Your Pain, Your Purpose

This is the narrative of two ladies who decided to turn their pain into purpose. Natalie Weaver and Brenda Yoho have shared their stories on the Envision Speakers Series. The follow-up conversation with these two extraordinary women is scheduled for Tuesday, August 15, 2023. You can watch the conversation as a LinkedIn Live Event on my profile feed.

These are their stories.

Natalie Weaver

Natalie Weaver is living the best version of herself right now, today. It has taken a long time to get here. But she feels that she has arrived at that point in time where she has overcome many of the demons that encompassed her past. The time is now for her to explore the greatness of life. That means, among other things, to define her purpose and strive to fulfill it.

Natalie is approaching several junctures at one time. She is transitioning from her twenties into her thirties. For someone who did not truly expect to reach her 18th birthday, reaching her 30s is an act of bravery and courage . . . as much as it is a triumphant success! At the same time, she is in pursuit of a nursing degree.?

?The goal: to complete a Master of Science and earn the title of Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP). Natalie, we are encouraging you to complete this monumental task. We are all proud of you! We know that you will use this new power and knowledge to provide the best care for young ones who might find themselves in a similar situation that you did when you were younger.

Natalie’s Purpose

Watch the conversation here when Natalie and Brenda shared their stories with me on LinkedIn.

Natalie shared how her childhood was filled with emotional, physical, and sexual abuse and neglect. Honestly, the story told is almost beyond belief. But having spent over a decade in child and adult mental health as a professional mental health professional many years ago, I know stories like this are very true. Very sad, but very true. Being deprived of basic needs (food, shelter, clothing) and having to withstand uncertainty with the adults in her life, Natalie still found a way to survive. In fact, she claims that keeping her younger brother safe was the only thing that kept her going day after day.

Now that she is an adult, Natalie is making clear and intentional choices for her life. The first is to remove pity. She does not want your pity. But she will ask that you try to understand her story. What she did was find a way to survive and fight . . . mentally and physically. She found a way to fight off the demons. Then she found a way to survive. Now she makes it a point to help those who need it.

After multiple suicide attempts up until she was 26, Natalie understands the importance of proper treatment. With it, she has turned her life around. On a personal note, she married her wife in 2019. They have three dogs who keep them company.

Natalie, we thank you for sharing your story. And we are glad that you are determined to give your story a happy ending.

Brenda Yoho

Brenda Yoho Author-Speaker is a retired educator with a remarkable career spanning well over two decades, encompassing various roles throughout Pre-K to High School. Brenda was the youngest of her siblings . . . she has a sister 17 years her senior and a brother 16 years older than her.

Growing up, Brenda’s parents lacked formal education and were unable to read or write. Her father held a well-paying job while her mother took care of the household. As the first member of her family to graduate college, Brenda’s educational journey marked a significant milestone.

Throughout her life, Brenda faced and overcame numerous personal traumas. Drawing upon her own experiences, she channeled her passion for helping others, particularly the children she served. Even in her retirement, she remains dedicated to coaching and mentoring for the Illinois Principals Association (IPA) and actively contributes to various platforms.

Brenda’s Purpose

Brenda has a book to her credit, “Two Rules Philosophy,” where she posits that only two rules are truly necessary in schools. Additionally, she shares her insights through blogging and regular contributions as a global thought leader to Leadership Development Carnival, part of Lead Change with Weaving Influence. Her expertise is also recognized in her podcast reviews for the National Association of Secondary School Principals and book reviews for Middle Web, among other platforms.

Regardless of her professional role, Brenda prioritizes the well-being of children, ensuring they feel good and safe within the educational environment. Her commitment to making a positive impact and being part of the solution has become her famous tagline.

Brenda’s journey as an educator and her resilience in overcoming personal obstacles have shaped her into a compassionate advocate for children’s well-being. Her experiences and expertise continue to inspire others as she dedicates herself to making a meaningful difference in the field of education.

And now, I need your help.

?Appalachian Trail Hike-Thru

What’s a mission without a challenge? My mission is to raise $1,000,000.00 by December 2024. The purpose is to raise awareness, support, and services that promote mental and emotional well-being and suicide prevention.

The challenge is to take a small group of adventurers over the Appalachian Trail – from Georgia to Maine. Officially, the campaign to raise the money begins September 1, 2023. But I am giving you warning now – I am going to need you financial, emotional, psychological, and social media support.

I need my cheerleaders. If you are on board with this, let me know. I need as many cheerleaders as possible. And I need something from each of you.

Thank you!

Sponsor

I am partnering with Richard Mabe (aka Coach Rick). I am working with Coach Rick and his team at the H.O.P.E. Institute to provide psychological and emotional support to United States veterans. As a U.S. Marine Combat veteran, I know the challenges service members face after leaving the military. Join me in the work to keep people alive, safe, and well.???

In support of mental health and suicide prevention, I am donating fifty percent of received revenue from the sale of my book, Walking the Path – A Leader’s Journey. Please purchase the book and share the book with others.

For sponsors of 10+ books, you also receive a free virtual workshop: Creating a Life Worth Living!?

Thank you.

About the Author

Dr. Keith McNally is host of the Question Guy Podcast! He is also the author of Walking the Path – A Leader’s Journey. Additionally, Dr. McNally is a content creator, ghostwriter, and dedicated to telling stories of motivation, transformation, and impact.?Walking the Path is a guide to impact leadership through a social consciousness model. If you need to step up your leadership impact or are looking for someone to help you write your leadership story (in book format), he’s the guy! In fact, he’s The Question Guy!?