We’ve rounded up some timeless wisdom from our beautiful Volume 18 contributors. May you be inspired and feel the heart from each woman.

“Romanticizing your life doesn’t mean making everything picture-perfect or pretending things are better than they are. It’s not about expensive indulgences or meticulously curated aesthetics. Rather, it’s about shifting your perspective, seeking the beauty and opportunity in your day instead of waiting for life to feel magical on its own. It’s about deliberately crafting, and expecting, days where even the mundane feels meaningful… Studies on gratitude, mindfulness, and neuroaesthetics (the science of how beauty impacts the brain) all confirm that when you intentionally shape your experience, you increase resilience, motivation, and overall wellbeing.”

Written by Thea Larsen, Cowgirls Over Coffee
@cowgirlsovecoffee
Photo by Brooke Juma Ehlers
@_brookejumaphotography_ 

“We realized we couldn’t have all our eggs in one basket. We needed to diversify our business as farming can be lucrative but also has its risks. Looking at what our community didn’t have for family fun in the Fall allowed us the opportunity to start a new business that would grow into an Agritourism venture bigger than we could have dreamed…These events are more than a day in the country seeing a farm, it’s an annual tradition for many families and I don’t think I ever expected how impactful and how often people look forward to visiting us.”

Written by Justine Ludwig, Coastal Black Tulip Fest
@justineludwig.co
Photo by Ricci Miller
@little_prints_photography

“With less ‘stuff’, I feel all the more free to wake up the parts of me that fall quiet when I’m bogged down with household tasks that have turned into projects. Sure, there are still papers coming home from school and meals that need to be cooked, but with a simple tray for the papers and a plan for the meals, it all feels much less overwhelming to me. I want to clear the way for our home to be a place of rest and reprieve, of beauty and simplicity; the backdrop to a child’s future favourite memories.”

Written by Kelsey Grose, Farmer’s Daughter Interiors
@farmersdaughterinteriors
Photo by Delina Langridge 
@delina.langridge

“I’m not an instant-grits catalog. I’ve cultivated a people-centric editorial brand that celebrates Southern culture from my lens authentically. Experimenting with digital media as it evolves has been compelling; however, the nucleus of my work is consistent. Tell original stories straight from the heart. So, pace and give grace to yourself while building your vision. In between the years, those ah-ha sparks to your purpose-driven work will start to fly.”

Written by Candace Morrow, Cowgirl Candace
@thecowgirlcandace
Photo by Jill Burnsed
@jillburnsedphotography

“There’s something sacred about standing on the same soil your ancestors once walked. Where their hands shaped the land and their dreams were planted alongside seeds in the spring. For me, that place is our family farm… This home isn’t just old; it’s alive. It holds laughter and loss, grit and grace. My ancestors built pieces of this place with their bare hands and bold hearts, and now I wake up every day with the responsibility and privilege of continuing their story.”

Written by Kayla Adams, Oats and Honey Homestead
@oatsandhoneyhomestead
Photo by Brittany Tambeau
@brittanytambeauphotography

“If a little is good a lot must be better right? At least that’s what I thought when I decided to add another 500 head of sheep to my flock several years ago. I mean how much harder could lambing 700 be than 200 was? I was about to find out!!… The amount of lessons I learned in such a short time still amazes me. It would take months before I could sort through them all. Watching my family pull together and keep plowing forward in what felt like overwhelming odds still amazes me.”

Written and photographed by Laura Hicks
@laura_a_hicks

Order your copy of Volume 18 while they are still available. Find it here.