‘We’re not alone in our challenges,’ women told
Tiffany Show offers shared experiences and inspiration on International Women’s Day
The Tiffany Show International Women’s Day Party at The Venue saw a large turnout on Friday, with more than 100 residents coming out to hear stories of shared experiences and inspiration from five local women.
The free show was led by Tiffany Arcari, who awarded audience members with talk-show-style prizes and 50 swag bags.
“The whole purpose of The Tiffany Show is to tell human stories. We don’t need to hear about celebrities. We get it. We want to hear the stories of people like you and me that we can relate to,” she said.
“So, we know that we’re not alone in our grief. We’re not alone in our journey. We’re not alone in our challenges. We are not alone.”
The first speaker was Carissa McIntyre, a local author who shared her story of finding herself after escaping an abusive relationship that left her and four children in her custody homeless.
“We were living at the crossroads shelter. I had lost everything. I was alone, with these scared children and a mountain of debt,” she said. “I had no self-esteem. I had no selflove, and I had a no passion for myself or pretty much anything.”
McIntyre noted that learning selflove is what saved her, and she found this through the concept of treating herself like a best friend who is a guest in one’s home. This elevates your self-worth, she explained.
“Speaking to yourself as if we were your best friend is so powerful, because it can keep us sane and helps keep us focused,” she said. “And it feels good to put that fantasy and
‘‘ The whole purpose of The Tiffany Show is to tell human stories. We don’t need to hear about celebrities.
TIFFANY ARCARI TIFFANY SHOW ORGANIZER
stuff on paper yourself and treat yourself good.”
The next speaker was Lisa Couture, owner of Couture Candy Ptbo. Couture decided to focus on starting a business that reflected her passion, after her mental health suffered while she worked for 13 years in addiction services.
“I had high seniority employment, but over time that job facilitated anxiety, PTSD, compassion fatigue and trauma,” she said.
After realizing that she’d spent 2,190 days dealing with this anxiety and PTSD, Couture made a clean break from the job and toxicity in her life.
“I jumped at the opportunity to check out a new local small business fitness studio,” she said.
Other speakers included Ashley Lamothe, owner of Creative Kwe; Sheena Howard, owner of Acceptance Nurse Psychotherapy; and JC Hannigan, another Peterborough author.
“Love, kindness, authenticity that’s the theme today,” Couture said.
“That’s what we bring to the table. We are brilliant. We are strong. We are resilient. And when we work together, we can do anything.”
The daylong event concluded with a visit from puppies from the Peterborough Humane Society.