The Wild Woman Magazine Vol. I Issue 3: The Disruptor Edition

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THE WILD WOMAN

on i t i d E or t p u r s Di

FALLING IN LOVE

V I N TA G E M A R K E T

TIPS&TR ICKS

T E L L +A L L

with your home

show girls

LEAVING WHEN

it’s good

C O U R A G E

&

RISK

DARE TO DISRUPT

U N S T O P PA B L E

FOSTERING WILD

FIGHT FOR WHOLENESS

INSPIRE COURAGE

THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM

an honest look at the

teen entrepreneurs

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a different take on

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THE WILD WOMAN LI NDSAY MCPHAIL Editor In Chief JENNA BE NTON Senior Editor CINDY CONNE R Senior Editor DANNY HAL L Photography/Photo Editor LACE Y F AR BE R Contributing Editor CONTR IBU TOR S Gena Hansen, Krystle Bowen, Megan Koontz, Autym Burke, Lanessa Pierce COPY E DITOR S Jill Garner, Molly Acord, Sherri Emitte PHO T O GRAPHY CONTR IBUTOR S Wander & Pine Photography, Courtney Coker, Jessie Ficek Photography, Armijo Designs, Jessie Matteson, Cristin Nires Photography, Lindy Orozco W W W .T H E W I LD W OMANMAGAZINE.COM email: info@thewildwomanmagazine.com The Wild Woman Magazine ©2019. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any material from this issue in part or in whole is strictly prohibited.

TABL E O F C O N T E N T S

E DITOR ’S

L E T T E R

THIR STING For Change

pg 05

pg 14

D A R I N G pg 20 To Disrupt D I S R U P T I N G pg 36 Winter R E W I L D I N G pg 39 Accept Yourself U N S T O P P A B L E Teen Entrepreneurs F OSTE R ING WILD Disrupting The System L I K E A W O M A N Women In The “Man Zone”

pg 42

pg 54 pg 58

A V O I C E pg 66 In The Wild BE A DISR U PTOR 10 Tips

pg 71

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EDITOR’S L E T T E R

t’s easy to get lulled into complacency in life, love, careers and health. The path of most resistance is uncrowded for a reason. It’s hard. It’s lonely. It’s exhausting. Being an agent of change and disrupting the status quo may look sexy and exciting from the outside, but the truth is, choosing the life of a disruptor is accompanied by many sleepless nights with a side of gripping fear. Wait, don’t leave it gets better!

As we start 2019 full of ambition and passion to be our best selves we’ve taken on the challenge of presenting women who are disrupting culture in the best ways, from health and fitness to career paths and organization. As you read these pages we urge you to do so with an adventurous spirit. It’s easy to see successful, courageous women and put ourselves down because we think their accomplishments

somehow take something away from our own lives. But we believe the opposite. There’s not one of you reading this magazine that doesn’t belong right here on these pages among brave women who have dared to disrupt. So you, my friend, have a choice to make before you dive in today. You can compare, put yourself down and choose to write these stories off OR you can be confident in who you are and what you’re already offering the world, receiving the inspiration and encouragement destined for your eyes at this particular point in time.

Here’s to a year full of inconvenient disruptions.

May we all have them, may we instigate them, and may we all be better for it!

Love Your Guts!

Lindsay

: @thewildwomanmagazine

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KNOW THYSELF. SERIOUSLY. KNOW. YOU. TAKE TIME TO GO WITHIN. REFLECTION IS SO IMPORTANT TO GROWTH AND AWARENESS. IF YOU WANT TO TAP YOUR WILD, YOU HAVE TO UNEARTH IT. GET OUTDOORS. YOU WANNA GET WILD? THEN GET INTO THE WILD. NATURE SPEAKS AND TEACHES WHAT WE MIGHT NEVER LEARN IN OUR URBAN JUNGLES. SLOW DOWN. WE ARE BUSY, AND IN THAT WE RARELY ALLOW OURSELVES TO EXIST OUTSIDE OF OUR JAM PACKED SCHEDULE. IT’S HARD TO TAP YOUR WILD WHEN YOU NEVER SLOW DOWN. BE QUIET. THE WILD IN YOU WILL SPEAK. YOU NEED TO JUST LISTEN. PRACTICE. WHEN YOU FACE A CHALLENGE, ASK YOURSELF WHO YOU WANT TO BE. REMIND YOURSELF OF WHO YOU ARE AND HOW YOU WANT TO HANDLE THE SITUATION. TAKE TIME, THEN RESPOND, IN YOUR WILD.

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Unearthing Wild T A R E N

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M A R O U N

“Never confuse a single defeat with a final defeat.” - F. Scott Fitzgerald

efeat. I had spent the morning climbing in Joshua Tree. The type of climbing I was doing was new to me and as I went to make a hard move out of a roof, I found myself unable. I tried and failed, tried and failed, tried and failed. Over and over I told myself I could do it, I willed my body to do it. And over and over, I failed to complete the sequence. I cried and was overcome with the feeling that I was incapable and weak.

My response in the moment was frustration. Frustration at my inability, frustration at my perceived failure, and frustration at what I felt was weakness. But the truth is none of that is reality. I am not incapable, I just need to practice. I may have failed to do the move, but I did not fail to finish the climb. I am not weak. Yes, there is room for growth. Yes, I have work to do. And yes, all of that is okay.

The feelings I had that day were valid, but I didn’t stop where my feelings left me. I processed them and moved forward.

Failure is about perspective, and who we want to be.

Every time we fail we are presented with an opportunity to choose who we want to be and how we will respond to opposition. Do we want to be someone who gives in and gives up? Or do we want to accept our process and say “I will try again tomorrow”?

Honestly, I think every day requires a bit of fight for our Wild. We’ve created a society where we are out of touch, even while so “connected” via social media. It’s easier to be overwhelmed and controlled by our feelings than it is to process and work through them. It’s easier to find comfort, to go with the flow and to give in, than it is for

us to stoke the dreams and passions in our heart— to risk.

I’ve faced a lot of hardship in my life. My dad was in prison until I was 10. My mother passed away when I was 12, and almost every year since, I’ve lost someone close to me to death. Maybe that’s why I say every day is a fight. It’s the working out of my wild and my character in each moment that helps me to slow down and remind myself of who I want to be and how I want to react to things. I was raised by the stories I read as a kid, and the movies I watched. I joke that Xena raised me, but it’s not really a joke. In her character I learned what it meant to fight for the greater good. I learned that I could be a warrior, that I could set aside the life that happened to me and embrace the life I want. I learned that I get to choose who I want to be. And it wasn’t just her, it was all the characters. And from that place of understanding my identity, and what I was capable of, I went into the world. That’s why I’m working to direct feature films. I feel the need to show up deep inside me. It’s hard to explain.

It’s like all the things I’ve experienced have built in me this insatiable desire to create what helped me get through when I was younger. I want to create fantastical, forward thinking, immersive films that speak to our resilient nature, unity and compassion. I want to be telling big stories, writing epic heroes and inviting people to be their best selves.

I think my upbringing taught me that we are all capable of overcoming. And if that’s true, then all the stuff that culture tells us about our inability, our imperfections and our ‘never enough-ness’ is a lie. And If it’s a lie, and I can overcome… so can you.

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: @prettyinpaintshop Photo By Danny Hall

SHAKEN S T I R R E D

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CINDY CONNER

say disruption like it’s a bad thing. Recently, driving down one of our city’s one-way streets I was startled to be facing a driver coming at me. Her out-of-state plates told me she was confused and not intentionally disrupting the traffic flow. But disrupting it was.

Is disruption a bad thing? Of course it is...until it isn’t.

I actually had to look it up. As a seer of squirrels (someone easily distracted), I HATE disruptions. It sets me off track when I finally get focused. The older I get, the harder it is to find the initial focus, much less get it back after a disruption. The first definition I found referred to DISRUPTOR as a ‘problem’ that interrupts an event, activity or a process. I don’t like the word problem.

But then I read a definition I did like: A person or thing that prevents something from continuing as usual or as expected.

This I like... and hate.

I love for things to get shaken up. It keeps it fresh, whatever it is. Like a comfort zone, which I hate messing with... but love after the messing is done and I have survived the growth. When I learned this issue was going to be about disruptors I thought I couldn’t relate...I didn’t get it. How am I a disruptor and more importantly how can I make myself relatable in this issue? (Is it not all about ME?) I married young. I had kids young. I became a grandmother at a young age and 63 felt young as a greatgrandmother. But I didn’t go into those life events like most people I knew. I got married on my senior prom.

But I went into business old. At the age of 63 I bought a business. Again, not what most people my age were doing. Does that make me a disruptor or a maker of poor choices? There have been so many blessings as

repercussions of those choices, I cannot mark them as bad. February will mark our first anniversary in the retail business and ohhh the things I have learned...mostly by mistakes I’ve made. I don’t have a business mind. I have a people mind and heart and I feel many things.

Feelings can be very fickle and we should never base important decisions on them. However, when it comes to business I find I have to let my heart rule my head.

Unorthodox, I know. Bad business? Maybe, but as I embark on my second year as the owner of Pretty In Paint, here is what I know: 1. Never, never, ever let fear win.

2. Never ever expect that facing fear makes it go away-it never does...ever.

3. Trust yourself, when seemingly good advice from credible sources doesn’t feel right for you, do what is right to you. Even if it’s wrong, you will learn important things about yourself.

4. When bad advice feels like bad advice, it is.

(See third bullet point.)

5. Return bad behavior with kindness, always...no matter how it hurt, no matter what.

Maybe these are the things that keep it fresh, and shake it up. Being a disruptor is a bit like being a pot stirrer and I’ve learned you can stir the pot without it being a negative. In our article Thirsting for Change, I love what Kayla Huff says about disruption: “Disruption doesn’t have to be a battle cry, often, it’s a small whisper...”

In business and life, sometimes it’s about the bottom line, but whether it is shaken or stirred it is ALWAYS about LOVE and love is never the WRONG WAY.

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uccess. When I started this business many thought it would be a small hobby with little to no success, but I had something else in mind. In fact, I wasn’t just looking for success, I was looking for a way to live out what I know deep in my guts: Every once in a while, you’ve got to blow your own damn mind.

A while ago a client lost her grandmother and only had a small piece of furniture to remember her by. It was pretty destroyed. Other businesses turned her away and advised her to toss it. It was beyond hope for most, but the sadness in her eyes made it clear that this was more than a piece from her grandmother, it was a piece she could pass on, something that would connect them for years to come. She also told me it was a hard life lesson. She took her grandmother for granted and regretted not taking more time out of her day to spend and get to know her more than she did. Deciding to find someone to refinish the piece was a vow to herself never to do that again, with anyone. I took the challenge, even though I knew it might not even be possible. I sat and stared at this piece and then I went to work. In the end, I transformed

it into something functional, sturdy and gorgeous. The look of joy in her eyes was priceless, and it felt good to connect and support her in her loss.

I love being creative. I love that my business has helped our family travel, and allowed us to give back. I am more than a farmer’s wife and a mom to three, more than just a farm fair, pop-up shop, small business owner. I am ME. I am a dreamer, an over thinker, a designer, a giver. When I started Farmhouse Designs, I wanted to create affordable home décor, along with the ability to give to those in need.

I came up with Baseball Blessings. which helps kids play baseball for the first time by giving them access to gear and fees that cover their season. I also teamed up with the Malin Community Service Club and developed Royal Firecrackers, an organization that teaches young kids 1st through 6th grade the importance of giving back to their community through clean up, community participation and so much more.

Farmhouse Designs is more than a furniture and décor shop. It is a place of generosity, hope and heart. And every once in a while, mind-blowing victories.

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THIRSTING F O R

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C H A N G E

MEGAN KOONTZ

astor Marietta yawns, quietly slipping on her tattered sandals. Grabbing a five-gallon bucket, she heads to her village’s local water source - a hole in the ground full of murky creek water. She squints into the rising sun and begins her steep climb to the top of the trail. She will have to navigate the journey carefully. Yesterday’s rain has left the path muddy and slick. She’s almost halfway when she slips and nearly loses her bucket, but Pastor Marietta has no time for frustration or fear. Her children and grandchildren are counting on her. She steadies herself and continues to climb.

As a community leader of Hoyo Oscuro in the Dominican Republic, Pastor Marietta knows she is one of many women in her village who make the long “water walk” every day for their families. Dodging cow manure, thick mud, and clusters of sharp thorns, she reaches the top of the ridge at last. The stench of the nearby creek fills her nose as she dips her bucket deep into the brown water. She feels the sun on her face and hopes she can make it back before the little ones wake up. Balancing the 40 pound bucket on her head, Pastor Marietta hikes the steep descent home. She will make this walk five more times before breakfast to provide enough water for her large family for the day.

It is stories like these that inspired Kayla Huff, founder of The Her Initiative, to take action. Instead of focusing on her own insecurities and problems, Kayla decided to invite other women she knew to join her by investing in the lives of women around the world.

: @the_her_initiative

Kayla, who hails from Denver, Colorado, launched a social media campaign to raise awareness in August 2012. She called it The Her Initiative, and her goal was to advocate for women in the developing world and shed light on their lack of access to clean water.

The campaign grew monthly giving for Healing Water International, Kayla’s employer, by 80 percent. The Her Initiative officially became an essential part of Healing Waters International’s mission in August of 2015 when it was transformed into a community of women who are hard at work to resolve the global water crisis.

Photos By Jessie Matteson

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“Disruption doesn’t have to be a battle cry,” says Kayla.

“Often, it’s a small whisper or a ripple effect. We are a more powerful voice when we are together, fighting for the same things – not shouting alone.”

WWW.T H E H ERI N I T I A T I VE.O RG Photo By Jessie Matteson

WWW.T H E HERI N I T I A T I VE.O RG Photo By Jessie Matteson

CLEAN WATER for the D E V E L O P I N G

Thanks to Healing Water International and The Her Initiative, Hoyo Oscuro received a water purification system in 2016. Since its installation, 18,563 gallons of water have been distributed.

Pastor Marietta is seeing the people in the community embracing hope and thriving as they never have before. Now children are much less likely to suffer the debilitating effects of water borne illnesses. Before they had safe water, countless children were dying before the age of five. Now, they are living longer, healthier lives.

The Her Initiative continues to provide access to clean water and health & hygiene curriculum to women in the developing world. Kayla admits there are many organizations that help people

W O R L D

like Pastor Marietta and her community obtain fresh water, but she believes everyone can work together to make a difference.

“Disruption doesn’t have to be a battle cry,” says Kayla. “Often, it’s a small whisper or a ripple effect. We are a more powerful voice when we are together, fighting for the same things – not shouting alone. So, my best advice? Find those people who will lift you up and amplify your words.

No matter your passion, it should never be a screaming match.”

Connect with Kayla Huff and learn more about The Her Initiative by visiting their website at www.theherinitiative.org.

“ Find those people who will lift you up and amplify your words. No matter your passion, it should never be a screaming match.”

-

K A Y L A

H U F F

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t p u r s i D o Daring T AN UNCONVENTIONAL LOOK AT THE FIGHT FOR HEALTH + WHOLENESS

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t feels like I’ve spent my entire adult life quitting diets and cheating on budgets. No matter what new fad or program I’ve passionately adopted as “the thing” that’s actually going to turn my life around, I usually end up somewhere near where I started within a few months into the new plan. Why? I don’t know, the answer probably lies somewhere between a lack of discipline, ridiculous over commitment and unrealistic goal setting. The bottom line is, I’m ready for a new approach.

I’m ready to break the crazy cycle of trying the next new thing and failing, only to start again. The best way I know to start new, healthy cycles is to learn from people who are already whole and healthy in the areas I want to grow in.

operations manager for three branches with D.A. Davidson – Wealth Management. She has been with the company for just over nine years. Prior to joining Davidson, she was with Smith Barney for 17 years. In other words, she is one of the people I want to learn from.

I’ve known Desiree for over a decade. She’s beautiful and smart and funny, and the long, vulnerable conversations we’ve had over the years have moved and inspired me.

Des and her husband Jeff did something many run from.

They took a hard, honest look at their spending, and then they dug deep and took control of their finances. I hope her story inspires you like it inspired me. - xoxo Linz

Desiree Molloy is the co-branch manager and supervisory 20

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CROSSING THE BRIDGE- Desiree Molloy My sister has always been my hero. She started in the financial industry when she was 20 (I was 9). I watched her grow professionally and admired her integrity and work ethic. She eventually became a manager. I decided when I was 12, if my professional singing career didn’t pan out, I would do what she does. She was kind enough to hire me as the new accounts clerk when I was 17 years old. That was (eh-hem) over 26 years ago. The business is busy and intense, while being centered on relationships.

The chasm between where I am vs. where I was is staggering in both depth and width. The bridge that connected the two sides was overwhelming, intimidating and frankly, seemingly impassable. I spent 38 years complacently

pacing the edge of the cliff. I wanted more but was bound by voices in my head.

• The bridge is too long. You can’t even see the other side.

• Can you trust it to carry your weight?

• What are you leaving behind?

• What if you turn into a weirdo on the other side?

• Few step foot on this bridge and even fewer make it across.

• It will be too hard.

• You’ll never make it.

• Society says you’re fine right here.

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t sounds dramatic but I had no idea how heavy the burden tied to my debt was. [Disclaimer: I didn’t build this debt castle alone, my husband was lock step with me.] I married a man who was content with what we had. He married a woman who really liked things, coupled with a deep desire to outdo the Jones’. Don’t get me wrong; we were charitable, somewhat generous and saved for retirement. We even had a healthy income, but our spending was always one step ahead of it. The phrase financial peace, ironically, brought nothing but anxiety. It was almost an oxymoron reserved for one of two types of people. Either the wealthy, with the ability to outspend their stupidity, or the can-collecting miser, living in a hole, saving every penny ever earned. It was not something obtainable by normal people, and certainly not for someone working in finance who understood leverage, credit scores, interest rates and investment returns. There was nothing wrong with us leasing our vehicles (everyone has a car payment), going out to eat every night (kids in sports, work full-time, no time to cook), going on a shopping spree (I work hard, I deserve a little retail therapy) or buying gifts far beyond what I was capable of spending.

So what changed? A series of events brought me to a crossroads. One particular business trip; my credit card wouldn’t work when attempting to pay for my transportation from the airport to the hotel. Fortunately, I had just enough on my debit card to cover it. Instead of spending a couple of hours at the pool before dinner, I used the time to increase my credit card limit so that I could get home. In 2014 I was asked to itemize certain expenses for tax writeoff purposes. In doing so, I stumbled on a staggering $750 paid in NSF fees to the bank for the previous year.

Nearing the crossroads, I forced myself to dig a little deeper before calling an official financial strategies meeting with my husband. To give you a small picture of our situation, in February of 2014, we had credit card and auto loan debt of $63,468. We spent approx. $1100 - $1500 a month dining out and $200 a month on trips to Starbucks.

Our kids were nearing graduation and we had nothing saved for college. Living paycheck to paycheck would have been great, but more than half of our income went to paying back what we spent the previous pay period. We were working our tails off, and we were stressed, broke and 22

exhausted.

It’s difficult to quantify all of the ups and downs associated with our journey to financial peace. What it revealed, while painful, brought more joy, peace, and freedom than anything I could have imagined. We took the steps together, celebrated, and grieved along the way. The process brought previously unknown toxins to the surface that we were forced to face and deal with. Had it not been for the journey, we may not have known they were there. We fought through lies, deceit, unbelievable pride and anger.

We had to fight to keep going. We had to fight for each other, fight for our marriage, and fight to stop fighting. If it sounds exhausting, it was. But today, I have a new life. It was so much more than the debt. It was my deep desire to prove my success to the world, and it was an unhealthy love for things I couldn’t afford. It was also debilitating pride that kept me from saying the dreaded word “no” followed by the even more dreaded phrase “we can’t afford it”.

The first week in March of 2014, we took our first step on the bridge crossing the chasm. That first step brought peace that I cannot explain with words. We were still in debt, we had no idea exactly how it would all work and we knew the journey was long, but it was the BIGGEST and most difficult step in our journey. Today I live free and walk light-footed. We took back dominion over our finances, not the other way around. I learned that I could take control of areas of my life I never thought possible. I even started to eat better and become more organized.

I learned to fight for what was important and let go of that which is not. My marriage is solid, honest and real. My friendships are pure and authentic. I no longer care what others think of me. I’m no longer afraid to set boundaries - financially, emotionally and physically. As cliché as it sounds, I set out to pay off debt and ended up finding my purpose along the way. At 43, I finally know who I am.

...

Des is just one of seven women we caught up with to help shift our perspectives on health and wholeness as we run into this new year filled with possibility and opportunity. These next pages are filled with wisdom from fitness, to health and self and emotional care. Let’s all make a pact to ditch those resolutions we just made, if you haven’t already, and instead go after a year of wholeness together!

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y o l l o M e r i Des Desiree’s tips for finding financial peace: 1. Don’t get caught up in what culture says is acceptable. Know who you are and be true to that person. If you don’t know who you are...dig. Dig and dig and dig and don’t stop digging until you find her. Even if that means seeking professional help. Do it! It’s worth it.

2. Surround yourself with people who will cheer you on in your journey. If you have friends who try to pull you off track for ANY reason, lose them as friends! Don’t let them take you down. Learn to say; “No, it’s not in the budget” and “No, we can’t afford that right now” and when they laugh at you – laugh back.

3. Take one small step at a time. Just keep moving forward.

Kim’s Advice

+ Trust what is put on your heart.

+ Verbalize it! For me, if I verbalize a goal to someone I am more likely to achieve it. + Surround yourself with friends and family that believe in you and your goals. My Love Stripped team began with those closest to me who also supported what God placed on my heart.

D h P , n o s k c a Nisha J : @lovestripped

KIM ADAMS +P EA K M ED IC A L C LI N IC +

40 , LEA DER

Photo Photo ByBy Danny Danny Hall Hall

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f I’m being honest, I’m a work-a-holic, big time.

I love to work way more than I should! Finding balance has been a 50-year struggle for me.

I have to constantly remind myself to get more sleep and rest and to stop eating sugar. It can be hard to get out of my head and quiet my thoughts, especially when I’m heading down a wicked stress path.

I know I’m not alone in this struggle, because I work with patients every day who are fighting for balance in their lives.

I was inspired to work with women when I had my first GYN exam by a man. He just didn’t get it. I remember thinking how important it is to be relatable and to help women feel more comfortable. Many women have never had the experience of working with a medical provider who really helps figure out the nuances of what is happening with their hormones. “Its just your hormones... deal with it,” is an unfortunate line women hear too often. I knew I could offer a different approach even at a young age.

For the 28 past years, I’ve been Women’s Health Practitioner with an emphasis in Functional/ Complimentary Medicine and a Hormone Balancing Expert for Men and Women.

Right now we’re expanding Peak Medical Clinics throughout Oregon and other states such as Texas, Idaho and California. The biggest challenge is managing our growth. I am passionate about our level of care being offered to the thousands of patients out there who otherwise would not have access to preventative wellness and hormone balancing medicine.

Our goal is to spend twice the time in the office with our patients to really listen, address their problems and symptoms, and provide in-depth testing to help uncover their UNDERLYING problems. We knew we didn’t want to just hand out a prescription that had side effects without actually solving the underlying issue.

We address diet, lifestyle habits, sleep, stress, hormones, gut health, and nutrient levels to help bring them up to full wellness.

My journey to this point hasn’t been easy. Especially in

the beginning, I came up against some pretty strong feedback when I wanted to break away from how women’s healthcare had always been handled in our valley. The biggest challenge has been combating quick fixes that are not based on prevention, but rather bandaids encouraged by mainstream medicine.

We know the value of in-depth testing for those suffering from any type of hormone problem, from depression to loss of sex drive.

The biggest misconception is that each system in the body works independently, and since the time of specialists we have started treating systems as if they are separate. While specialists are so important in medicine, the patient is often not given the information, testing, and tools to see the body as a WHOLE and thus teaching them that whatever happens in one system will dramatically impact another. Having a medical practitioner teach you this is a wonderful way to turn your health around!

The bottom line is, you are worth it. It is never ok to feel poor physically, mentally or emotionally for an extended period without getting the help you need and deserve. The world needs strong, healthy women who are in balance. It is not ok to suffer when you can feel amazing and be at your best. Read this again: YOU ARE WORTH IT! Check our Nisha’s newest book, Brilliant Burnout, on Amazon and connect with her at: www.peakmedicalclinic.com FB: @Peakmedicalclinics Instagram: @Peakmedicalclinic “How successful, driven women can stay in the game by rewiring their bodies, brains and hormones.”

[Editor’s Note: Read this book!! It will change your life!]

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o you know how hard it is to convince a woman that she is valuable, strong, capable and worth fighting for? Yeah, it’s challenging to say the least. Culture has been feeding us lies for generations about what it means to be a woman, what we should and should not look like, and how we should or should not feel.

We have made it our goal at Camp 17 to create an environment where women truly feel safe. Our goal is that they would know they are in the presence of like-minded women chasing more for their hearts and minds through strengthening their bodies.

We are teaching women to slow down, to toss out the all-governing to-do list, to sit, be still and breathe. We are taking the attention off of weight loss and putting it on being real about how we are doing, even if the answer is “I’m not okay.”

We are redefining what it means to be fit, and teaching women that it’s okay to struggle. We actually teach that it’s one of the greatest ways that we grow. When we learn that hope is something we can find on other side of struggle, something beautiful happens. Who doesn’t need a little more hope in their lives?

Camp17 is a fitness experience unlike any other. We are pursuing a vision of wholeness and connection, which is at the core of our heart for our clients. By using fitness as a tool, our courageous tribes of women are able to recover what has been lost or forgotten in their hearts, minds, and bodies. We kick and punch, we lift and run, we laugh and we cry. The connection with the body that comes from movement, breath, and nutrition is undeniable.

We help our clients understand their nervous system, how their beliefs about their bodies affect their connections with people, and how truly powerful they really are.

Through the principles we are teaching, women are seeing breakthrough in the areas of anxiety, chronic pain, depression, infertility, sleeplessness, self hatred, and fad diets. These amazing women are believing in themselves again, getting stronger, and dealing with the heaviness of the past. We like to say this journey is about learning to be 26

more human.

When someone is brave and steps into risk, or they begin doing things they never thought they could do in the gym (or in their lives outside the gym), we know this is where we belong. We have seen restoration of marriages and relationships, and we have seen women rediscover their identity and step towards their dreams. We have the honor of facilitating women who are becoming fully alive, and it blows us away every time.

We each fought over the years for the best versions of ourselves by walking away from the things we thought were “it”. When we became business partners, we realized we still have to fight to continue to be the best versions of ourselves, but we also have to pour energy into staying best friends while running a successful business. On a side note, neither one of us is administrative, so that has been a challenge!

There are no quick fixes or guarantees made here. We are giving women a safe place to express themselves fully, and to explore everything that is inside of them. We help cultivate honest and real friendships. Camp17 is known for encouraging organic results, so we tell our clients there is no one that can do the work for you. We believe the matters of the heart and mind will manifest themselves physically.

Your success, your failure, the money in your bank account, your education, your past, your present, your age, or your pant size do not have anything to do with your value. Your life is not done yet and you are worth fighting for. When a woman wakes up in the morning and looks at herself in the mirror and says thank you instead of I hate you, we know we’ve done our job.

Our best advice for you right now is to become friends with the girl looking back at you in the mirror. Say nice things to her even when she makes mistakes or bad decisions.

Believe in her when she doubts herself, and encourage her to grow. Hold her accountable when she decides she’s not worth the effort. Love her with all of your might and stop wishing she looked like someone else. She is you! And she’s not going anywhere.

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s n i a B y t o J . r D

O P R A C TI C + IR H C N O G E R O N R E + S O U TH

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have been a Doctor of Chiropractic and entrepreneur for almost 14 years. Here’s what I have learned - You cannot truly help others if you are not being true to yourself.

My husband and I knew when we graduated 14 years ago that we wanted to build our practice from the ground up. It would have been easy to just purchase a building and a patient list from someone who was retiring, but we had a vision for the type of care we wanted to bring to the Rogue Valley. It was a challenge, to say the least.

I love the doctor/patient interaction and the challenge of helping people get out of pain for good. I also love what I do as a business owner and as a physician.

This love for my work makes me a better partner and mother because I feel whole in what I have to offer my community.

Too often we see our personal growth as selfish, when we should see it as necessary to set a positive mentoring example to our families and to ensure we don’t lose our individuality in the process of living this life.

Finding the right employees was an important step. We wanted to invest in people, and that started with the people who work for us. Today, we have 80 employees and we strive to offer a safe and empowering work environment that encourages our team to grow with us.

When I’m living from this place of wholeness and being true to myself, I’m making an impact in the world around me, one patient at a time. And that’s the key to true balance - taking care of yourself so you can influence the world around you in a positive way.

My husband and I have created true Integrative Health Clinics that all work together and refer as needed to ensure that our patients get exactly what they need. We have Chiropractic Doctors, Medical Doctors, Naturopathic Doctors, Acupuncturist, Clinical Psychologist, and so on. Any one doctor cannot be everything for each and every patient, so a health care team is the only way to ensure patients learn and get what they need for their healthcare.

Tips for staying true to yourself and taking control of your health:

For decades, doctors have tried to do it all. We have found that there is no one specialty that can offer true whole healthcare. We offer a team of doctors instead of just one. Empowering my patients in their health journey inspires me and feeds my passion for finding real solutions to health and wholeness.

3. The body hates to be sedentary, so put your body in motion. If you’re feeling symptoms as you begin incorporating movement into your life or are unable to incorporate movement due to pain, call your doctor. It all begins with you, change starts with you!

I specialize in teaching women balance, while giving them tools to understand and heal their bodies. We all have to advocate for ourselves and learn, not only from our doctors but from our personal relationships as well. It’s the code I live for and by. It sounds easy, maybe even a little naive, but it’s one of the biggest challenges of my life.

Connect with Joty and her team at:

1. Try to be the person YOU want, instead of being the person you think everyone ELSE wants you to be.

2. Surround yourself with people who support you and lift you up. This will ensure that you are the best kind of friend/souse/parent you can be.

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www.sochiro.com Facebook: @sochiroclinic Instagram: @sochiroclinic 2931 Doctors Park Drive Medford 97504

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s a child I dealt with a lot of anxiety and loneliness, and with that came binge eating. I was made fun of as child, to the point that my parents sent me to a private school in hopes that things would be better for me. This way of eating led me down a dangerous path of being extremely overweight while I was attending college. I didn’t feel good and my selfesteem was a zero. I did every diet known to man, and I took diet pills in high school. I would starve myself, but then eat a whole loaf of bread or a whole coconut cream pie because I felt so deprived.

It has taken me 15 years to change my thinking and heal the emotional wounds that pushed me to binge eat. I understand what it’s like to be made fun of, the one to be picked last during gym class, and to have to shop in the larger section. I understand the pain that women go through when they feel less-than because they are not meeting random standards of beauty and society.

Once I began to educate myself on health and wellness, things started to fall into place. I slowly began to learn what it means to eat an organic plant-based diet.

I changed out the products that were full of harmful chemicals in my house and began to live as “clean” as possible. The fact that I’m in the beauty industry blows my mind, because it is so opposite of how I grew up. I’ve made it my business to become an expert in my field, and my story drives me to empower women to become their best.

Looking at your skin from a holistic perspective means that you are addressing the whole body. There isn’t just one thing that gives you healthy skin. It’s a whole puzzle of factors that need to synergistically work together. For example, your gut health plays a major role in the health of your skin. Hormones come in to play as well, because if you are under stress, then your body’s hormones will usually be imbalanced. This can cause breakouts and other skin issues. Hydration and stress management are also important to watch, as well as clean eating and a solid personal skin care regimen.

step at a time.

Trying to live up to a clean and organic lifestyle that these green beauty and lifestyle bloggers talk about can be super overwhelming if you try to do it all at one time. Choose one thing a month that you would like to change. For example throw out all of your plastic water containers and bottles and invest in glass containers.

That’s one thing, then you move on to purchasing a brush that you can use every morning to dry brush your entire body, which benefits your lymphatic system and skin. Step by step, you’ll begin to feel healthier.

There is a term called slow beauty. This is a unique technique focusing on healthy aging using whole plant products, and a lymph-focused, sculpting face massage.

The goal is to love ourselves while striving to honor who we are in a healthy way, instead of striving for perfectionism, being critical of various body parts, and wanting the quick fix. Once we embrace it, we free ourselves to become our most healthy, beautiful selves through intentional, slow beauty rituals that make us whole.

I truly believe that we are our better when we take time for self-care. Every day we get a chance to lavish ourselves with attentive action. We all deserve compassion, love and kindness via tender care of one another, starting with our own bodies and minds.

My job provides an opportunity for me to be able to offer women hope in a safe and loving environment where they leave feeling refreshed and cared for. It goes way beyond just beauty. It’s connecting at a deep level and being vulnerable about fears, struggles and insecurities. I’m honored to bring out the best in a woman by supporting her and encouraging her. I always leave her with the message that she doesn’t need to change in any way. She is exactly who she is meant to be. And, hear me when I say this, so are you.

Connect with Shannon: www.glowskincareshannon.com FB: @glowskincareshannon Instagram: @glowskincareshannon

I also recommend, if changes are desired, to take it one 30

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n 2007 I felt on top of the world. My son was born in March. My husband owned a successful business.

Life was good. However, things quickly changed.

In 2008, I experienced a sequence of traumatic events. The swift economic drop destroyed our financial stability. He lost his business, I suffered a miscarriage, and most unexpectedly my husband passed away. There I was, a 28-year-old widow and mother to an 18 month old, in the middle of bankruptcy, living with my parents. I had no idea what to do. I was lost, broken, and terrified. My intuition told me I had to focus on healing, because my life and my baby’s life depended on it. I didn’t even know how to heal or what healing looked like. So, I started therapy. Through the counseling experience, I slowly repaired my soul and began to rebuild my life. Therapy helped me to find meaning in the darkest of times. I wanted to help others recover from their lives the way my counselor helped me.

a good enough (fill in the blank ___ mom, wife, employee, daughter, friend). I work to disrupt these popular values and help women to recognize all these SHOULDS for what they are: IMPOSSIBLE, UNACHIEVABLE expectations that make women feel bad about themselves. I help women to stop SHOULD-ING on themselves. (Yep, it sounds like shitting. It is supposed to because that is basically what women do to themselves.)

To disrupt the SHOULDS we apply self-compassion. The experts define compassion as an awareness of suffering.

Therefore, self-compassion is an awareness of suffering in our own self. Not all of us identify with the word suffer. Instead, I suggest replacing the word suffer with struggle. We all struggle.

How we respond to that struggle is where a lot of us end up SHOULD-ING. That is the opposite of what we need to disrupt it or heal it. Responding to our suffering (struggle) with love, kindness and gentleness is the foundation of selfIn the three years that followed my husband’s death, I pushed compassion. It leads us to healing and good mental health. myself to the edge. I was hyper focused on being supermom, I am challenged daily to address my own list of SHOULDs by super graduate school student, super employee, SUPER choosing to be a good friend to myself. I have a quote on WOMAN. I actually thought that I was healthy because of how my desk to remind me that I am not the exception to the selfmuch I achieved during this time. That belief was reinforced by compassion philosophy. It says, “You as much as anyone else, how much other people were impressed by my achievements. deserve compassion.” To which I always respond, “Oh yeah! I It looked healthy on the surface. But it wasn’t. I was stressed, do, don’t I?” irritable, ungrateful and not grounded in the present. I was my Teaching a woman to love herself is one of my greatest own biggest challenge. Aren’t we all though? passions. She may not even know it, but when a woman I’ve been a psychotherapist since 2013. My private practice practices self-compassion, she teaches her friends to do the is focused on working specifically with women who experience same. She raises children who love themselves. And the love just struggles related to pregnancy, postpartum anxiety and grows. Most people experience love for things external; their depression, pregnancy and infant loss, and adjustment to kids, husband, family or friends. In practicing self-compassion motherhood. The scope of my practice is helping women to we grow to understand love more fully. We experience love heal emotionally. Mental health healing first comes from the internally. When we learn to respond to ourselves like we understanding we are all humans. We are all flawed and would an old friend, we experience self-love. That internal selfcome with imperfections, issues, and baggage. Pregnancy, love is the foundation for a sense of wholeness and feeling postpartum, and early motherhood are often times that bring complete. those issues to the surface.

If I can leave you with one thing today it’s this: If you catch We live in a society that puts an insane amount of pressure yourself saying I SHOULD do this, or SHOULD do that, please on women and mothers to go, go, go, be faster, be better, stop, take a deep breath and ask yourself if your best friend be prettier, be more organized, be this, be that. Our culture were saying she SHOULD ___ (lose 5lbs, volunteer more at says you SHOULD be all of these things but don’t actually be the school, run one more errand, do more squats, go back on you. Society says you, well, you need a filter. We are made whole 30, etc), how would you respond to her? Then do that! to believe that if you stop, slow down, or rest you won’t be W+W MAGAZINE

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Behind The Scenes W I T H D & D

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s real estate brokers, the relationships we’ve built with our clients over the years is the most rewarding part of what we do. In an industry where income is solely based off commissions and the market can fluctuate, it can be easy to lose sight of the most important

things.

Back in the day when we were new agents, we were on the receiving side of just how cut throat things can get and it felt awful.... like up all night, gonna throw up awful. After a few (dozen) painful stings, it was abundantly clear to us how we wanted to move forward and run our business. No matter how big we get, we determined we would never treat anyone the way we had been treated. What feels the best, after all these years, is having new rookie brokers go out of their way to thank us.

One of the best things about being a part of a community is connection. We write a contributing column in a local publication that is distributed to over 18,000 households, and we share our hearts there. Our community has walked with us as we experienced the joy of the births of our children, and devastating tragedy while one of our moms underwent chemotherapy. We have been blessed with a platform to be our authentic selves, and we have been able to share more about who we are as wives, mothers, best friends, daughters and business owners.

The thing we probably love the most about what we do is connecting with people at a much deeper level than simply opening up a door and writing a contract. We are “their people” and they trust us with one of the most important decisions of their lives. We have access to their world, where they love on their families, where they have raised their children and made a life for themselves. We get to guide them through the messy, the lovely, the joy and the sorrow. They trust us implicitly and value our opinions, our knowledge and our experience.

To be at the closing table and have a seller say the 6% didn’t feel like enough compensation for our work on their behalf... well, that feels pretty darn good, too.

CONNECT WITH DEANNA & DYAN: : @livinginsouthernoregon

: @danddjohnlscott

DISRUPTING LANESSA PIERCE

When winter comes, for some reason ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas’ is the first thing that pops into my head, and I think of taking a long winter’s nap. Visions of snuggling on the couch with my hot cocoa (or schnapps, whichever is your jive) sounds just about perfect, right? What if, instead of wrapping ourselves in a Sherpa blanket and binge watching our favorite shows, we decided to jump into winter with open arms?

What if we decided to live our best life during the winter? I want to help you disrupt those notions of hibernation.

Living in southern Oregon we are surrounded with opportunities to enjoy the outdoor life year-round. Winter offers skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, ice fishing, and more. Honestly there is something for everyone! If you want to do something epic though, snowshoeing at Crater Lake takes you to a whole new level. When I first started I was worried that I was way too out of shape to do it, I would get too tired, and the group would leave me behind. I’ll tell you what, while it wasn’t without its challenges it was one of the coolest experiences I have ever had. I like to say, “If you can walk you can snowshoe.” What is even more amazing is that Crater Lake National Park offers FREE ranger guided tours including the use of their heavy duty snowshoes.

Photos by Danny Hall

If you are going to tackle snowshoeing, I would definitely suggest going with someone who knows what they are doing for your first time. Can you believe there were spots that were more than 10 feet deep with snow? I wouldn’t want to be the one to fall in that hole! Being led by an experienced guide, you are taken off the beaten path to what feels like the middle of nowhere. You are surrounded by untouched snow where only the native wildlife have been. You get views of Klamath Lake and Garfield Peak as you hike through old growth forest.

And as if things can’t get any better, you get to do some penguin sliding through the trees. Yep, it is as crazy as it sounds.

Zip up your snow coat, get on your belly and slide down a hill. It is exhilarating, fun, and terrifying all at once! The grand finale literally takes your breath away; the view of Crater Lake is stunning any time of year, but covered in a blanket of snow she really overwhelms your senses with awe.

: @whattodoinsouthernoregon 36

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onestly I feel like a frickin’ fierce warrior what? Even though I was going as slow a sloth I did it after I go snowshoeing at Crater Lake. and guess what? I could not stop smiling, and neither People come from all over the world to could anyone else that was on the ice. visit this awesome, natural phenomenon and we literally have it here in our back- 2. Winter hiking is a blast! Just grab a coat, hat, and gloves and go for a hike. Do any distance YOU can yard. Yes, I’m sore in places that I wouldn’t normally be and do. Just because a trail is 10 miles long doesn’t mean I am exhausted, but my soul is replenished and my mind is you have to hike the whole thing. Take a friend with strengthened with a resolve that I can continue to find the you to chat with and before you know it you may have next adventure. made it to the top.

Maybe snowshoeing isn’t your thing, or you don’t live in an area that offers optimal snowshoeing conditions. Well, 3. Take a walk in a park. Even if it is raining, grab your Wellies and umbrella, a cup of coffee and take a stroll. that’s okay. There are lots of other things you can do to disrupt the winter blues that sometime settle in. Here are a 4. Don’t want to go outside? Call a friend and meet at few ideas: a coffee shop, for a glass of wine, or dinner. Peruse a museum, art gallery or bookstore.

1. Try ice skating. Yes, you can ice skate at an indoor ice rink any time of year, but have you gone ice skating at an outdoor rink? There is something that makes it so much more special. If there’s one near you, give it a shot. I was really nervous to go because it had been a few years since I had been, and then I thought how disappointed my six year old daughter would be. How can I tell her to face her fears if I can’t even pull up my big girl panties and do it? Yes, I was afraid I would fall, yes it would be embarrassing if I did, but you know

The point is, you don’t have to spend winter wishing for warm sunshine. There are things during this time that are only available now. Yes, some of them are challenging, but what is life without tackling the challenges head on? You can do it, I’m cheering for you!

(P.S. If you live in Southern Oregon and want to participate in the free ranger guided snowshoeing tours,they run from December through April, at 1 pm on Saturdays and Sundays. To reserve your spot call 541-594-3100. Have fun!)

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GET 20% OFF YOUR ORDER USE CODE: WILDWOMAN20 AT CHECKOUT

www.waxbuffalo.com @ wax b uffalo 38

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: @jennabentonwriter

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Photo by Danny Hall

ISRUPTION. It’s a word that can annoy and scare me. But this issue of The Wild Woman Magazine is about allowing disruption in our lives to shape us and move us forward. It’s also about striving to become disruptors by infusing the spaces around us with fresh perspective, tenacity, and innovation.

That sounds great. Blah. Blah. Blah. I actually believe those words, but disruption can be painful. It can trigger terrifying things in us that keep us stuck. As much clarity as it brings, disruption can also level us in a blink. We are disrupted, so we lash out. We are disrupted, so we hide. We are disrupted, so we allow fear to make decisions for us. I know this, because I’ve lived it, over and over my entire adult life.

Our W+W team (Lindsay - Editorial Director, Cindy - Senior Editor, Jenna - Senior Editor, Danny - Photographer, Lacey Blogger and Contributing Writer, Lanessa - What To Do In Southern Oregon and Contributing Writer) went snowshoeing at Crater Lake National Park. In the days leading up to our trip, I was cranky about it. Really cranky. (Side note: Lindsay

constantly disrupts my comfort zone. She always thinks I can do things I have no business doing.) I’m out of shape, overweight, and my snow gear consists of two-year-old wool socks, a coat I can barely zip up, and some clearance boots from Walmart with little plastic snowflake zippers. To say I wasn’t ready for Danny to snap pictures of me for this article is a gross understatement. Stand me up next to Lacey, and I feel like Gimli son of Gloin. (Google it!)

It was late December, and my weather app said Crater Lake National Park would be 39 degrees and cloudy all afternoon.

WRONG. Unless that is code for sideways-blizzard-iceneedles in my face, then yeah, whatever. Also, I was wearing jeans because snow pants are expensive and how wet would I actually get while snowshoeing anyway? Dear Lord, sometimes I wonder when I’ll actually grow up and start adulting.

I fought tears behind my sunglasses as we made the beautiful drive up highway 62. I talked to myself the entire way. “I don’t belong here. I’m going to make a scene and humiliate myself. I shouldn’t have come.” My thoughts drowned out the cheerful chatter of my friends.

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Photo By Danny Hall

e tumbled out of the SUV, shivering and grabbing extra layers out of the back of the car. It was icy cold, and the wind howled from every direction. Thankfully, I’d splurged on a $26 down vest from Ross that morning in a last ditch effort to make myself look cool, and Cindy had shoved a new pair of snow pants in my backpack when we loaded up, insisting I could not survive the hike in jeans. She probably (literally) saved my asscheeks from gangrene and being left behind in a snow drift that day.

“Come on, you can do it. I’ll catch you!” she shouted back.

I’m not exaggerating when I say I couldn’t even bend over long enough to put my snowshoes on before we started. Not being able to put on my own gear should have been my first clue. However, because my goal for the day was DO NOT BE AN A-HOLE AND MAKE A SCENE, I pasted on a fake smile, got to the end of the line, and followed our park ranger out into the blinding white wilderness.

A guttural, ugly-cry came from my guts. Snot and tears froze to my face. I couldn’t stop. I wailed and sobbed that I needed to turn around and go back. Did I make a scene? Yes. Yes, I did. I had an hour and 45 minutes left of this hike and the thought of moving forward made me realize I now had a new goal: DO NOT BE AN A-HOLE AND DIE.

I took a deep breath, stepped forward, and immediately felt myself falling. I tumbled forward, rolling and sliding until I stopped with a thud, face down in the snow.

I laid there, motionless, listening to the sounds of the other girls running up the hill, asking if I was okay. Cindy finally rolled me over, and I opened my eyes. Everyone was circled around, looking down at me. I opened my mouth to make a joke and laugh it off, but instead what came out was, “WWWAAAAAAHHHHH!!!!”

At the edge of the first canyon, I realized I might actually freak “You can’t go back, Jenna,” said Lanessa firmly. “The wind has out. My legs and core were not strong enough to go downhill. erased your tracks. You’ll get lost. You have to stay with us.”

My muscles were shaking already, and we had barely started. She waited until I looked her in the eyes and then she smiled warmly. “The only way is forward. You can do it. I know you can.”

“I can’t do this!” I shouted down to Cindy, who was waiting halfway.

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I looked back at Cindy in terror. ”We’ll do it together,” she said firmly, yanking on my arms until I stood up. I had no choice. I had to move forward.

We finally got to the bottom and stood in a circle. I gasped for breath and looked sideways at Lacey. She gave me one of her silly grins and elbowed me in the side. “Smile!” she said, snapping a selfie of the two of us. Ugh, bloggers.

Suddenly, from across the circle, a teenage girl started throwing up buckets of hot chocolate, and she didn’t turn around or walk away. She was so miserable she just stood there and threw up in the middle of the circle. Over and over.

“Okie dokie,” I thought. “I now have a new goal.” Strangely, even though I felt sorry for the girl, watching her puke made me feel better. How embarrassing to even admit that, but I might as well let it all hang out now, right? I figured she probably felt worse than me, and if she could keep going, then maybe I could. After all, I hadn’t thrown up, yet.

“It’s easy to look out over the snowy canyons and think everything is dead or asleep,” said the park ranger, during our next stop. “But there is rich, beautiful life here. In fact, there are some things that can be seen in winter that can’t be seen any other time.”

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. 2018 felt like 365 days of brutal winter. I had learned horrible and beautiful things and it felt like I was so buried in grief, at times I feared I would never dig myself out. I glanced sideways at Lindsay. She smiled at me and her eyes were filled with tears and suddenly I wasn’t mad at her anymore.

We finally reached the rim of Crater Lake, but we couldn’t see down to the water because of the storm. I cried quietly, from a place of deep exhaustion and satisfaction. I had made it.

Yes, I made a scene. Yes, I let Danny take my picture. Yes, my dorky boots kept my feet dry and toasty. Yes, we are all laughing about it now. Yes, I might snowshoe again with Lanessa in the spring. Yes, Lindsay and I are still friends. No, I didn’t throw up. No, I didn’t die.

But honestly, something did die in me that day. It was the three little words I’ve repeated throughout my life: “I don’t belong”. Gosh, they’re heavy, aren’t they? I needed to be done with them, because I couldn’t manage one more step with them wrapped around me. When I decided to let my friends disrupt my broken thinking and love me the way I deserve to be loved, “I don’t belong” broke loose and melted into the snow.

Today, Lacey’s sweet selfie reminds me of how much I am loved, and what it looks like to celebrate, even when I’m in the middle of a struggle. Those girls (and Danny) didn’t compare my efforts to their own, they didn’t care what I was wearing or how long it took me to climb the last ascent. They weren’t annoyed, and they certainly didn’t think less of me for making a scene. They just celebrated my journey and my triumph.

I’m thankful for friends who don’t let me settle too long in my comfort zone. I’m thankful for friends who believe I can do hard things, and for those who walk ahead of me cheering me on, and for those who stay in step behind me to make sure I don’t quit. And in the end, it makes me want to be that kind of friend for others. Who’s with me?

Photos by Danny Hall

e l b a pp o t ns U ER C IN D Y C O N N

In a favorite classic Christmas movie of mine, there is a line where an older man, frustrated with the inaction of a younger man wails, “Oh how youth is wasted on the young!� Let me say that is NOT the case in our next few pages. In these pages we showcase some young women who have discovered their passions early in their lives and have taken these talents to the next level. While generalization of anything is never appropriate, the Millennial generation is getting a bad rap for everything from being late to lunch to having zero work ethic. Research contradicts these traits as the norm however with the staggering number of young entrepreneurs making up this generation. Even more staggering is the GENERATION Z. This post millennial generation who was born from the mid 1990s thru the early 2000s make up 25% of the US population.

According to visioncritical.com five characteristics of this young generation are: • 42

They want to co-create culture and they do.

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They respond to edgy campaigns.They prefer cool products over cool experiences.

•

Their media consumption habits differ from previous generations-even millennials.

•

ENTREPRENEURIAL and tech-savvy are two Generation Z characteristics.

BINGO! Lily, Paige and Nevaeh are the next generation of strong, wild women and we are so proud of what these disruptors are doing in our community. I am honored to support each of their endeavors at my shop as each of them learn and grow and I’m inspired by their courage to be creative and try new things. In delving into their histories it comes as no surprise to find their one common denominator is that each of them have strong wild woman mamas. Oh the power we can have in our life journey with someone who believes in us by our side whispering, “You’ve got this, you can do it.”

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PAIGE JONES AGE: 13

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’ve always been interested in business. My parents have owned several businesses and I have always helped somehow. I have two businesses of my own. Spilled Sprinkles is my baking business. I also work events and birthday parties as PJ’s Face

Paint.

My favorite part? Being creative! I can make my own rules and baking allows me to decorate and try new flavors. I love little kids and little kids love getting their faces painted.

It’s so fun​! My plan is to own my own bakery somewhere on a warm beach. I would like my business to stay a small business, because small businesses are special.

Paige’s 3 Tips For Staying Wild: 1) Be yourself always because there in nobody else like YOU. 2) Follow your dreams and ideas because YOU can turn them into a reality.

3) Dance like everyone is watching because they will LOVE your moves.

: @spilledsprinkles ​​ 44

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have always done things to make a little extra money. I’ve started lemonade stands, made chapstick, cookies and even Christmas ornaments. ​

Right now I’m building my sign making business up to be profitable. I’m learning a lot in the process and saving money for the future. My dad has taught me a lot about business and I Iove it! I plan on always being an entrepreneur.

My goal is to own my own business that is profitable enough to support myself and own a small farm in the country.

Nevaeh’s 3 Tips For Staying Wild: 1.) Make sure you love what you do.

2.) When you have an idea go for it and take the first step. Be brave! ​ .) If you fail, come up with something 3 new and don’t give up!

NEVAEH HANSEN

AGE: 13

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I

started making simple leather earrings this past July when my mom bought some leather earrings from a friend. This inspired me to start brainstorming ways I could make earrings for myself. My grandma told me for my birthday present she’d help me get what I needed to get started. When friends and family found out that I was going to start making earrings for myself, they began asking if they could buy earrings from me. At that point it made more sense to start a little business. So, I asked my mom’s friend about what I would need to do to get my business off the ground. She gave me some advice and inspiration that really helped me get started.

LILY YOUNG AGE: 14

I have never considered myself a “crafty” person, but having this outlet has allowed me to be creative. I’ve enjoyed watching how the business has grown. I will eventually take what I have earned and purchase my first car! Learning how to manage money, resources and time has been a great experience. I hope to continue developing those skills and put them to use as an adult.

I have been blessed with so much support from my family and friends. I think my favorite part of this experience has been the time spent with my mom making earrings together. I would not be able to produce enough to fill bulk orders, or risk trying something new without her encouragement and help. This is something I’d like to do for the long run, and I hope that the business can continue grow. I am excited to see what God has planned!

Lily’s 3 Tips For Staying Wild: 1.) If we never choose to take risks we won’t grow.

2.) When you’re anxious to try something new, take time to enjoy the quiet times. Be content!

: @joyfullymadegoods 46

3.) Even when you are busy, take time to reap some of the reward. Make sure you are enjoying what you do.

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#WEAREFAMILY

M

BEHIND THE SCENES OF A FAMILY CENTERED BUSINESS www.kandbautocomplex.com

y late husband was diagnosed with cancer in August of 2017. During his illness this dealership was basically run into the ground. After he passed away, I walked into the car lot with our ratings at a 1 star, picketers marching in front of the dealership and more problems than I knew what to do with. I was so overwhelmed. I was now a woman owner of a used car dealership. I will admit, I sometimes cringed even admitting that I was co-owner of a car dealership just because of the negative connotations that goes with used cars and now I was the sole owner. I couldn’t blame it on my husband, it was now in my hands. The business

was pretty close to going under. I took the little bit of life insurance money I got and put it into the business. I gave myself 3-6 months to see if it could be turned around. Everyone rallied around and supported all the changes that had to be made. Some tough staffing changes had to happen and some radical changes in the way we needed to run a business now with more of a focus on our online presence. This past August we did an official re-grand opening and it was just awesome.

Our ratings have gone up to 4.7 stars and I’m so proud of the work everyone has done to turn this company around. I’m still learning this industry, there are days I look in the mirror and ask myself what the heck I think I’m doing, BUT then I pick back up and walk in the doors with a smile on my face, ready to face new challenges with a courageous heart. When fear creeps in, I really have to cling to my faith and trust God’s sovereignty in everything I’m facing because I know with Him, everything is possible.

Our hashtag is #WEAREFAMILY. Our employees are treated like family and because of that, we are a tight-knit team. We are a business of second and third chances. We help people get back on their feet after personal struggles in their lives and support recovery and healing. It’s not uncommon to come in and see people being prayed for or with. Whether it’s customers, employees, family, friends, friends of friends, or strangers. We even have a prayer group that meets here on Monday nights! The mission is to serve our community and each other, through commitment and support.

We want everyone who comes here to be treated like they are family. We don’t want people to feel pressured or stressed out. We intentionally create an atmosphere that is laid back and comfortable. We work deals with our customers while sitting on couches, bringing a relaxing tone to the buying process. It’s important to us that our customers feel empowered to make their own, informed decisions in an environment that supports the customer each step of the way.

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: @kandbautoplex - 2690 Crater Lake Hwy. Medford, OR

: @my.silver.nest

Photo By Courtney Coker

I

Chaos

disrupting

have 15 junk drawers in my kitchen. This may sound like I’m exaggerating, but I’m not. If something is missing, it’s likely tucked away behind spare keys that open God-knows-what, random receipts, old grocery lists that I forgot to take with me to the store, or free stuff my kids got at the dentist. The truth is, I know the heaviness and exhaustion that comes with a life of cluttered chaos. I joke often about my inability to be organized, but the truth is I hate it. I spend so much time looking for things I’ve misplaced.

My purse is overflowing with receipts and wrappers, I’ve lost thousands of dollars that were probably thrown away with junk mail I never got around to reading, and if you ask me for that spare magazine on the floor of my car, there will most assuredly

be a semi-melted fruit snack stuck to it.

While you may not be able to relate to the current McPhail reality of chaos and clutter, I’ll bet there are areas of your life that could benefit from a bit of advice from two of the most tidy, organized women I know, Gena Hansen of Silver Nest Designs and Autym Burke owner of Wander + Pine Photography and House Keeps. I love their hearts and their advice, and I’m taking their words to heart as I look at all I want to accomplish in the coming year! So here’s to less junk and more time to love and live and dream... without fruit snacks stuck where they don’t belong.

g e n a . . .

I

magine this for a moment. You wake up in the morning without feeling overwhelmed before your feet even hit the ground. Your home is peaceful, clean, and organized. You have space to breath, drawers that are empty(ish), and time in your day to laugh. This is Simple Living. It’s living a lifestyle of getting rid of the chaos before it starts. Does that sound impossible?

The great news is that Simple Living is not about trying to be perfect but about letting go of pressure to be something you’re not. It’s about cleaning out the junk so you have time to live a life that you enjoy! Here are a few simple steps that will get you heading in the right direction of a simple life.

Declutter your environment. Look around your home and ask yourself if there is anything you don’t love in your home. Go ahead, do it. You should never have anything in your home that you do not love and does not add happiness to your life. Are you keeping anything because it’s sentimental or out of obligation? Those are noble intentions, but not the right reasons to keep something. I challenge you to put a large box in a corner and for the next month fill it up with everything that you are keeping that you don’t love. This includes clothing, kids toys, home decor, kitchen and bath supplies, and anything else that doesn’t add value to your life. At the end of the month, donate everything you’ve put in the box and see how much freedom it brings!

Lindsay McPhail

Find a place for everything. As your home gets cleaned out, the next step is to be very careful about what you buy to bring back into it. When you’re in a store, don’t even pick it up unless you’re positive it will have a place and a purpose. Things you don’t need will never bring you happiness, and will only create more clutter and add crazy. One of the simplest ways to keep a little crazy out of your home is to never set things in random places, but to put things where they belong. When everyone puts things in the correct place, not only will you not have to constantly pick things up, you won’t be surrounded by chaos-causing clutter. This includes countertops, floors, closets, garages and drawers.

Learn how to say no. Deconstructing crazy is not only about creating a calm(ish) home, but about learning how to rest. As women we are professionals at serving others. We say yes to everyone and everything. We give and give and give until we are burnt out. May I suggest that becoming a “no” person in all of the right places frees you up to live a simpler, happier life? It’s ok to say “no” to committees, friends, and dare I say, your children. Our job as parents is to love, guide and teach our kids, not to provide them with a life of ease by doing everything for them. The PTA will survive without you and real friends will understand when you just don’t have any more to give. Life is not about working hard so you can fill your home up with stuff, but it’s about who you share it with. At the end of the day, that is all that really matters. So my friend, take time to dance, sing, laugh, and play. Let go and enjoy a simple life.

: @wanderandpinephotography

a u t y m . . .

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e are always looking for ways to maximize our time! Between trying to balance work, motherhood, caring for our homes and trying to have social lives, it is now harder than ever to accomplish everything on our list with the limited amount of hours we have in each day! Studies clearly show that messy homes and work spaces leave us feeling anxious, helpless, and overwhelmed. Here are a couple of my go-to, super practical, time saving tips to keep our homes clean! These two simple tasks will have you feeling less stressed and burdened in no time!

Photo By Wander + Pine Photography

time at all to get things into shape and organized. Continuing this ritual ensures that everything stays in its place and is easy to find at all times! It also feels so good to donate items you don’t need or use to people in our community who could really benefit from them! As a side note: Another good rule of thumb is that if you haven’t used or seen an item in the past 6 months…pass it on! No need to keep unused items around!

For cleaning: This simple little trick has absolutely saved my life!

There are many daily home chores that I truly enjoy…cleaning my baseboards and trim is NOT one of them! Keeping these surfaces clean makes a huge difference in the overall feeling For organizing: It is easy to get overwhelmed when we think of your home! Here’s a simple and inexpensive tip for staying of the many closets and drawers that need organization in ahead of the dust that accumulates here! Start by cleaning our homes! So I make it a goal to tackle one small task each your baseboard trim with a damp cloth. Then simply wipe the day! Get 3 boxes and label them “Donate”, “Give away” and just cleaned baseboard or trim surface with a Bounce dryer “Trash”. Choose your first space and get started! The size of sheet. The antistatic properties in the sheet prevents dirt and the drawer or closet I will choose is solely determined by the debris from sticking, allowing your trim to stay dust-free for amount of time I have that particular day. If it’s 15 minutes, I months. Every few months I simply run a duster over the surface may just clean out one small drawer in the kitchen, but with an and any sign of dust is gone! An added bonus to this little trick hour, I can tackle a larger task like the kid’s closet or dresser! is that it will leave your home smelling fresh and clean in the I have found that if I commit to this simple process, it takes no process!

Moments Over Poses : @wanderandpinephotography

+ www.wanderandpine.photography

Behind The Scenes

I

W IT H B LU E D O O R GA RD E N S T O R E ’ve always had a dream of being a “shop girl” and owning my own little store. I even had a secret Pinterest board named “my secret store.” I had a fantastic career in the corporate world and never in a trillion years thought I’d ever have a store to call my own. It was a dream. A fantasy.

My mother’s death was the catalyst for my transition from corporate America to actually living my dream. I was gut punched into realizing how fragile life is.

It’s important to pursue a passion or a dream. I know that now. I wish my parents could see me living mine out, I think they’d be proud.

When I started this journey, I didn’t have a clue! The truth is that I was really flying by the seat of my pants most of the time. Somehow though, the store has morphed into a place to come hang out, play with the air plants, find a cool garden tool or something for the yard. Oh, and pet my dog, Myah. What could be better?!?

I remember a while back there was a little girl that wanted to buy her Mama a gift. She had less than $2.00 in change. She was so sweet and intent on finding something. I was going to do whatever it took to make it work. She picked out a plant, we found a terra cotta pot and we planted it together. I’ll never forget how happy she was when we placed it in the gift bag and finished it off with ribbon.

For me, it’s really all about the customers and how I get to be a part of making their lives a little more beautiful. I love the friendships I’ve made and the relationships I have with my customers. I truly care about them, their lives and their stories. At the end of the day, that’s what’s most important to me. The risk of leaving a financially secure job in an industry I knew was huge and scary. The life I now get to lead because of that risk is more of a gift than I could have ever hoped for.

Stop by and say hi sometime!

Much Love,

Cindi

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WILD WOMAN PROFILE NAME: TIKA WEEKS OCCUPATION: OWNER, VISIONS OF WONDERLAND 1) HOW LONG HAVE YOU HAD YOUR BUSINESS? Visions of Wonderland was born in 2014 when I decided to turn my arts and crafts hobby into a business. I started as an artist-for-hire, fulfilling other people’s Pinterest dreams, but I quickly realized I needed to narrow down what I was willing to do if I ever wanted to grow as a business. I’ve always loved sharing and teaching others to do what I love, so art classes and private paint parties were a natural fit. We were mobile until 2016 when I opened the studio while still fighting breast cancer.

I couldn’t have done it without the loving support of my family, especially my two sons, the only employees I’ve ever had.

2) WHAT MADE YOU TAKE THE LEAP TO START? I have always had an entrepreneurial spirit. I’ve been a stay at home homeschooling mama and have always looked for ways to contribute to our family’s tight budget. When I realized more and more friends and family were wanting to hire me, I thought “why not?” and started Visions of Wonderland.

3) WHAT ARE THREE PIECES OF ENCOURAGEMENT FOR YOUR CUSTOMERS? 1) Be willing to try new things, even if you don’t have any reason to think you might be good at it.

2) Make time for God, for yourself, and for the relationships that matter most to you.

3) Be willing to fail. Be willing to be vulnerable. Be willing to learn from your mistakes.

CONNECT WITH TIKA: : @visionsofwonderland

AUGUST 3-4, 2018 C E N T R A L P O I N T , O RW+W MAGAZINE

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VISIT THE STUDIO: 632 Crater Lake Ave Medford, OR 97504 phone: 541.778.7215 email: visionsofwonderland@gmail.com 53

FOSTERING

Wild

I

KRYSTLE BOWEN

almost started this article by saying “I’ve never been one to disrupt things.” But then I remembered the day I had to write I will not be obnoxious in class 100 times on a whiteboard. Or the time I was asked to leave history class because I was laughing too hard at a Battle of the Bulge joke my friend made. (Actually, I probably still laugh too hard at that joke.)

As the years have gone by, I’ve learned disruption is not always a bad thing. Some things are worth disrupting.

But if I’m honest, I’m the one who has been disrupted for the past few years. It started when my husband Trevor, my three boys, and I chose to say yes to foster care. Why would we do that? Why would we disrupt our routines, dreams and plans for a child we didn’t know?

Trevor and I found out that there were hundreds of kids in our county who needed temporary placements, but there were not enough safe homes for them. We read about kids sitting in state offices listening to social workers call around, just waiting for an open home. The truth is, it was something I said I’d never do - open my heart and my home, knowing my heart would shatter into a million pieces with each goodbye. But how can you pretend you don’t know the truth? How can you say these kids aren’t worth it?

We couldn’t.

We signed up for the training, and soon I was coloring on provided papers, squeezing stress balls, and eating chocolate while the training hours ticked by. Before we knew it, we had a child in our home.

Over the next several months we would learn how desperate the foster care issue in Oregon truly is.

: @imrebeccabender : @rebeccabenderinitiative WWW.REBECCABENDER.ORG

We would see how badly the system needs an overhaul, how deeply overloaded the social care workers are, and how the laws tie the hands of those who care most about the children. We saw the numbers – that there are more kids in foster care than there are homes, which means many foster homes are at or above their capacity. The result is that good foster families are burning out in record numbers. I soon realized it wasn’t enough to be a foster mom. I needed to get loud and shake things up.

I started hosting informational meetings at my home and at coffee shops, I did Facebook live videos and hosted Q&A’s, and eventually I wrote a book. I’ve been interviewed for articles and had my words shared across the country - all in an effort to disrupt the misnomers about foster care. I want to rally more people to open their homes and create a better support system for those fighting for these kids and their families on a daily basis.

Yes, the Bowen family has been disrupted, our routines and plans and dreams have all been shaken up. That happens when you’re a disruptor of the norm, when you push back against what culture says is success and you believe what matters most is people. I believe that this life is meant to be poured out for others, and that in giving we are truly living our best life.

So I will continue to be loud, and maybe a little obnoxious, to bring attention and awareness to the reality of foster care. There are hurting and broken people all around us, and if I can be one little part of some wholeness and redemption in their life, the disruption will be worth it.

You can find Krystle’s book Edge of Wild: Encouragement for Foster Parents on Amazon.com and follow her on Instagram at: @fosteringforthelove Cristen Nires Photography

Lindsay

CONNECT WITH

LI N D S A Y

: @thewildwomanmagazine 56

You Don’t Own Me...

McPhail

W+W MAGAZINE Photo By Danny Hall

T

his morning I stood alone in front of the mirror and wept. My bathrobe was tied tightly around my middle, and it added bulk to my natural body shape. I wasn’t crying over how I looked..

It wasn’t my ripples or dimples or shape that had brought me to tears.

This was something new. Instead of tears of defeat or surrender, tears of resolve streaked down my face. I was done.

The decades of hating my reflection had finally taken their toll and I’d had enough. The deep guttural sobs weren’t flowing from a place of sadness, shame or disappointment like they had so many times before. This was a roar from a place deep within me I never even knew existed. It was a battle cry, a declaration of something new, an anthem drenched in freedom.

I’ve been on a diet since the first grade. I battled an eating disorder for over a decade. I’ve abused diet pills, I’ve binged, I’ve purged. I’ve binged some more. I’ve exercised as a punishment for my size and I’ve tried every fad diet known to man.

Enough!

Today I stood strong and stared at the woman looking back at me in the mirror. I looked into the eyes of a fighter who has battled depression and eating disorders; a woman who has had 4 babies and 4 miscarriages. I saw someone who has fought hard for the life she has and I have the scars to prove it.

I’ve allowed a 12 inch square on my bathroom floor to determine my worth for over 30 years. Those numbers have either whispered, “You’re good and lovely and worthy.” Or, “You are a worthless disappointment to the world.”

I had a friend tell me once I’d never have authority over this area in my life until I conquered this issue.

Today I am shouting out to anyone who will listen, “MY WEIGHT IS NOT AN ISSUE.” So many years have been stolen from me because the number on the scale wasn’t one that said I was good enough, fit enough, or thin enough. I refuse to spend one more second believing that hating the size of my ass will somehow shame me into the body society says I should have.

This week I ran a 10k for the first time and I beat my back squat personal record by a whopping 40 pounds. If I got on the scale this morning those huge accomplishments would have been negated by three little numbers. My inner dialogue

would have told me that no one who weighs what I weigh has the right to celebrate.

So today, I’m divorcing myself from an abusive relationship I’ve had for decades. I’m done weighing. My scale no longer has a voice in my life. I’ve been so afraid to take this step.

I’ve told myself if I stop weighing, it will be the beginning of the end for my health journey. But the truth is, hating and shaming myself has only brought me an unhealthy inner dialogue and a self worth tied to a number that speaks nothing of the power I hold as a woman.

Here’s my declaration as I walk into a destiny saturated in love and hope and power: I refuse to be owned by anything. I am free. I am no longer a slave to my scale or the numbers it holds. The lies that have grown deep roots and strangled my ability to love myself fully have been painfully weeded out. I am free to look at my reflection and love what I see: A strong, courageous, wild warrior of woman who walks in full authority and knows who she is. I will nourish my body with healthy food and exercise because it feeds my soul.

No more hate, no more punishment. I am free. I am free. I am free.

I can already hear my husband yelling amen. Wanna give it a try? Here are some new ways to think through your health journey.

1. Put your scale away for a week. Like away-away, so it’s not easy to get to. Once you finish your first week, do it again... and again.

2. Sign up for a race, competition or class that will stretch you. I ran my first 10k and was at the back of the pack. It wasn’t about winning for me. It was about doing something that pushed me out of my comfort zone.

3. Learn to cook. My mom’s eye are probably bulging out of her head. I can’t cook. But I’m learning. Why? Because I want to nourish my body with whole healthy food. Chicken nuggets and frozen pizza will no longer be my default.

Freedom is calling you home today. If you choose this path it will be a choice you have to make every morning. You will have good days and days you want to run back to what you know. BUT, refusing to allow numbers on a scale to own you doesn’t mean you won’t be healthy or fit or lean... it just means you are now choosing not to be defined by a number. You can be free to love yourself on every step of the journey.

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Julie’s Tips For Disrupting Like A Wild Woman

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LEAD BY EXAMPLE. DON’T TAKE NO FOR AN ANSWER. FIND THE ANSWER. BE BOLD OR GO HOME .

TRUST YOUR GUT. EXPRESS GRATITUDE. (SEND THANK YOU NOTES)

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DISRUPTING like a woman

ulie Brown sat in her car and cried.

“What have I gotten myself into?

Can I actually fix this?”

Julie’s morning meeting with community leaders had not gone well. She and her Senior Planner, Paige West, had spent an hour being yelled at by a room full of men who were frustrated and angry at the way RVTD had been managing their funding and overall planning. The group had strong opinions about what the District had become and what needed to be done to fix it. But Julie had her own ideas. She knew it was time for a little disruption.

The year was 2007, and as the new General Manager of Rogue Valley Transportation District (RVTD) in Medford, Oregon, Julie had inherited a variety of problems. She knew she needed to find a way to disrupt “business as usual” and overhaul RVTD’s reputation. She also had to find a way to secure stable funding.

“We started with baby steps,” says Julie. “I went to everyone I could think of who could help us. It wasn’t easy, and it got to the point that legislators in the capitol started avoiding me.”

But Julie didn’t give up. She was determined to get her district back on track. Until the late 90’s, the transit industry had been predominantly a man’s world. Although women had been working hard to make a dent in leadership, it was a fight. Julie knew she needed to meet every challenge she faced with integrity and relentless determination.

Funding was a huge issue. All of RVTD’s revenue from the state of Oregon was grant funding, making it very unpredictable. Secondly, as an employee who spent 11 years working her way up the ranks, Julie knew she had to get her employees to see themselves as a team.

“It had been a rough time for our employees,” says Julie. “I basically had to pull our staff together and start from scratch. It was time to build the respect of my management team and employees and get them to believe in the dream.”

Eventually, Julie found a way to get different sides of the table to work together and compromise. She also worked hard with others to pass HB2017, a legislative bill that finally brought stable funding to RVTD. “The bottom line is, we work for the public,” says Julie. “We must always put them first.”

Today, RVTD is thriving and looking forward to some exciting changes over the next couple of years. They are growing and fulfilling Julie’s dream to serve the Rogue Valley’s transportation needs with integrity and excellence.

In September 2018, Julie was appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Oregon State Senate to serve as a commissioner for the Oregon Department of Transportation. She is leading the way in the transportation world in Oregon and is finding ways to dream bigger for her community.

“Today our world thinks that being violent or disrespectful is the best way to disrupt and be productive,” says Julie with a smile. “Disruption needs to be done in a thoughtful, bold manner that is educated and meaningful. That’s how you get things done.”

Julie’s story of making a way in a predominately male industry got us thinking about other women disrupting cultural norms and making a way where women aren’t often seen. We caught up with four other women doing their part to disrupt their respective professions to see what we could learn from their courage, tenacity and strength.

W

omen in positions of leadership are on the rise, and the American church is no exception. We caught up with Kate Rhoden and Kim Butcher, pastors at Living Waters Church in Medford, Oregon, and asked them to talk to us about disruption when it comes to women leading in the church.

wedding, I would feel a deep ache in my heart and I would go to a very dark place of pity and hopelessness. A close friend encouraged me to work through it, instead of stuffing it.

I was super busy at work, but I decided that I really needed to stop and allow the disruption so I could move forward and be healthy. I ended up spending three days alone with God, and it rocked my world. I gained perspective and a new understanding of what it meant to be fully loved by God. To this day I am still single, with the hopes that I will get married someday. If that happens, I will go into that marriage full, not lacking anything, because I allowed God to disrupt my thinking in this area. Disruption happens when we are true to ourselves and obedient to what the Holy Spirit is speaking to us. The steps of walking out disruption are totally up to us.

What led you down the path to becoming a pastor?

Kim: When I was in my early 20’s I was a cabin leader at a high school church camp. After hanging out with teenagers for a week, I knew that I loved leading them. I had been working as the office manager at a beer distributor when they offered me the opportunity to be a youth pastor. I juggled both jobs, and spent the next 20 years doing many different jobs that allowed me to serve as a youth pastor. Eventually, I Kate: Almost daily, God disrupts my mediocre thoughts of landed here and I love it. how my life should or will go. His extravagant love calls me to change my mindset and live from a greater faith into the Kate: Since I was a young teen, I have had a heart to see future He has for me. people come to know the power and transforming love of Jesus. When Ryan and I were engaged, he was offered a What important lesson have you learned as a woman youth pastor position, and we knew from the start it would be leader (in what some would consider a man’s area) a combined and co-leading job. We took it and have been over the past few years?

Kim: I have learned that I don’t have to be anyone but working side by side ever since. myself. Who God has made me to be is exactly who I am What have been some of your biggest obstacles? supposed to be. For years, as a pastor, I felt like I needed to Kim: I think it would be the times when I have come up against be more like the men pastors. That meant that I needed to some deep hurt and pain. In those times when something be less emotional and more intellectual. I thought I needed gets triggered in me, what I really want to do is just run away to prove myself to be accepted and that I needed to have and numb the pain or to lash out at the person causing the men’s approval to really be doing what I am doing. What I pain, but what I get the opportunity to do is face the pain learned was that I can be confident in what God has said head on and meet the Lord in those hurt places. I would like and who He has called me to be. On our team, we all work to believe I always choose to face the pain, but sometimes well together. It is a perfect balance of men and women and it takes me a little bit to actually do that and walk out the personalities, and for me it has taught me that I need to stop process of healing. always trying to be someone else. I am who I am supposed Kate: I know what I am called to do, but my insecurities and to be. inner struggles can get in the way. Sometimes as a pastor, just walking into a room or up on to a stage can cause people to be uncomfortable. Even if this happens, I know I must continue to move forward and respond to God’s call and voice.

Kate: For me, it starts with showing up and being present in a male-dominant leader role. Leading our church this way is definitely a norm for us, so when I lead in church and we have new people attending, they will often comment on how thankful they are seeing a woman lead. It is still wild to me Have you ever been disrupted in a positive way? that this is not a norm for most church communities. I believe Kim: A few years ago, I was getting close to my 40th birthday our church is experiencing growth and healing because of and I was still single and looking for a husband to come our team consisting of strong men and women, leading side and sweep me off my feet – but it wasn’t happening. Every by side. time60someone would get engaged or I would help W+W plan a MAGAZINE

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Photo By Lindy Orozco

: @ROD SRE E LSA ND HEELS B R EW+W N AMAGAZINE

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rena Burgoso is passionate about bringing her love of fly fishing to a sector of society that has largely been underserved by the fishing industry: women. By pushing through barriers she’s disrupting the notion that only men enjoy the sport. She’s not only serving women with the gear she’s providing, but she’s doing all she can to bring women along with her. Here’s what she has to say about her journey and where she’s heading.

Can you tell us a little bit about your job and how you started your company?

Rods, Reels & Heels (RRH) was started simply because there just wasn’t enough women out there fly-fishing.

For the ladies who were, they didn’t have an option for lifestyle women’s apparel. Most fly shops felt like a frat house, rather than a place to get fly-fishing gear and assistance. Women know how our clothing and gear should fit and look, and we also want things to be functional. Creating a women’s lifestyle apparel company was a perfect way for me to help women wear what they love while promoting women involved in the sport. I also wanted to create a company that helped other women get into fly fishing, as well as combine my love of travel. I started hosting women’s flyfishing trips. I’ve hosted trips in CO, WY, MT, OR, and even the Bahamas.

What did you dream of being when you were a little girl?

That was a toss up between a veterinarian and a CEO. I remember thinking how cool paperwork was. What was I thinking!?

What was your goal when you started your company?

I wanted to encourage and inspire women to overcome their fear and try new things. I wanted women to get outdoors and remember the simple things in life. As we get older, life gets so busy and we seem to forget the adventures we used to long for. I also happen to be a

jeans & t-shirt kind of gal, with a love of big statement jewelry. I wanted more than a “pink it and shrink it” downsized man’s shirt. I wanted to give women a choice in a lifestyle brand that reflected our passion of fly fishing. I worked on having designs that were feminine (not just girly), functional and fun. I collaborated with other women-owned small business for designs, hand crafted jewelry, and other unique products. I also wanted to give back. Most of the products on RRH give back to non-profit organizations like Casting for Recovery, Project Healing Waters, & the MayFly Project.

What were some of your biggest obstacles in reaching for your goals?

All the red tape! It’s not easy starting a new business or an e-commerce business. There are so many tax laws and rules. But more than that, it was the opposition and negative feedback of “not having time”, “you don’t have a business degree”, “you’re not a designer or a fashionista”. It still happens, but I try my best to keep focused on my personal passion and why I love to run a business like RRH. Do you have any advice to disrupt in a positive way?

I am hoping to build up women and men alike through my love and passion. I think we all benefit by helping and lifting others. The rising tides benefit all boats. We live in a world where we are quick to judge and criticize if something doesn’t directly benefit us. To me, this is more than just a women’s movement; it’s a humanistic movement.

What important lesson have you learned as a woman leader (in what some would consider a man’s area) over the past few years?

Honestly, just to keep going. Don’t try and climb a mountain overnight. Find your support group, and keep things simple. Take time to listen to people that support your business and make the choice to shop with you.

Keep things true to your heart and don’t put money and profit above your passion and ethics.

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W

omen and wine go together like women and wine. You might be surprised to know, in the wine world, women vintners are a growing but small community. Almost seven years ago Erin Brooks boldly joined this club and faced additional challenges that came with being an industry outsider. Read her words and be inspired!

Can you tell us a little bit about your company?

We launched Ernest Vineyards in 2012 as my husband and I were settling into a new life together. I was also settling into a new role as step-mom to his then 3-year-old daughter.

I’d been working in different fields of tech for 14 years at that time, and I was eager to step out of the “road warrior” path I had been on and become my own boss. Today, I stay busy with discovering vineyard sites with which to work, collaborating on the approach and philosophy in the cellar work, negotiating rates and defining aesthetics on bottling supplies and packaging, but the biggest part of my day-today remains sales.

What did you dream of being when you were a little girl?

I was a complete bookworm. My hometown of 600 people felt much broader when I read about other parts of the world and that insatiable curiosity about who/why/how still defines my core character. That love of books of course translated to publishing. I memorized all the publishing houses. I wanted to be an editor in a big city, it didn’t matter which one.

What was your goal when you started your company?

To make wines I wanted to drink. The idea sounds so base, but I knew the quest for quality and nuance was going to be difficult beyond imagination. That goal of course grew and now I would answer that I want to create a beautiful product that reverently honors where it was grown and gives opportunities to the myriad of people who help craft it.

What were some of your biggest obstacles in reaching for your goals?

Being an outsider meant that I had no network to leverage.

I had to start everything from scratch, so the production side of winemaking was incredibly tedious on a day-to-day basis.

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I was also endeavoring to be a leader and a confident new business owner, while grappling with self-doubt, rapidly dwindling funds, unknown vocabulary and a loss of the comforts of friends, a team and community. That was tough.

How have you positively disrupted your industry?

I didn’t ask. I just did it. As bold as I think I’ve been in other moments in my life, I had never known that particular feeling of empowerment until the question came of whether to resign from a 14-year career and pursue an idea. I had a resolve that I could, no, I WOULD make this idea a reality, even though I didn’t know one damn thing about where to start.

I just picked up the phone and started asking questions to anyone who would give me a few minutes. I didn’t worry about a playbook or a manual or getting permission. I just trusted my instincts and leveraged the skills I had.

What important lesson have you learned as a woman leader (in what some would consider a man’s area) over the past few years?

Those first months and years of working so hard for someone to take my call and give me the opportunity to work with fruit from their vineyard site took a toll on me as a person and as a woman. What these years have taught me to trust more than ever before is my instinct and intuition about people. Most people have good, positive intentions. Some don’t. I now have the freedom to define whom we will and will not work with for reasons that are principled and true to our ethos. The network I now call my own in this industry is chock full of women (and plenty of great men). Growers, viticulturists, winemakers, marketers and sommeliers; there are women in every facet of this industry now more than ever, and that presence is changing the landscape so quickly I have to catch my breath. I know from experience that the chauvinism and misogyny we unfortunately all have bumped up against is rapidly becoming a thing of the past. When I have the power to choose, and now I often do have that liberty (but this is a work in progress), I choose aligned with my instinct, my gut and what feels true. Depending on how meta you might want to get about wine, if we talk about honoring all of the people who touch the process from the beginning to the end, shouldn’t it all feel soulfully, remarkably wonderful?

A wholesome, restorative, beautiful daily wine should house and reflect goodness. That’s what I choose.

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“Flip the switch and disrupt the way social media can turn into an arena of comparison.

Instead, focus on connection and community.

The world needs more of that right now. ” : @ponderosa_and_plaid

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ow do I grow the ‘gram? I get this question a lot. We are living in an extraordinary time in history, when the lanes are wide open for entrepreneurs and influencers to explore what it means to follow our passions, connect with people around the world, and work a profitable side hustle. If you’ve spent any time on Instagram, you know there is no shortage of people out there getting in the game. But is there a secret to success when it comes to IG?

Starting my own small business as a sign maker and choosing to use Instagram as my main platform was unfamiliar and extremely scary. I mean, there were already thousands of other sign makers who had made a name for themselves on there and they were already killin’ it! What was going to set me apart? What was going to make me different? Should I even venture into something that had already been done, time & time again? What could I bring to the table that these people already hadn’t?

I wondered what these other makers were doing to have their following grow so big, and what felt like to me, overnight.

There surely had to be some secret in there somewhere, so I reached out to a handful of my favorite major IG influencers, 66

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LACEY FARBER JESS FICEK PHOTOGRAPHY

hoping to just get a slice of their “insight pie.” I bravely crafted my perfect messages and sent them off into the IG universe.

And then, I waited. And waited.

I opened my app every 2 minutes, looking for a message alert to pop up. I double-checked to make sure my messages were delivered. I carried my phone around with me, because certainly they wouldn’t ignore me. Would they?

You guessed it, not one of them responded to me. NOT ONE. I was embarrassed and uncomfortable and the whole experience made me question if I even had what it took to do this. I was starting at zero, and the road to get to where they were seemed so far out of reach.

I had a choice to make at this point. Already feeling depleted from my first let down, I questioned if I should just give up.

How could I possibly convince somebody to purchase a sign made by me if I couldn’t even get someone to have a conversation with me? Then it hit me. I knew what was going to set me apart.

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: @ponderosa_and_plaid

JESS FICEK PHOTOGRAPHY

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JESS FICEK PHOTOGRAPHY

decided right then and there that I was going to take the time to answer back. I would embrace the opportunity to be somebody’s FRIEND. I was going to treat my little page like a COMMUNITY. I was going to make somebody feel like a SOMEBODY. True, I am the first to admit that I am overly sensitive, but it really hurt that I took the time and consideration to reach out to each of those ladies I looked up to, and they just ignored me. I decided that I never wanted my followers to feel that way after reaching out to me.

Why did I even look up to these particular IG ladies in the first place? Sadly, (face palm) I looked up to them because they had large followings. Their huge number of followers meant they must be really important, right? I mean, that’s what I had learned really quickly on Instagram. I may have been clueless when it came to curated feeds, optimal posting times and let’s not even get into the algorithm…but one thing I knew was that the larger following you have, the more valuable you are. Or so it seemed.

I get that the larger the following you have, if you are using Instagram for your business, you can reach out to a broader audience and therefore have potential to build your brand more quickly. But what happens when your audience becomes so large that you miss out on that one on one

connection and you get lost in the sea of numbers?

After a solid year of sign making, selling, connecting, building friendships, sharing, dancing awkwardly on stories, crying, and being open and vulnerable with my followers on Instagram, I decided to step away from sign making.

There’s so much more that I wanted to share, and because a solid foundation of trust and friendship had been formed, my followers truly cared to interact and support me in all aspects of my life.

And just like that, I had found my little slice of the insight pie I had been looking for. I was building a community, and it definitely didn’t happen overnight like I once had envisioned.

So how do you grow the ‘gram, start a side hustle, and make an impact? The truth is, there’s no magic answer, but I say to always start by choosing quality over quantity. And BE KIND! I choose, and I encourage you to do the same, to flip the switch and disrupt the way social media can turn into an arena of comparison. Instead, focus on connection and community. The world needs more of that right now. Yes, there are thousands of other sign makers. There are thousands of other coffee shops. There are thousands of other interior designers, influencers, hair stylists, photographers…but there is only one YOU, and there is room for everyone!

WILD WOMAN PROFILE NAME: CARMELLA JUMP OCCUPATION: OWNER, OMEGA ENGRAVING 1) How long have you had your business?

I am a 3rd generation owner of our small family business. My grandfather started the company back in 1978 and my parents purchased it from him in 1994.

My husband and I purchased the business from my parents in January 2018. We specialize in creating personalized plastic name tags and badges, as well as other unique plastic engraved items.

Growing up I never thought to myself, “I want to make name badges.” But it was a dream of my husband’s and I’m grateful we get to do it together.

2) What’s the number one tool you use to push through fear?

Faith and trusting God in everything. Truly surrendering what I really want to control over to Him is so hard to do at times.

3) What are three pieces of encouragement for your customers ?

1) Be comfortable being uncomfortable. There’s no room for growth if we stay in our comfort zone.

2) Give yourself grace, that’s a must.

3) Just be yourself, take off the mask that we are so good at always putting on and know that being real and vulnerable even when we’re not at our best makes others relate to us more.

ww w.omeg aeng rav i ng.com email: office@omegaengraving.com phone: 541.476.1789 www.thewildwomanmagazine.com/uprising

“Your name is important so why not wear it nicely!”

-Carmella Jump, Owner

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Ways to be a disruptor right now:

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Leave positive reviews for your 5 favorite businesses.

Unclutter one area of your life that’s bothering you.

Buy a beautiful book, read it, and then give it away.

Give someone the benefit of the doubt.

Make plans to travel somewhere you’ve never been.

Write a letter to someone you love and mail it to them.

Chat with a stranger and learn 3 things about them.

Volunteer for something you’re passionate about.

Leave an extravagant tip.

Quit something.

furniture & home decor @prettyinpaintshop

305 N. Bartlett St. Medford, OR 97501

www.prettyinpaintshop.com