Motivating Stories From Local Women
Every woman has a story to tell, and no two stories are alike.Meet the women who have persevered through challenges and tribulations and come out the other side stronger than ever. These unique individuals have seen their fair share of adversity but continue to inspire those around them with the lessons they have learned and their love of life. Read on for four truly motivating stories by the women who experienced them firsthand.
Photography by Emily Long / Photos taken on location at BODE
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Scottie Summerlin, Signal Mountain (Above)
Up until a few years ago, my life was pretty normal. I was married, had twin boys, worked from home doing communications, and volunteered a lot. In May of 2016, my husband, Dan, broke his arm playing church softball. After going to the hospital, we found out he had stage four cancer. It was a total shock, and he passed away a year after his diagnosis.
Life for me and my sons, Jack and Jake, changed drastically. They were 13 – a really tough age to lose their dad. I worked part-time from home for over two years so I could be with them as much as possible. Our life was an emotional roller coaster, and while it seems to have settled down a little, we’re still adjusting to Dan being gone.
This year, I went back to work full-time, and the boys are busy with school and baseball. They just turned 16 and started driving. They are looking forward to finding their first job, and we’re starting to talk a lot about colleges. Right now, my most important job is to not let our sadness derail the boys’ future.
But I also have to think about my future. After the boys leave for college, my life will be my own for the first time in two decades. I can live and work anywhere I want.
I know for sure going from a family of four to a family of one in our home will be a huge transition. I can’t say I’m looking forward to it, but I’m working hard to embrace the change and look at the positives. My house will be clean when I get home. My nights and weekends will be my own to do whatever I want, and the boys are still going to come home so I can feed them and do their laundry.
I love to go new places, learn new things, and meet new people. By the end of 2020, the boys and I will have visited all 50 states. Our next goal is all seven continents, and I’m having a lot of fun doing racecations with my friends. There are many more adventures ahead. Who knows what the future holds? Life is what you make it. So get up, put on a smile, and rock what you got! HS
