This is Us, featuring Author and Ted Talk speaker about Leaving Large, Ms. Michelle Piettes Part 1

I quote “Life will work for me when I accept … The labels placed on me don’t always fit. Society, with all its rules and boundaries, has shaped some less-than-flattering beliefs about women. There are those who say strong women lack femininity or that assertive women cannot be trusted. My personal favorite misconception is that a woman who knows herself and her desires is somehow dangerous. And of course, the old trope that a bossy woman is domineering, earning her that infamous B word. We could go on about the tired myths that women are less intelligent or less capable with money. The truth is, some people still hold these beliefs about women—and sometimes, those people are women themselves. Labels define. Often, labels set up expectations. Labels prescribe how much, how little, and sometimes how long a thing can be used. Labels are descriptive. Labels are protective, and labels can be removed. The time has come to take the labels off women. It is probably more accurate to say it is time for women to take the labels off themselves”. –Iyanya Vanzant, Until Today 2000 Today’s guest is putting in the work, earning her stripes, and embracing the rewards with grace. Her new book opens with a powerful Maya Angelou quote: “We delight in the beauty of the butterfly but rarely admit the changes it has undergone to achieve that beauty.” This week, my guest arrives like a butterfly in full bloom, ready to share her remarkable journey. Her story promises to amaze, uplift, and ignite hope in anyone who has ever felt overlooked or left behind. Let yourself be inspired—and pass that inspiration on.