We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Holly Swenson a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Holly , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s jump to the end – what do you want to be remembered for?

When I think about my personal legacy, I envision leaving the parents of today better than when I found them. When I say better, I mean on all levels; mind, body, spirit, and environment. True wellness from the ground up.

People will say, she revolutionized and contributed to the parenting landscape in a remarkable and unforgettable way that forever reshaped how people partner with becoming a parent, as well as, thriving in and sustaining the extended season of parenthood. She accomplished this primarily through her written and spoken words. Spoken and written words are free, but they hold so much power, and she was ever mindful to wield her power as an author with much care for the benefit of many. She valued presence over perfection, and leaned on love, honesty, and dedication to guide her way in life.

The legacy she built was based on authenticity, kindness, joy, conscious living, and a genuine desire to help others bring their best selves to the forefront for their own wellbeing. She truly wanted to see parents thrive, instead of merely survive. She lived and breathed these principles into life and practiced what she promoted, to make herself better, but also for the benefit of those around her, and for parents around the world.

I hope to be remembered as a game changer and wellness advocate who worked tirelessly to bring more wellness, joy, and intentionality to parenting and beyond. My aim is to leave a trail of beauty, mindful and healthy parents, and thriving children in my wake.

Holly , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am an award-winning and best-selling author on the rise and on a mission to bring more wellness, joy, & intentionality to parenting and beyond. In addition to being an author, I am also a BSN, RN, wellness blogger, the mother of four incredible sons, and a perpetual student of life. Writing my first book Stop, Drop, Grow, & Glow, which launched last fall, was a deep calling and a way I could be of service to parents everywhere.

I am formally trained as a registered nurse, but I stopped working in the hospital when our twins were born. For years I turned my focus inward to raise our family. Our youngest is now nine and as our sons have gotten older I am finding I have a bit more time to start giving back outside of the home, and thus I’ve thrown myself into a new career path I absolutely love! Writing about and promoting wellness is my jam and every day that I get to throw myself into my work, both in the form of mothering and writing, is a blessing.

I am most proud of the impact my book is making right out of the gates. Stop, Drop, Grow, & Glow has received three awards to date. It was a best book winner of the PenCraft awards for non-fiction parenting, I was a finalist for Next Generation Indie Book Awards, and a finalist for the Eric Hoffer Award. I am humbled and so grateful for the success that has crossed my path, and it reminds me I am right on track in life and doing the work I am meant to be doing.

What sets me apart from others is my revolutionary framework I’ve created to help parents everywhere step into more wholeness and wellness, both for themselves, as well as this next generation they are responsible for shaping. My book is a true parenting companion and must read for parents new and seasoned alike.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being a creative is the ability to inspire and uplift fellow parents on their journey. I truly believe internal and external change is possible, one word at a time. That is my favorite part about being an author; opening a door that may forever bring more peace, healing, and clarity to the reader. I rest in this.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

The biggest thing non-creatives might struggle to understand about my journey centers around time. I’ve had many people say to me, “where did you find the time to write a book and take care of four kids?!”

I say time is what you make it. To put a creative spin on time, think big here and out of the box. If you have time to stop and get your favorite coffee in the morning before work, go to the gym, or make time for your favorite extracurriculars, you can make time to write or lean into what you dream about doing most.

Taking the first step and then continuing to show up for what you love and what lights you up will keep you feeling joyful and like you are on track in life. It can be as few as ten minutes a day you devote to your creative project, and what you will find is that when you become consistent, those ten minutes a day start to add up and you will have something you will be proud of if you stick with it long enough.

Prioritize accordingly and don’t get stuck repeating the mantra “I don’t have time for this.” You do have time if you want it badly enough. You may have to rise a little earlier or stay up a little later, or let certain things fall away, but if it’s something you know in your heart of hearts you were meant to do, don’t delay. Time is a gift, use it wisely.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.liveyourglow.live
• Instagram: @hollyswenson_liveyourglow

Image Credits

Feature photo: Shannon Edney

4-8 photo spread:

1st photo: Mike Williams
2nd photo: Nelli Boone
3rd photo: Shannon Edney
4th photo: Courtesy of Holly Swenson
5th photo: Shannon Edney
6th&7th photos: Courtesy of Holly Swenson