Glow Girl! Ashley Wiles

Ashley Glow GirlWhat is YOUR story? Who are YOU? What is YOUR life journey all about?

I started dealing with some pretty intense anxiety a few years ago – the kind that makes you not want to sleep or eat and I developed some disordered thinking about those things.  It was Amanda Todd’s video that was a turning point for me, running, my community and a conscious choice that led to me to create Sole Girls. Sole Girls is a community and movement for girls ages 8-12 to train mentally and physically to be prepared for a 5km fun run!  Girls start loving physical activity, themselves and build more powerful relationships. Sole Girls has now evolved into Sole Leadership (for young women and teens), Sole Mamas (for parents), and Sole Awesome a 5km event on May 24th!

If I can make one person feel included, special, awesome, inspired, and possibly try physical activity then I’ve done my job.  My mission is to make the world more inclusive, and change the stigma around running, making it more fun and inclusive to everyone.  Being active is about our mental health and every single one of us has mental health. I believe that the more I stay present with how my body feels, the more I can physically accomplish and mentally stay focused, challenged, engaged and over all have a lot more fun.

What has been YOUR biggest challenge or life obstacle that YOU feel has dimmed YOUR GLOW?

Dealing with anxiety definitely dimmed my glow. Without supportive people in my life I felt isolated, dark and scared.  I felt like my thoughts were disordered and I wasn’t able to focus on possibilities; failure was much more probable. I’m very independent so I thought being alone was okay – until I discovered how amazing community is (those people who will show up for you and you can show up for them and together you can create/do things beyond your wildest dreams)

How have YOU grown as a woman in the last year? What lessons, insights or ah-ha moments have you had?

This past year was my 2nd full year in business as Sole Girls and I also decided to take on the most challenging physical sport I could think of…Ironman.

I learned that I thrive on a challenge, that I am capable of pretty much anything especially because of good goal setting and a supportive community.  And meditation is a life saver: it has been my guiding light back to myself, my goals, and keeping a balance.  I am crazy grateful for the people around me who support my crazy ideas and challenge me to push my thoughts further past limiting belief patterns, who support my positive habits, and who listen and share.

2014 11 02 Sole Girls_PAM-383 (3)What else do YOU want to share with the YOU GLOW GIRL!® Community?

Find your tribe, your mentors, a coach, your community…find the people that will show up for you when you are feeling down, and stay with you until you can see the light.

And Running is not that bad ;)

And HUGE thank you to Diane for creating this community and being a GLOW girl!

Sole Girls programs can be found at www.solegirls.org we run 9 week empowerment programs for tween girls 3 times a year as well as camps. We have 6 locations across the lower mainland and this summer we are taking a road trip to Williams Lake, Kamloops, Kelowna and Calgary training young women with leadership skills as well as running camps for tweens!

IMG_1250 (3)I am SOLE excited to have Sole Awesome 5km event (www.soleawesome.ca) run this year at Deer Lake!  It will be the most fun, fun run you’ve ever done ;) with hopscotch, 3 legged races, high 5 stations and more!  Everyone is welcome who wants to support girls mental health and fun physical activity!

Also, for moms – I am providing a 1 day workshop called Sole Mamas on April 19th to connect with tweens on values based level to have more powerful conversations and goals together.

I was just part of writing this incredible book called Sparkle Project BC: an Inspirational Handbook for Young Girls. Check it out http://www.thesparkleprojectbc.com/ !

Are you completely inspired? I am! Read more women’s stories and how they have overcome challenges to create beautiful inspired lives in the YOU GLOW GIRL! Community on Facebook. YOU belong here!