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Yesterday, actress Hayden Panettiere passed away, and it’s hitting me in ways I wouldn’t have expected. Panettiere was only 4 years older than me, and she was in several iconic movies and TV shows during my formative years. As a child actor starting when she was not even a year old, she gave nearly her whole life to the screen. I watched her grow up and admired her as a young girl and a teenager.

Panettiere also notably shared openly about many of her struggles, including substance use disorder, post-partum depression, trauma, abuse and exploitation, the complexities of motherhood, and the pressure and judgment of growing up, especially as a woman, in the public eye. For years, her openness and honesty has helped so many women feel seen, understood, and less alone. Panettiere’s authenticity changed the conversation about so many of these topics even before the rest of the world was ready to listen.

As I process Hayden Panettiere’s passing, I’m contemplating the deep value of honesty, authenticity, and vulnerability. To share our stories is to remind others that they’re not alone. How can you find ways to live authentically this week? What might it look like to lean into vulnerability, even when it feels scary?

-Pastor Julia