We are helping to kick off Sally Collings Parenting with Soul virtual book tour with her guest post today for the Inspiring Women series.
Check the end of the post for links to Parenting with Soul, and ways to learn more about Sally Collings.
Women who inspire and challenge me
I’m sitting here considering the question, ‘who are the women who have inspired or challenged you?’ There are so many, it’s hard to choose. I gaze at my hands, wiggle my fingers, and decide that five is a fine number. So here is my ‘bunch of five’: a handful of women who stir me up, calm me down, drive me on and keep my feet on the ground.
Stephanie Dowrick opened my mind to the possibilities of leaping the fences between faiths. She is an interfaith minister and writer – her latest book is Seeking the Sacred. In a past life (aka the 1970s) Stephanie was also one of the founders of The Women’s Press, so I feel a connection with her as a writer and publisher myself. Stephanie writes so lyrically and challenges my thinking about how we live together as human beings, and opens my eyes to the many ways we can see the sacred in our world.
Suzy T* is one of my oldest (or should I say longest?) friends. She is bright and bubbly and it’s hard to bring her down. Suzy’s younger child Jay* has autism. He is at the more severe end of the spectrum: aged nine, he can say a few words now and after years of struggle is toilet trained. I don’t think he will ever be fully independent. Suzy has poured more energy than I can imagine into finding resources to help Jay, while still being there in every way for her older daughter and her husband. Any time my day seems tough, I think of Suzy.
Then if I need any further reminding that life is good even when circumstances seem overwhelming, I think about Carolyn Martin. Carolyn’s daughter is Sophie Delezio, a Sydney girl who almost died when a car drove into her childcare centre and burst into flames. Sophie was trapped under the car; she was not quite three at the time. It was a story that touched people in the deepest way; the public watched her reclaim her life, only to be stunned once again when 18 months later she was hit by a car on a pedestrian crossing. Again her injuries were nearly fatal, and again Sophie recovered. Sophie has a extraordinary ability to reside in the present. It’s something that children tend to be good at, but Sophie is a star. Her mother Carolyn is a gorgeous soul; her life has been knocked sideways yet she has such a calm and loving presence. She is often called to speak in public about their experiences, and I am always lifted up to see Carolyn draw deep from her soul and speak directly to the hearts of those around her. Mother and daughter both encourage and challenge me daily.
When I was writing my latest book Parenting with Soul, one of the writers that inspired me most in a very real and down-to-earth way was Denise Roy. Many spiritual books claim to be rooted in real life, but many fall a long way short of filling the needs of busy people – especially parents trying to find meaning and purpose in their journey. Denise’s book Momfulness spurred me on and encouraged me to believe that it is possible to write about spirituality in a way that resonates in this time and place.
* Names changed to protect privacy. YB44AFAG489R
Sally Collings is a writer and publisher. Her latest book, Parenting with Soul, will be released by HarperCollins in April. Learn more about Sally Collings at her website, and see information about her virtual tour here.
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