243: The Self-Empowered Woman: Cassie De Pecol

Dear Followers, Today I’d like to introduce you to a young woman who has really captured my attention. Cassie De Pecol recently became the fastest person—and first documented female—to travel to every single one of the world’s 196 sovereign nations. She completed her voyage in February of this year, after 18 months and 26 days of travel. Cassie’s big adventure was nicknamed “Expedition 196.” Sadly, I am no longer able to hop on a plane and … [Read more...]

241: The Self-Empowered Woman: Maria Sibylla Merian

Dear Followers, I love stories about brave women who will do anything to follow their passion. So when I learned about Maria Sibylla Merian (1647-1717), I wanted to share this amazing story of a Self-Empowered Woman from centuries ago. She was a descendant of the Swiss Merian family, who were founders of one of Europe’s largest publishing houses back in the 17th century. Her father died when she was only three years old (1: No Paternal Safety … [Read more...]

240: The Self-Empowered Woman: Clare Hollingworth

Dear Followers, Last Wednesday, the first female war correspondent died in Hong Kong at the age of 105. Today, journalism is—for the most part—a relatively gender-free career, but it wasn’t always that way. Hollingworth, the most fearless of British women war writers, was born on October 10 th , 1911 in central England. Historians believe that the seeds of her future career were planted when—as a young girl she was able to visit historical … [Read more...]

232: The Self-Empowered Woman: Mother Angelica

Dear Followers, Today, I would like to thank my Dallas pen pal, Joan Faubion, for suggesting that my next blog be about Mother Angelica, who died this past Easter Sunday. The more I researched her life story, the more obvious it became that she was indeed a Self-Empowered Woman. Rita Antoinette Rizzo was born on April 20th, 1923 in Canton, Ohio,  and died on March 27th, 2016. She was the only child of John and Mae Helen (Gianfrancesco) … [Read more...]