Learning how to say what I want has been hard for me in the past. That might surprise you, given that it’s pretty easy for me to say what I want when it comes to moms with postpartum depression, like more money for research and services, more awareness, better support… the list goes on. But outside of PPD advocacy, I’m pretty bad about asking for what I want.

Last year I was speaking at a blogging conference and I got a call from the organizers. Speakers get their rooms free at this conference as long as they room with another speaker. They were calling to ask if I would room with a speaker who was bringing her baby. You might guess that I am sometimes uncomfortable around babies given my experience with PPD and PPOCD. Besides, when I go away to a conference, I look at it as my time away—a time for some peace and quiet. At other times I have roomed with other mamas and babies and it was great (hi Vivi!), but on this occasion I really did not want to room with a baby.

On the other hand, I’m nice. I try to be thoughtful. Accommodating. Supportive of other people, especially moms. I’m one of the “cause” girls in the blogosphere. How on earth could I say no? I might seem like a jerk. Not nice, thoughtful or accommodating. I AGONIZED over this. Finally, my husband said, just tell the truth.

I’m so glad I did. I said what I wanted, and I ended up rooming with Ria Sharon, which was like the universe sending me a blessing. Ria is a genius, a get-things-done kind of person, and the co-founder of Hopeful World, a digital publishing platform designed to empower emerging global leaders through online classes, mentoring, and the creation of digital products.

Since that event, I’ve been having lots of conversations with Ria, and Jen Lemen, the other co-founder of Hopeful World, about how to take Postpartum Progress to the next level. How to scale it, how to take what we’ve created here and make it better and more impactful, so that we can reach as many women who are suffering as possible.  If there are any two people who can help make that happen, it’s Ria and Jen.  I adore them both more than I can say.

Next week we will launch the first project created between Hopeful World and Postpartum Progress.  I look forward to telling you all about it.