She Stories Feature Friday - Samantha Holloway

SHE STORIES

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About She Stories

She Stories is a community of women that promotes self wellness, empowerment and the value of supporting each other You have overcome tremendous obstacles Telling your story brings healing for you and others There is empowerment in every story We are Real Women with Real Stories What started out as a storytelling night has transformed into a sisterhood From gatherings to giving back, we inspire and affirm the every day woman that she is brave and beautiful

Our Founder

In 2017, I decided to carry on the tradition of testimony service and share this amazing gift of storytelling from my elders to my tribe I provided a sacred space for women to share their challenges and victories so they can not only be empowered but through each story women would find a circle of support and empowerment Her story matters and the world needs to hear it -

Ehmandah Ramsey

She Stories has always been about women sharing their stories through storytelling. (Yeah, that’s me with a box of tissue) We believe there’s healing that happens when we share our stories. We all have one!

By sharing our stories, we prove that it’s possible to shift change through another woman’s journey, struggles, and triumphs.

Elevating women of all ages is powerful. Compassion and love speaks volumes. And when they’re combined among a community of bosses, we ALL thrive! XO,

Inthisissue FEATUREFRIDAY

Today, we feature Samantha Holloway. And if you’re familiar with She Stories, you‘ve probably seen her daughter, Jess, who was a piece in developing the She Stories community, purpose, and passion We keep Jess in our hearts

Like all our features, Samantha has seen her darkest days at a crossroads in her life. But it was affirmations she received from her father that allowed her life to take a turn and for her to find her strength again.

We often speak about how strong we are as women and she had to do a lot of searching to find her strength when she encountered loss after loss. #shestrong

SAMANTHA HOLLOWAY

It’s our favorite time of the week when we get to highlight a woman who has survived different challenges in life but has overcome those hurdles and pays it forward in her community I’ve enjoyed learning a piece of her story because when you get a lot of insight into the person when they speak on their history and where they come from. We bring you, Samantha!!

While Samantha was born in Texas, the rest of her immediate family (parents and older brother) were from England, and when she was 3, they moved to sunny California Her dad traveled a lot for work and spent long periods away from the home And while her home was very loving, she knew at a young age that her mother had challenges with alcoholism and anxiety. So many of us attribute our resilience to previous women in our lives, but it was the strength her dad poured into her that drew me in. Her dad allowed her to be who she was and encouraged her to stand when everyone else may be falling.

Sam would later move back to England at 17 and have her daughter, Jess., who would later serve as a stronghold in our She Stories community As a single mother, Sam raised Jess with the love and support of her family and was able to go back to school to become a legal exec. This is where the empowerment from her dad would serve her as an adult As a young girl, she played boy's baseball and ran with her brother and his friends. Then as a young American girl in the male-dominated legal world in England, she quickly learned how the world misjudges women, especially single mothers.

Samantha would later move back to Cali with Jess and get married and have a son Even though the marriage ended, she was able to instill love and foundation in her kids, and they carried her strength with them as well The happiest times were definitely with her kids.

In 2013, she lost her mother due to cancer, which had a devastating effect on her brother and father, after 62 years of marriage! And shortly after Covid, Samantha would lose her daughter Jess to cancer as well, after only 9 months of being diagnosed And just when she thought it couldn’t get worse, her dad passes 6 months later.

So much immediate loss in a short period can paralyze a person, but Samantha always leaned back on the strength in her foundation. “The empowerment comes from standing back up after being completely shattered physically and mentally.” She couldn’t be more right!

Samantha is now the Director of Administration for an AmLaw 100 company Once again, working in an industry where

she can't take any shortcuts. She worked hard and sought out growth opportunities at every turn The love for legal processes is her boss crown, but her heart’s passion is taking on the foster girls that have aged out of the system and still need nurturing and support

At She Stories, we know that stories of our past are only half the story. The other half comes from what we’re leaving behind for those coming up behind us. And Samantha is doing just that! She’s found a need in so many women who realize they still need some guidance after becoming a “legal adult” She’s doing amazing work for those around her and we want to recognize Sam for her strength and resilience.

WE LOVE YOU SAM!

“I live every day in gratitude for life.”

“THE EMPOWERMENT COMES FROM STANDING BACK UP AFTER BEING

COMPLETELY SHATTERED PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY”

@SAMMYJOHO

You can check Samantha out on IG: @sammyjoho

Learn more about Cancer Awareness, you can check out the American Cancer Society: HERE!

If you or someone you know would like to be a feature, let us know!

Her Shine

MY FAVORITE SONG:

Ruby Tuesday by Rolling Stones, Anything by Lizzo! And Flowers by Miley!

HOW I CULTIVATE SISTERHOOD:

Through her community in She Stories.

MY LEGACY:

Kindness

MY INSPO:

”Love for my son and friends.” And knowing we ’ re all part of something much larger.

WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM WOMEN WHO’VE OVERCOME LIFE’S CHALLENGES

There is nothing more inspiring than a woman who

There is nothing more inspiring than a woman who has overcome great challenges in her life. These has overcome great challenges in her life. These women have faced adversity with courage and grace, women have faced adversity with courage and grace, and they have come out the other side stronger than and they have come out the other side stronger than ever. ever

The strength of these women is a reminder that we

The strength of these women is a reminder that we all have the potential to overcome the challenges we all have the potential to overcome the challenges we face in our own lives. By sharing their stories, these face in our own lives. By sharing their stories, these women provide us with hope and inspiration They women provide us with hope and inspiration. They also teach us some important lessons about strength, also teach us some important lessons about strength, sisterhood, and the power of self-compassion. sisterhood, and the power of self-compassion

This is something that we can all benefit from, This is something that we can all benefit from, regardless of our gender. By hearing the stories of regardless of our gender. By hearing the stories of women who have faced great adversity, we can be women who have faced great adversity, we can be reminded of the importance of having community reminded of the importance of having community and support in our own lives. and support in our own lives

Today, more and more women are sharing their stories of triumph and resilience. By Today, more and more women are sharing their stories of triumph and resilience. By listening to the stories of women who have faced and overcome immense challenges, listening to the stories of women who have faced and overcome immense challenges, we are given a bigger picture of what strength and courage looks like We also gain we are given a bigger picture of what strength and courage looks like. We also gain insight into how powerful women can be in the face of adversity We also learn about insight into how powerful women can be in the face of adversity We also learn about the importance of having community and support. Women who share their stories the importance of having community and support Women who share their stories demonstrate how helpful it is to have a support system behind them, which not only demonstrate how helpful it is to have a support system behind them, which not only facilitates success but also provides a source of strength during difficult times. facilitates success but also provides a source of strength during difficult times.

One of the most important things we can learn from women who have overcome

One of the most important things we can learn from women who have overcome great challenges is the strength of perseverance After facing loss, disappointment, great challenges is the strength of perseverance. After facing loss, disappointment, and failure, these women have not been defeated Instead, they have picked and failure, these women have not been defeated Instead, they have picked themselves up, time and time again. themselves up, time and time again

Resilience is another important lesson we can learn from these women. When faced

Resilience is another important lesson we can learn from these women. When faced with hardship, they do not just give up or give in. Instead, they use their inner with hardship, they do not just give up or give in. Instead, they use their inner strength to bounce back and get back on track strength to bounce back and get back on track.

They also teach us the importance of not letting the effort be worthless. By refusing

They also teach us the importance of not letting the effort be worthless By refusing to give up, they have found ways to turn negatives into positives. This is a lesson we to give up, they have found ways to turn negatives into positives. This is a lesson we can all take to heart in our own lives. can all take to heart in our own lives.

Women who have overcome great challenges have also taught us the power of Women who have overcome great challenges have also taught us the power of vulnerability. Despite overwhelming odds, they have chosen to be vulnerable and open vulnerability. Despite overwhelming odds, they have chosen to be vulnerable and open up about their experiences By doing so, they have allowed us to see that life’s challenges up about their experiences. By doing so, they have allowed us to see that life’s challenges are not something to be ashamed of Instead, it is something to be embraced and used are not something to be ashamed of Instead, it is something to be embraced and used as an opportunity for growth. In order to reap the benefits of being vulnerable, we must as an opportunity for growth In order to reap the benefits of being vulnerable, we must be willing to be honest about our experiences and feelings. This can be scary, but it can be willing to be honest about our experiences and feelings. This can be scary, but it can also be incredibly freeing. also be incredibly freeing. When we are vulnerable, we open ourselves up to the When we are vulnerable, we open ourselves up to the possibility of finding strength and support from those around us. possibility of finding strength and support from those around us.

One of the most powerful things we can do is to “pay it forward” and act as role models

One of the most powerful things we can do is to “pay it forward” and act as role models for those around us. Just as we have been shown up for by women in our lives, we can do for those around us Just as we have been shown up for by women in our lives, we can do the same for others. We can offer emotional support and provide a listening ear to those the same for others. We can offer emotional support and provide a listening ear to those who need it. We can also offer constructive advice and an example of how strength and who need it. We can also offer constructive advice and an example of how strength and resilience can help to overcome life’s challenges. By looking for ways to support and lift resilience can help to overcome life’s challenges. By looking for ways to support and lift up other women, we can create a positive ripple effect up other women, we can create a positive ripple effect.

The strength of community is a powerful thing. Women who have overcome various life

The strength of community is a powerful thing Women who have overcome various life challenges have reminded us of this. By leaning on and relying on their communities, challenges have reminded us of this. By leaning on and relying on their communities, they have been able to find support and comfort. We can all learn from this lesson. By they have been able to find support and comfort. We can all learn from this lesson. By leaning on our own communities, we can find strength and comfort when life throws us a leaning on our own communities, we can find strength and comfort when life throws us a curveball Our communities can offer a safety net, reminding us that we are not alone curveball. Our communities can offer a safety net, reminding us that we are not alone and that we have the strength and resilience to overcome whatever obstacles we face and that we have the strength and resilience to overcome whatever obstacles we face

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We serve women that have become displaced or who are facing homelessness due to unfortunate circumstances such as divorce, health problems, loss of employment, addiction recovery, abandonment and other unexpected life circumstances

Together we are providing a safe space for women to go from surfing to thriving.

If you and your child are in transition and in need, contact TWAO.

YOU ARE NOT ALONE. YOUR MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS MORE THAN EVER. IF YOU NEED CARE, PLEASE GET SUPPORT.

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We absolutely love sharing the stories of everyday women just like you! Every woman has a story to tell! In our community, we share our stories to uplift, inspire and empower women. Stories can be shared one on one, through social media and even through creativity.

Girl, we want you to know there’s healing power in sharing your story. Sometimes you may feel that there’s things only you could’ve experienced, until you hear someone else with a similar experience. You are not alone. Together we overcome.

Would you like to be a feature? Or do you know a woman who’d like to share her story at a live event? Let us know! Let's change the world together one story at a time. It’s pretty empowering!

Email: team@shestories.co www.shestories.co