empowerment project + week reflection

This week, I had the pleasure of viewing the inspiring documentary, The Empowerment Project, with fellow coworkers as part of our company’s women’s ERG. The film, released in 2014, features the journey of an all-female film crew who travel across the U.S. for one month capturing interviews from eight powerful women leaders in a variety of industries and lifestyles. The resulting product is one that inspires, empowers and, for me personally, prompted an investigation of my life and the path I’m on.

The film and the time I dedicated to it was especially meaningful this week. In the midst of many large and taxing projects at work, as well as some challenges at home (ugh, contractors), I nearly talked myself out of attending. But, I’m glad I prioritized myself and the honored my commitment (it also helped that a coworker/friend was joining me). I’ve included the main quote from the film below, but here are a few notes + takeaways I jotted down during the film.

• Create your own reality. Forge your own path.
• The ultimate measure of success: having no regrets when you’re in the rocking chair
• Am I living my best life?
• Be bold — and a little naive
• Pilot your life
• Find your passion. It doesn’t have to be your job/career. What matters is that you have a passion and dedicate time to it.

If you haven’t yet seen this film, I highly advise finding a viewing or hosting one yourself. Invite all of the women and girls in your life — and the men, too. I’m confident you’ll all walk away inspired, whether your dreams are to be an astronaut, start a non-profit or roller blade across the country (all amazing feats of women featured in the film) or you just want to bring a bit of your passion into your daily life. And, don’t forget to ask yourself often, “What would you do if you knew you would succeed?”

“What would you do if you knew you would succeed?” ~The Empowerment Project

week in review
gratitude: challenging + interesting work
this week’s intention: taking time to breathe during an overly busy week
what I’m reading: The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck
read Hunger: A Memoir of (My) Body
long walk with the bf + pup
fun weekend with my love
Joywave + Cold War Kids + Young the Giant at Red Rocks
Bleachers + blink-182 + lots of others at Big Gig
lots of errands and other not-very-fun adult tasks
continued our quest for less stuff + being a bit better at minimalism
significant progress on big work projects in prep for big presentation next week
so much time spending reading RFP responses
attended farmer’s market at one of my favorite neighborhood breweries
continued to struggle with contractors working on our house
inspired with fellow coworkers by The Empowerment Project
drinks + catching up with one of my favorites
post-film dinner with coworker/friend
Revisionist’s History + Tranquility du Jour podcast episodes
received my quarterly Fix
read + relaxed + wrote
spa day for the pup
wrote + posted week(s) reflection

weekend happenings + intentions
slay invasive species at a wildland restoration volunteer project
read + write
painting session
dinner with bf’s friend from high school
work a bit to get ahead for the week
walks with the pup
relax + rest