Mission

Our mission is to empower women to make conscious, self appreciating choices. We will challenge you to make the changes you long for deep in your heart. To provide you with the tools to emotionally, mentally and spiritually create the life you want to live despite your circumstances.  When you look at your path and ask yourself “how are you going to do this,” we will help you to hear the voice that whispers inside of you and says, “You Rise Above.”

A Personal Message from Toni

 

The idea of workshops for women came from the depths of my own personal darkness. My life had burst into flames and burned to the ground. I was 39 years old; I had been married for 10 years; I was miserable in a marriage. I couldn’t find the strength to escape with a husband that was emotionally abusive and unfaithful. I was in a career that was stressful, demanding, and draining me daily as I tried to prove myself to the world. I was always on; I never let anyone see me falter, and yet I was exhausted on all levels. I woke up daily hating my life and what I had become, using food and anger to sooth my pain inside. Then on August 17, 2008, the universe moved forward with another plan. I was exposed to the reality of an unfaithful husband that I had long been in denial about, and the chips just kept falling. After a bitter divorce, bankruptcy, loosing my house, car and expensive lifestyle, I thought I had bounced back when I lost my job. Then, I really hit rock bottom. One night after a particularly difficult bout of loneliness and fear for my future I no longer wanted to live. For me there was no future, only more pain, and I remember looking to the sky and begging the heavens to tell me how I was going to get through this. That’s when a voice whispered inside of my head that I would Rise Above. There was nothing else, only a sudden peace and resolution that I had to change. Soon there after I quit my life as it had been and all that I was allowing to happen to me. I stopped being a victim of my past and I decided to OWN my future. I finally had found the courage to face some painful truths about myself. After a long journey of self-reflection and discovery, the ideas and passion to help other women in circumstances familiar to my own became my future. As I passed through life challenges those that question who you are, I realized that in some way we all share the same feelings of fear, loneliness, abandon, hope, determination and strength. That is how this vision came to be a reality. Each time I questioned myself or felt doubt, I would meet another person that would inspire me to move forward.

I was heartbroken at the stories I had discovered of women that were, mothers, wives, ex wives, mistresses, career women, stay home moms, emotionally abused, co-dependent, scared, misunderstood women that stopped living and feeling, merely existing for others. It is my intention to help women on their path, whatever they choose. To live a fulfilling life of self acceptance away from the daily tasks we must perform, there is still a woman inside each of us, longing to be happy, fulfilled, loved, enlightened, to be inspired and to share that inspiration with others. I have been blessed with a family of support, a circle of amazing friends that have touched my soul in ways I can never fully explain. Along the way I have also met some amazing, extraordinary women that have helped me, inspired me and encouraged me. It is my sincerest wish that my story —my journey to this point— helps other women and pay forward all that I am thankful to have learned. To help someone, in someway TO RISE ABOVE. There is light to be found in all of the darkness, it is and always will be inside of us.

Wishing you love and light as you rise above,

 

 

 

 

Toni