, my climbing gear and harness in order to begin climbing. I had yet to tackle a feat of this nature, and a rush of excitement rushed through my body.  I begin to wonder would I be one to descend victorious, disappointed, or just happy to be alive?" - Elizabeth 

When I first heard Elizabeth's story my mouth hung open. Then I immediately teared up and cried as she kept talking. I remembered all the times I didn't stand up for myself. The times I can look back on when I knew I wanted to say something, but just didn't for all the reasons that we don't. And the ways that not speaking up didn't serve me or totally changed me. 

Sometimes those choices have to be made fast. Or under duress. I wonder what I would do in her shoes. What would you have done?

The Gardenia Project Episode 1-Anna, On Finding Yourself, Getting Un-Lost

The Gardenia Project is a storytelling project for women started by Jen Dean in Portland, Maine.

I hope that hearing these stories will inspire people to have more empathy for others, take a stand for what they believe in, and remember how strong they are. And maybe even be compelled to tell their story of something they have been hiding, but feel ready to share.

Anna is a wonderful example of how to turn your life around. She tells her story on this first episode. 

You can see images from Anna's portrait session with me that go with this podcast, learn more about the project and how to become part of it here:

http://www.jendeanphoto.com/the-gardenia-project/