April and May have been CRAZY for me! Tons of travel, a new VISA for England(YAY, finally), and two weeks in Hawaii! The list goes on. Without further ado… here is my belated April #WCW. The Women Crush Wednesday hashtag and social media trend is nothing new. But I am trying to reclaim that title not just for half naked celebrities or women you actually know nothing about. The women I crush over are using their womenhood, their voice and their passions to make our world brighter. I have some incredible women in my life so I am honored to share them with you. I hope you find them as inspiring as I do.

Meet Hannah.

Hannah and I met back in highschool in Upstate New York. I’m not even sure where? Maybe a field party. (LOL) But we always got along great and as we grew up realized we shared a common love for traveling. We had the chance to meet up when she came to visit me while I was living in Thailand and she was traveling through. We made so many memories that trip and realized how much our traveling, writer hearts had in common. I have watched her transition through many life milestones from afar (thanks social media) and always marvel at her ability to seem so incredibly present and grateful for the little things. I’ll let her take it from here.

1. What do you think makes a woman worth “crushing” over?

I think any woman that is working to better herself is worth crushing over. Generally speaking, as a culture, we are all too quick to judge others. Even if it’s unintentional, sometimes we look at other females and whether it be out of jealousy or self righteousness, we think we’re somehow doing better. But at the end of the day, we all have struggles and I think every single woman that sets goals, small or large, and inspires other to do the same is worth crushing over.

2. What do you do for a living? What is the most challenging part about it?

I’m laughing as I write this because I’ve worn so many hats in the past few years! I completed my graduate degree in psychology a couple of years ago. During that time I was also working at a university as an enrollment counselor. I decided to take a break from the corporate world in order to follow another passion of mine: Coffee and people. I took about a year and half to spend time at the coziest coffee shop in Colorado as a barista and loved every second! I’m also a military spouse, which means my life is incredibly transient and unpredictable. My husband and I are currently living in Georgia for a short five months before we move again. I’ve taken this time off to focus of my blog, Window Seats & Wildflowers. Once we settle down again soon, I plan to work in higher education in an advisement role and maybe even become an adjunct!

Some people might look at my current situation and think I’m the luckiest girl alive. But not working isn’t really written into my DNA and it’s been incredibly challenging stepping down from my role as worker and into a full time role as supporter (in an emotional sense). But as with any challenging circumstance in life, I have learned SO much and have become such a stronger individual because of it.

3. Who are three women that you look up to and have inspired you the most in your career/life?

Number one is definitely my mama! Myself and my three siblings have her to thank for the people we are today and I’m forever grateful for her guidance, patience and unconditional love. The second would be my younger sister, Kelsey. We used to joke that she was the black sheep of the family, primarily for her quirky ways. We laugh about this now, but the way she lives her life has inspired me to speak up in the face of confrontation and to stay true to who I am. Lastly, I have a group of girlfriends in Arizona who came to me at exactly the time I needed them most (they know who they are!). These women provided love and guidance in a way I had never experienced and I appreciate them more than they know!

4. What is one topic you wish more women knew about on a global scale? Why?

The first thing that comes to mind is poverty. Unfortunately, on a global scale so many women are far too aware of this because millions live in impoverishment every single day. As Westerners we are incredibly fortunate (for the most part) to be in a position where we don’t have to worry about life-threatening illnesses due to hunger and deprivation. Thinking about poverty can leave one feeling incredibly helpless. What can we as individuals do to solve this global issue? I don’t know the answer to this question, but I do know that the closer we allow ourselves to get to these kinds of issues, the more compassionate we will become. I’ve recently been spending a couple hours each week serving meals at a local food bank. This experience has opened my eyes immensely and really forced me into the uncomfortable position of knowing. Knowing that there are people who need the help of others in order for survival. The more we become educated and aware of issues like poverty, the more people we can help and serve.

5. What advice do you give to women who feel that they are constantly surrounded by drama in their group of friends?

It’s probably safe to say we’ve all been a part of drama-filled groups of friends at one point or another. At the core of these kinds of emotionally unstable friendships are people who are fighting their own battles and using gossip, lies and melodrama to cover up insecurities, loneliness and hurt. My advice would be not to participate or even give it the time of day and instead try to have a deeper conversation with some of the people who tend to cause the drama in order to understand where they’re coming from. If, after all of this, they still seem to thrive off the instability, I’d say peace out 🙂

6. Do you believe being a strong woman with a passion for her career takes away from a woman’s ability to be a loving partner/mother/friend/sister?

I definitely don’t think so. This is actually a topic that is very close to my heart at the moment because I’m not only starting to plan the path I want my career to take, but my husband and I are also talking about starting a family. While I can’t attest to how this will actually play out, I’m very certain that work/life/wife/mommy balance is a result of setting priorities from the start. Knowing where to draw the line with work obligations, knowing how your free time will be spent and setting realistic expectations is vital. Seeing women all around me complete this superhuman task is incredibly inspiring, which makes me think it IS possible. Check back with me in a few years and I might have a different answer though!

7. What is something you are really excited about currently in your own life?

I’ve had a blog for close to four years now. Over the past year I’ve really taken the plunge into the blogging world and learned SO much! I’ve delved into everything from design to writing to photography to networking to marketing and I’m just loving the learning process. There is so much more to blogging than just throwing a few paragraphs on the world wide web. Finding joy in the small accomplishments has been incredibly exciting!

8. Why is self love an important part of being a modern day woman?

I spent most of my early twenties in a dazed, confused lethargy. I was alive and well, getting to work on time and checking off the normal boxes, but I was so lost. I was seeking fulfillment in parties, unworthy partners and pleasing others. Simply put, I wasn’t putting any energy into myself and that was detrimental to my overall wellbeing. As a result, I never felt “good enough” and I was always searching for the next best thing. When I was 24, I quit my job and traveled for six months and when I got back I moved across the country. Being alone allowed me to heal and to really get to know myself. In a way, I was able to recreate myself into the person I had always wanted to be. So, long story long, when I finally focused on appreciating me, with all of my imperfections, I began to see life in a totally different light. I had a much clearer perspective on my dreams/goals and was able to love others better. Self love can often be misunderstood as selfishness, which is incredibly incorrect. Self love is the practice of accepting and valuing the person God created you to be, which in turn allows each of us to become the best version of ourselves.

9. If you could have a lunch date with any woman on the planet, who would it be?

Okay, it was hard to narrow this down to one, so I have two! The first person that comes to mind is Mother Theresa even though she isn’t living anymore. The kind of selflessness life that Mother Theresa lived is unheard of today. I would love to ask her about her inspiration and the challenges she faced during her lifetime. The other (living) person that comes to mind is Joanna Gaines from the show, Fixer Upper. Probably not the most popular answer to this question, but this woman is just down right inspiring. She is a dedicated wife, mother of soon-to-be-five children, designer, TV show star, realtor, business owner. The list could continue, but I’ll leave it there. She has proven that it is possible to have a successful career and a family. Above all of this, she stands firm in her faith regardless of the pressures fame has brought her way. I could be wrong, but she just seems so down to earth and I would have a mile long list of questions if I ever had the opportunity to meet her!

10. How can anyone reading this keep up with you and what you’re doing in the future?

I’d love to connect! You can reach me at the various platforms below!

Blog – http://www.windowseatsandwildflowers.com/

Instagram -@ hm_fitzpatrick

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/windowseatsandwildflowers

Pinterest – https://www.pinterest.com/windowseatsandwildflowers

Bonus: What is one question you have for me?

What is your advice for women who find themselves in a “rut,” feeling stuck and unsure how to find the motivation to pursue their dreams?

This is a very ironic question with the answer coming from a girl who hasn’t blogged in two months. I geuninely believe that life comes in seasons. Just like a flower doesn’t bloom all year long, I think there are seasons for creation and seasons for reflection. I know that sometimes I simply don’t have the words to say. But I don’t let myself stay there. The best way to get out of  rut is to dive into things that you love. I was listening to a podcast from The Melissa Ambrosini Show and she talked about picturing yourself waking up in the morning and not having anywhere to be, money is not an object, what would you wake up and do? The answer to this question is an incredible place to start.

That’s your passion and your happy place. Chase that. My answer was write in the sunshine. All I needed to get out of my writers block/ rut was to simply remember how deeply writing fuels my soul. It’s often the anticipation or worry surrounding the action that stops us, not the actual activity. So whatever it is you want to do, just DO IT. Try it for 5 minutes. If it’s too scary, stop. But I guarantee you’ll want to keep going. There will be seasons for planning and brainstorming but those have to be just that, seasons. YOU HAVE TO TAKE ACTION. Action is the fuel for a passionate life. Even if you mess up, it’s better than sitting on the sidelines.

Thank you Hannah, for sharing your heart with my community. I am so happy that life reconnected us and I look forward to following your journey with your blog, marriage and travels. The best part about traveling friends, is you know someday, somehow your paths will cross again and it will be glorious. Keep sharing your heart and writing your truth– you are definitely a woman worth crushing over. Can’t see where your next adventure takes you.