HAL SOCIALS 2020 Opening Speaker

Cass Crowe

Meet Cassidy or Cass. Mother. Creative. Athlete. Love Lover.

A woman who captivates attention with her one of a kind je ne sais quoi. I have had the pleasure of getting to know Cass over the last few years and she is even more cool and dazzling in person than she is on social media. I am excited to introduce Cass to all of you, and if you already follow her on social media, maybe help you to get to know her a little better. Cass will be one of our opening speakers at HAL SOCIALS 2020 on October 3 in Sarnia. Over the next few months I will be introducing the rest of our speakers and other event details. To be sure you don’t miss a thing or access to tickets as soon as they are released for sale, be sure to sign up for my newsletter list in the box at the bottom of this post.

Let’s get to know Cass and touch on our theme of Purposeful.

1. We are very excited to learn more about your story. Could you share one thing that gives your life purpose in its current season?

I am super pumped AND honoured to share my story and am so grateful for this opportunity to create a space for understanding, connection and finding our purpose together as the bad-ass women and men that we are. 

My constant answer for this question is my son, Hudson. He will always be my rhyme and reason, my purpose and my motivation.

My purpose for this current season of my life has the needle pointed in a direction towards myself. I’m currently back in school and having a sort of “reset” season, finding my “why” and direction for me as an individual and professional—not just as a mother and wife. There is a fire in me that is excited to create a successful professional career so that I can feed both my right and left brain (my creative side and my type A side), and also provide and contribute to my family.

I’ve learned that to be the best mother and partner I can be, I have to be happy and confident with my individual identity, not just with my identity as a mother and wife. All of my identities work beautifully together, but this season, my purpose is to fill all of my cups so that I can be the best mom, wife and ME I can be. Find the balance. Ride the wave.

And, I know I’m not the only one navigating that season... so I’m excited to connect with other women feeling the same things and that are on the same path. 

2. Share a time when you experienced failure and what it taught you?

Oh gosh. It feels like every day there are failures in my life... which is okay, because without failure how do we grow, right? I say that but I’m also the worst for accepting failure in any way or form LOL. I’m an over-achiever in every sense (to a fault), but I’ve learned that failure is one of the best ways to learn— about yourself, about how to move forward and how to know what to do better next time. 

Parenthood ALONE is like the biggest struggle of failure vs. success, or at least that’s what it feels like. I know children are resilient but as a parent, it is so difficult sometimes to feel like you’re doing anything right.

So to answer this question... I learn from my failures everyday. And as hard as I try to not fail (obviously, because who tries to??), I do. Sometimes small, sometimes big, all because I’m human. All of the lessons teach me to be patient, a hell of a lot more kind to myself and to  listen to those around me.

3. Share something about yourself that not very many people know.

To keep transparency (which I promised myself I would try to do), I’ll offer a few things both positive and (potentially) negative about myself that you may not know. Bare with me here, ok?LOL.

To throw myself in the fire, let’s start with my yucky potty mouth. Those who know me, know too well that I’ve got the mouth of a trucker which often surprises people who are just getting to know me... and for that, I apologize in advance. I’m working hard to clean it up (especially with Hudson around lol) but catch myself letting it slip way too often. We all have bad habits to kick...right??

I also struggle with codependency and have a people pleasing personality that works to my disadvantage often. I try not to talk about it much as I feel like it gives it more power—but it’s a truthful “something” that not many people know. I’m actively working on repairing those parts that need it...Counselling is a great tool that I use (and also feel like everyone could use a good few hours with a Counsellor lol), and am happy to admit that I do.

I’m always trying hard to take my adversity and help it shape the healthy parts of my personality. It’s hard. It’s really, really hard. It takes a lot of work to consciously make the choice to let it build you, not break you, but that’s why it’s such a gift when you get through it.

All that being said, I’m an open book for the most part so it was actually pretty tricky thinking of things about me that people don’t know. I’m excited to share my story start to finish so I can fill in the gaps for those who are curious (orrrrr for those who aren’t lol!). 

4. What is your current favourite TV Show?

This is always a tough question because I normally get super emotionally invested into whatever I watch LOL, but as of right now, my fav show would be Atypical on Netflix. 

It’s a super touching, funny and “hit home” kind of show for anyone who watches. It covers a lot of real-life issues that every family experiences in some way. The main character is a teenager with autism so it’s also very insightful and educational about living with and how to appropriately interact with someone on the spectrum (which isn’t any different than someone who isn’t!).

I’m also watching Lost from the beginning and that’s got me sucked in way too deep.

5. What do you love most about living in Sarnia Lambton?

The tight knit community. There is something magical about that “small town” feel, even though we aren’t that small! Because I was born and raised here, it will always have a special magic to it.... a magic that I used to fight when I was younger. I wanted to get on to “bigger and better things”. Little did I know, it was here in Sarnia-Lambton all along. This is the place to be! So many good things happening and I’m excited to see where this community is in 2, 5, 10 years.

The beaches are pretty freakin’ awesome, too. 

6. What is the best advice you have ever received and who offered it to you?

I have two that really stuck with me this year. 

The first being, 

“Don’t stress over what you can’t control”.

My mom has been telling me that for years, but in this season of my life it seriously resonated. It’s not in my personality to let go of control and I have a tendency to get anxious and stressed if things aren’t going as I imagined. It’s a choice I have to make every day to let go a little and let things be... and lord knows I’m not good at it all the time. But, I’ve made the choice to stick to my guns and try to “Let it go”, Frozen style, as much as I can!

The second piece of advice is from my older sister Erin. Not only is she my go to for advice, she’s normally putting it all into action, too, so it’s easy to learn from her. An indirect quote:

“Don’t give a flying f about what other people think. Let them worry about them, and you worry about you”. 

I truly couldn’t agree with a piece of advice more. I’m a codependent people pleaser. This is one of the hardest things for me to do.... but after having my son, Hudson, it almost just sort of clicked. Parenting style, fashion choices, life choices.... everything. Don’t worry about others. We live in a time where this is very very difficult, yet so important. You’re great as you are and don’t need the approval of others so help you see that! Trust me... and trust YOU! You know what’s best for you, always.

Also.. “ain’t nothing to it but to do it”. That’s my fiancée, Matt’s, motto and it’s become the theme of our day to day lives.

7. What are some goals you are working toward in 2020?

1. Marry my best friend.

2. Get through this year of school with my sanity and good marks.

3. Reteach myself self care and find a routine that gives back to myself.

4. Start photographing the small moments of my life again.

5. Create more time for people who are important to me*** One that I always struggle with in my busy life, but am committed to changing.

6. Refocus what my goals are after I’m done school with my business and life.

7. Read more books..... god I would love to have time to read more books.

8. Start a YouTube channel?! Maybe?!

9. Create more challenging conversations that provide space for learning and understanding on social media.

I’m also going to follow my own advice (for once) that I mention below:

8. What advice could you offer for a more purposeful year in 2020?

Hold yourself accountable. This has been a huge building block in my life, and I feel like so many men and women could benefit from it. It seems so simple, yet it proves to be so challenging the more you try to implement it into your day to day life.

It’s easy to let yourself off the hook and it’s easy to make excuses. Don’t be that gal or guy. Make it happen. YOU have to make the choice when you wake up every morning to attack the goals you’ve set for yourself. Or, sometimes... it’s just getting through the day. But YOU have to do that for YOURSELF. Don’t depend on someone else to light your inner fire!

9. What is your favourite food?

Salt and vinegar chips, hands down. Lays, to be exact.

Nothing like the smell of a freshly cracked bag (you can find me with my face literally right in it as I open it, takin a big fat whiff... judge me I dare you).

Something funny about these— they always seem to cure a stomach ache or nausea for me.  Motion sickness, pregnancy nausea, period cramps, the whole nine yards. Nothing a couple chippies can’t fix. 

10. What is your favourite sound?

I’m one of those super creepy moms that loves listening to the sound of her kid sleeping. Is that weird?? It’s totally weird. Yet so amazing. For some reason, it’s so wild to me to think that a little human that I created in my UTERUS is fully functioning and can go into REM sleep on his own...

The sound of the beach is a close second. I feel like that’s a lot of people’s favourite, but it’s truly captivating every time. Each time I hear the waves, it may as well be my first time.

Cass Crowe
Cassidy Crowe Photography

Thank you Cass for sharing with us and choosing to be a part of HAL SOCIALS, we can not wait to learn more about you and your stories of finding purpose in all the phases of your life.

Heather