Glennon Doyle - Feels like the world could use all the love it can get right now. So today, I’m going to share with you my new love. Her name is Abby. You might recognize her from soccer. She was one of the best players of all time, and she has been a fierce and committed advocate for women’s equality for a decade. And honestly? Those are the least impressive things about her. Abby is deeply sensitive and kind. The kids call her an M&M because she looks tough on the outside but inside she’s really mushy and sweet. Abby’s brave. Not just with her words but with her entire being. She has never been afraid to be herself, even when the world told her not to be. I learn from her everyday about the woman I want to become. She is committed to her friends and family. She has this sense of country and honor and chivalry that feels beautiful to me. She cares about the vulnerable- children and animals especially. She’s unwaveringly good to Craig, to the kids, to Sister and to all my people. And oh my God, she is so good to me. She loves me for all the things I’ve always wanted to be loved for. She’s just my favorite. My person. Remember in Love Warrior how hard I struggled to understand what being in love meant? I get it now. I get it. I am in love. And I’m really, deeply happy. Wanted to answer a few questions you might have: Isn’t this fast, G? Yes, it is. How is Craig? He’s his beautiful, kind, brave self. He’s dating too -- and we are both supportive of each other’s relationships. After I told Craig, the first thing he said was: Holy shit. Is this what all the Indigo Girls has been about? I said, WHOA. I DON’T KNOW...MAYBE? How are the kids? I’ll let them speak for themselves, or not. I can tell you that as usual, we’re walking through this together. They have the love and support of their dad, me, their grandparents, their aunts and uncles, their church, their teachers, their friends’ families --all of whom have fallen as hard for Abby as they have. They’re lucky kids, to be surrounded by so much love. We have family dinners together – all six of us -- and Abby cooks. (She is an AMAZING chef because Jesus loves me). We go to the kids’ school parties together. We are a modern, beautiful family. Our children are loved. So loved. And because of all of that love, they are brave. When Craig and I sat them down to tell them about Abby I started by saying: “In our family, we live and tell the truth about who we are no matter what, and then love each other through it -- and I’m about to show you how that’s done.” How are we supposed to FEEL about this? My loves, here is the good news: You are allowed to think and feel WHATEVER YOU NEED OR WANT TO FEEL! Come close--because I need to explain this part well: It has been my job for so long as a leader in this community to care deeply about what you think and feel about me and the way I live my life. I have cared so much, for so long. It has been a great honor. Now we are entering a new time which calls for a different type of leadership. And now it is my job as a leader not to concern myself too deeply about what you think and feel about me- about the way I live my life. That is what I want to model now, because that is what I want for YOU: I want you to grow so comfortable in your own being, your own skin, your own knowing - that you become more interested in your own joy and freedom and integrity than in what others think about you. That you remember that you only live once, that this is not a dress rehearsal and so you must BE who you are. I want you to refuse to betray yourself. Not just for you. For ALL OF US. Because what the world needs -- in order to grow, in order to relax, in order to find peace, in order to become brave -- is to watch one woman at a time live her truth without asking for permission or offering explanation. The most revolutionary thing a woman can do is not explain herself. What I need you to know -- and what I know you need to know -- is that I am deeply, finally, FINE. Fine through my bones and soul and mind and just every fiber of me. You have the room to feel and react with your truth….because I am so unshakably certain inside of mine. I have officially become a woman who knows who she is and refuses to betray herself. So anyway. What I’m trying to say is. PRECIOUS WORLD: I LOVE ABBY. I’m not gonna talk about her all the time. We’ve decided that we’re going to keep a whole lot of us private (for more thoughts on that- check out the podcast in first link). But we’ll share our joy sometimes. Our joy is so BIG there’s enough to go around. JOY! I’m so happy. Love Wins. G

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