Why She Does It All By Ty Chandler
A devoted wife, dedicated mother, and high-powered career woman that still finds time to volunteer in her community. Oh, and she never has a hair out of place, her five-inch heels don’t squeeze her pinky toe and she’s not exhausted by the load of responsibilities that hang over her shoulders. The cultural obsession with how women can do it all and look great while doing it is so prevalent that it shows up in films. Sarah Jessica Parker covered it in her 2011 movie, I Don’t Know How She Does It. In reality, many women do it all, but they find the balancing act can make it almost impossible to give 100 percent to everything all the time. There’s been so much focus on how to be this superwoman that makes doing everything look easy. But it’s not really about the How, it’s the Why. The Why is what pushes us through when it seems like we have signed on for too
much. The goal is not perfection, but balancing priorities by consistently reconnecting to your purpose. What are your goals and values? The women of the Junior League of Charlotte, Inc. (JLC) make a commitment to voluntarism knowing that their work for the greater Charlotte community comes in addition to their professional and personal obligations. JLC members spend an estimated 8,800 hours volunteering annually. That adds up to 367 days. Keep in mind, JLC members are mothers, wives, caretakers, friends and confidantes. They are also engineers, doctors, lawyers, executives, entrepreneurs and educators. They create, strategize, problem solve and lead. Volunteering and service extends beyond the JLC, with many members involved in other community groups and organizations. Why do JLC women do it all? Below a JLC member shares her personal story and motivation.
My Story of Why by Candace Williams
During our first staff meeting for The CRIER as we were getting to know one another and talking about the direction of the magazine, I shared the various things I am juggling. I am a wife of 23 years, the mother of four children ages 21, 19, 17 and 15, a full time healthcare administrator, high school PTO president at Lake Norman Charter, chaplain of the Charlotte Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, co-chair of the Women’s Business Resource Group and co-chair of the engagement committee of the Black/African-American Business Resource Group at my workplace, chair of the scholarship committee chair for the Greater Charlotte Healthcare Executives Group, and sales committee member of the Playing for Others board. I am in my fifth year with the JLC having served two years with Training and Development, one year as a membership advisor, and now on the staff of The CRIER. In addition, I completed Get on Board (a JLC training program for those looking to develop the skills
necessary to serve on a board of directors) and am currently serving as an intern on the Sugar Creek Charter board with hopes of it turning into a board position. But why do I do it all? How do I balance it? I know my faith and my family support system are key, but I wanted to offer more to those reading this. To do that, I had to take a deeper dive and do some real self reflection to understand the “why” I do it that leads to the “how” I do it. My husband and my children are my reasons. They are my priority. In this I know I am not alone. Over the years, I’ve chosen to serve in organizations that directly
“We all have full plates and are juggling competing priorities. My hope, my prayer, is that rather than judge one another, we as women champion and support one another as we are all on our own journey to get it done.” Candace Williams 10
