First for Women – August 26, 2019

insight

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“I love to be outside just ta k ing in

nature,” Hoda shares. “Walking or

running in the park is my go-to for a

reset—it’s like therapy and exercise

all in one! Doing that makes me feel

free and helps me remember how

fortunate and unbelievably lucky I

am to have the life that I do. When

you look around and see all of the

natural beauty, it helps lift your spir-

its and reminds you of your good

fortune. And feeling that free while

doing something good for you every

day—like getting yourself moving or

getting some fresh air—is a wonderful

way to ref lect on all of your blessings!”

“I’ve definitely had those moments

where I need a confidence booster,

like before giving a speech,” Hoda

admits. “To quiet my nerves and

feel my best, I almost always turn to

music! Music can have such an amaz-

ing and wonderful impact on your

mood, confidence and outlook, and

can really make you feel great! There

are so many songs that make me feel

good the second I hear them play, so

in the moments where I need it most,

I’ll put on my headphones and play a

song to instantly pump myself up.”

With a job that has her waking

up before dawn and going to bed

long after the sun goes down,

Hoda admits that being in the

moment can be difficult. “It’s easy

to go into autopilot and do things

around your loved ones, rather

than with them,” Hoda says. “I’ve

been guilt y of doing four things at

once and suddenly realizing, Wait,

I’m not interacting with Haley! I’m

doing things ‘around’ her.”

“I’m not naturally motivated to exer-

cise, but I do love knowing that every

minute I do is making me stronger,”

Hoda confides. “Going through breast

cancer, I know what it’s like to feel sick

and not strong. But these days, I’m

not just building strength for myself,

I’m getting stronger for my daughters,

Haley and Hope. I feel happiest when

I feel strong, and knowing that what

I’m doing will help me be—and feel—

my best for my girls is such powerf u l

motivation to keep going.”

MOTIVATES AND

INSPIRES: Thinking

of loved ones

JUMP-STARTS

JOY: Time in nature

To snap back to realit y, Hoda f inds

joy in the little things. “The other

night, Haley wanted to hold hands

as she fell asleep,” Hoda says. “In a

moment like that, you realize there’s

nothing better.” In fact, Hoda’s new

children’s book, You Are My Happy,

is inspired by such moments, and

follows a mama bear and her cub

as they cuddle before bed, sharing

what they’re most grateful for. “The

little love moments are everything!”

INCREASES

CONFIDENCE:

Turn up the tunes

8/26/19 First for women 45

HODA’S SWEET SMILE STARTER: Appreciating the little things

ful—Hoda’s way!

Hoda holding

baby Hope

with 2 - year-old

daughter Haley