Today we’d like to introduce you to Heather Hall.
Hi Heather, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Sometimes I’m unsure how I got to where I am today – it’s been such a wild, unpredictable path to walk! But I guess that’s life. I honestly never intended to be a public speaker or mindset/life coach. But when I was 21 years old, three months shy of graduating college, I walked into an urgent care clinic with ongoing knee pain. A week later I had a confirmed diagnosis of osteosarcoma, a form of bone cancer. That started a 13-month treatment of chemotherapy and an 8-hour surgery that removed and replaced the majority of my femur with titanium. I learned to walk again after 7 months on crutches.
Once I finished treatment, I became very passionate about cancer advocacy and helping others by sharing my story at events, with legislators, through my blog; advocating for research and affordable access to care; and mentoring newly diagnosed cancer survivors. I realized that sharing my story could make a positive impact on others by being open about the struggles, and also sharing what helped me. I started a mantra – Today I Choose – during treatment that helped me learn how small, intentional choices can change mindset and our perspective, help make decisions and keep us grounded in our mindset. I launched a blog to write about my journey through clearing cancer and living beyond cancer. Through sharing my Today I Choose mantra and the power of self-advocacy, I was invited to speak at fundraisers, advocacy events, business groups and other programs. I also was often asked to speak with cancer survivors at all stages of diagnosis and treatment, so in time, I started offering coaching services. But my positive outlook and teaching about the power of choice resonated with many others (non-cancer survivors) – we all face challenges in life and work. And we can all choose how we react and respond.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Life is often not a smooth nor straight road (how fortunate if anyone’s has been!). Over the past 20+ years, I’ve cleared two more cancers, lost my dad to cancer, been through a divorce, navigated job changes, buying a house and more. But I also work daily on managing my mindset through the power of choice. Every day I ask myself “What will you choose today?” And I answer with “Today I Choose….” Joy, gratitude, courage, patience, love. Whatever I choose in that day is my theme for the day. It keeps me grounded in my mindset and gratitude, and has truly helped me stay focused on choosing to enjoy life despite the struggles.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I spent most of my career in public relations, marketing and media relations, holding leadership positions in healthcare, nonprofit, finance and arts. I also own a boutique communications consulting company that supports small to mid-size businesses through strategic communications, public relations, media relations, advocacy programs, workshops, and retreat services that move missions forward. I love my work and the communications field in general because I really believe that open, clear communications solves so many problems.
But my biggest passion, and probably what I’m known best for, is my work in advocacy – teaching people to choose to use their voice to be their own best advocate, and then choose to stand up in their communities. We are all the CEO of our life, and we have the choice and responsibility to stand up for ourselves and choose wisely. Mindset, movement, career, life, friends – all these things impact our life. So how we choose to show up in these areas influence our overall life. My work centers on teaching people about the power of choice – how intentional choices can move you forward.
My ability to stay grounded in my mindset, see the bigger picture in most situations and my zest for life set me apart from others. I choose gratitude every day, even through the hardest struggles. Life hasn’t been easy for me (clearing three cancers isn’t easy!) but I still appreciate and love every day I’m alive. A mantra I tell myself all the time is that “while we can’t always control what happens in life, we can choose how we react and respond.”
I also am committed to using my voice in the bigger picture – I work with nonprofits and other organizations on creating grassroots advocacy programs, meeting with legislators and leading advocacy trainings to help people get involved in local, state and federal issues that impact all of our lives.
I believe that positive change – in our own life and in our communities – begins with small, intentional choices. With consistent, focused choice, we move forward towards bigger, impactful change.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
I’m super passionate about helping others choose to show up fully in their life and work. I so believe in the power of choice and being your own advocate that I created a series of products aligned with my Today I Choose framework. From affirmation card decs (three right now!) to journals to mindset and movement challenges, these products were born from the belief that you matter and YOU are your own best advocate and cheerleader. The full collection is available at my online store at TheHeatherHall.com.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://TheHeatherHall.com
- Instagram: @TheHeatherHall_
