by Karolyn Hart

In 2003 I read an article that stopped me in my tracks.  It discussed how for thousands of years women had their relationship needs met by other women - then 100 years ago that started to change. It went on to describe how over the last 50 years the world for women had changed so dramatically that we were beginning to lose the essence of who we are. 

It explained how many women feel disconnected and lonely without understanding why.  They have great marriages, loving friends - and still have a hunger for more.  That “more” has been replaced with a variety of things but what we are looking for is a sense of community with other women.

By the end of the article I not only “got it” but decided to do something about it - and Thrive! (originally started as Get Connected for Women) was born.

The Thrive! community in many respects is a microcosm for my life.  I thrive at meeting different people from all different walks, races, cultures, and belief systems. 

Thrive! has been born out of my deep Christian faith and genuine desire to help women no matter how different we are from each other. It is founded on 1 Corinthians 13 that teaches us that it is LOVE that is the most important aspect of being a Christian. 

I believe fully that God’s command to love our enemies which includes being willing to lay our very lives down for them is single handedly one of the most profound world-changing ideas ever presented.  On a day to day practice it means that I must be more concerned with helping meet a person’s real needs than anything else in my life.  That means really caring (having strong friendships)about those people who are entirely different from me, and also caring for those people that I just find annoying (like the person who continually borrows things and never returns them) ha ha.

I believe that actions speak louder than any words ever could.  My friends (who include Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, and Jehovah’s Witnesses) will all tell you that I do practice what I preach.  We respectfully discuss our differences and genuinely enjoy one another’s company. My life is richer by having them in my life in every single way.

Thrive!’s goal is to be a community of diversity that allows women from all over the world to find connections with women like themselves.  As you visit Thrive! you will find many different view points presented.  This is intentional. My personal hope is that this community will become a place where all women can come and leave having found something that has made their lives better.

Filed under: Author Karolyn, Uncategorized