OUR CONTEST WINNERS

We'd like to take this time to thank all of you that took the time to share their stories. Although we received many amazing stories about so many amazing women, we were only able to choose one - Congratulations to our winner: Elizabeth Stender. When we read the story about Elizabeth and her best friend Meredith, it reminded us of why we should celebrate extraordinary women every single day. However, since there were so many incredible stories, we decided to include three runner-up stories as well. Please read and as you do we hope you�re reminded of all the special women you have in your life. These stories are dedicated to the special daughter, best friend and mothers who inspired the writers.

CONTEST WINNER: ELIZABETH STENDER I feel blessed in that I have many inspirational women in my life, however one sticks out especially this year and that is my best friend (and fellow Healthworks member) Meredith. Last summer, Meredith and I, both Boston College graduates and now working in the same field, decided to join Healthworks together. It turned out to be an amazing time for us to both get in shape but also to block off an hour a week to talk on the treadmill or to burn some stress with a Gravity class. It gave us both a great time to talk about life, our jobs, men, and to be supportive of one another. This winter Meredith decided she wanted to run a 5k road race in the spring so both of us took our treadmill walks and started gradually turning them into treadmill jogs and runs. Neither of us have done much running lately but I was so inspired and excited by her enthusiasm that I couldn�t help but run along with her. There was one day in particular where she suggested that we try running for 20 minutes (more than either of us had done in years). After finishing the 20 minutes successful and were stretching, I thanked her for motivating me to do that. I used to love running but after double-knee surgery 3 years ago, I didn�t think I would ever run again. Meredith's enthusiasm pushed me to breakdown that mental barrier I set up for myself. Since we had so much fun training at the gym together, we decided to start doing partner training personal training sessions. However, two weeks before Meredith's 5k road race and 3 days before our first weight training session, Meredith was hit by a cab, on her way to work. The cab ran over her leg, breaking it in three places, and requiring three major surgeries and over a week of hospitalization. Never in my life have I been so scared of losing someone so important to me. Meredith is my rock, my cheerleader, my shoulder to cry on, and my best listener. Luckily, that day I only lost my gym buddy for a few months and not my best friend. It was hard to go back to Healthworks without Meredith there to run with me, but her upbeat attitude even on days when her leg hurt and she was bored to tears not being able to get out of bed kept me running. Now, after thinking I wouldn�t be a runner ever again, I am hoping to run a 5k at a conference we are both attending in June. Meredith won�t be able to run it with me, but without her I wouldn�t have been brave enough to try it myself and for that, she is extraordinary.

RUNNER UP: JANET LEVINE The Special Woman in my life is my daughter Lizzete. She is my oldest of 5 children , but as the oldest she has been my rock, through the death last year of my son, her brother (he was 25) and her sister (who was 1 year younger) who died in a car crash 9 years ago. Not only is she a Mom of three boys, but a wonderful wife, who also holds down a full time job. She puts her family and home first, but always manages to think of me and keep me involved in her life. I don't know what I would do without her phone calls asking me questions that I know she has the answers for, but trying to keep me, feeling needed! She is a very special woman; not only to me, but also to everyone she meets.

RUNNER UP: KATIE ALIBERTI My mom is the strongest, most fearless woman I have ever met. She is extraordinary in that she has devoted her life to caring for those who do not have a voice. In 1982, she began working at a maximum-security prison. There, she worked as an HIV/AIDS nurse for 26 years. In the early years of the AIDS epidemic, she would bathe, dress, and even sing to patients suffering from the effects of the disease. When other nurses or staff would not touch a patient, she gave them the best treatment that she could. She took special trainings and joined a national council to raise the standard of care. Her staunch advocacy for her patients earned her the nickname “Warrior.” She was never afraid to fight for her patients, even if it meant drawing criticism from other staff. When my own father was diagnosed with bone cancer, she advocated and cared for him with the same fervor. My mother single-handedly took care of my dad until the day he died while continuing to work and keep up the household. She now works as a cancer research nurse in the same cancer center where my father received treatment. Her dedication to doing what is right, no matter how difficult it is, is most inspiring to me. She is the reason that I became interested in social work and my inspiration in my daily work with my clients.

RUNNER UP: WENDY CARNEY We have all known that woman. The one who enters an ill-advised marriage. The one who has kids and feels like her options are limited until they are grown. The one who continues living her poor choices even long after the kids have left, gone to college, gotten married, and had kids of their own. This woman frequently complains little, but the sadness is always there. Sure, there are things about their life they love, but there are also many things they do not. All too frequently, these women have been taught that to leave is wrong, shameful, or selfish. Too frequently, they have been brought up to think about everyone else before themselves. Last summer, my mom decided to stop that cycle. What too many may not have seemed a bold step was an enormous one for her. Raised in a Catholic home where she was taught the fine art of guilt and remorse, she quickly learned that her life was not her own. As a young adult, her decisions were questioned and shot down. She found herself unable to live her own life so she rebelled by running away to join the Air Force. This may have seemed an act of bravery for some, had it not been for the fact that a few months later she married a man who she barely knew and who she hardly loved. He knew her heart, yet married her anyway. They had my sister and me within the course of a couple years and to outside eyes, it seemed that her life was very good. Her family was happy: she had settled down into a woman's appropriate role and my father was a good, generous man- but she did not love him. They were two puzzle pieces that did not belong together. For years, Mom battled with severe depression. She wouldn't admit it, but she stopped making friends and rarely spent time with old ones. She indulged in a self-abusive lifestyle of overeating and shutting herself off. She was entirely invested in my sister and me, so that when we graduated and moved on she was faced with a yawning empty space. Many women at this point would say "I've come this far. There is no sense in leaving now." Again, outwardly the relationship was not bad. Dad provided well for Mom. They lived in a nice house. However, emotionally, it was dead. Mom began to be harsher on herself physically and emotionally. Then, one day, it stopped. Mom made the decision that she could not treat her life as she had, pretending that it was already over. She moved out. She took the step that Edna Pontellier of The Awakening could not take. She decided to live again. She started over. Now, nearly a year later, she is a changed person. She moved cross-country to Alaska where she lives with her sister and does things that make her happy. She has become healthy in mind and body. Despite the pain of having her so far away, it is so wonderful to know that she is finally alive. My mom bucked tradition, and even though it was very hard for her, finally chose to do something that she wanted to do, even though she knew how hard it would be to face her family. As a result of this seemingly insignificant action, my mom is extraordinary. She is an inspiration to all those women who fear doing something that may rock the boat and she is a lesson to me as I prepare myself to marry a man who I truly feel is the right choice for me. She taught me to think for myself and to be strong no matter the fear of what may happen. Most of all, she taught me to live.