We had the good fortune of connecting with Cyndi Galley and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Cyndi, how did you come up with the idea for your business?
One night during the Christmas season I had an epiphany as a single woman not-yet-married, facing the holidays alone––Given the times we are in, facing all that I had been facing, singlehood wasn’t something to be ashamed or embarrassed by (even if I was in my 40’s and never married). There was much I had accomplished and as a single woman full of vision and creativity, it hit me that I was stronger than I realized or knew, because God was the one who strengthened me to do all that was in my heart to do. It dawned on me that while many women wait for “the one” or a man to feel secure and to fulfill their dreams in life, I was already fulfilling mine, as a single woman. It was then that the term, “She is Single. She is Strong” hit me like a ton of bricks, and there is where it all began.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
She is Single. She is Strong (SISSIS) is more than an organization. It’s a movement. And not only that, it is also a creative entity that continues to strengthen, empower and release through our community, our courses and other powerful media outlets.

We founded SISSIS and launched it with a Galentine’s Girls’ Night Out Seminar/Conference on Friday, February 14, 2020. From there our workshop kicked off and was home to over 100 single gals until the pandemic lock-down. This was not in the cards after the months of preparing to launch SISSIS with this event. Moving quickly, we determined we’d continue this twelve-week course via Zoom, and continue to build not only the community but also the women willing to do the work-–even in the midst of a now-virtual world.

What we saw in those who finished the course were single women who now had purpose, vision and who knew they were worth more than what they had ever realized. Of those who went through the course, many now have stepped into beautiful and new arenas with fresh eyes to who they are, with the giftings they have. For example, one who was feeling beat down due to an ugly divorce, determined during and throughout our course that she was worth investing in herself and found that she had a desire to create through illustration. Just two years after completing SISSIS, she began taking baby steps in pursuing the desires and dreams in her heart and has now since illustrated THREE children’s books, and is a designer of a faith-based fashion magazine. Another realized that though she would like to remarry, she put the “man-hunt” on hold to pursue her nursing degree and is slaying it in the process.

What we want single women around the world to know is that life shouldn’t be put on hold if you’re single. Put your best foot forward. Work on you from the inside out. Be a part of a community that “gets you” and cheers you on, and go for it!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Well, I live in Orange County, but being born in Hollywood I favor Los Angeles, so the answer will be a marriage of the two! If my best friend was visiting California, I’d have her fly into the John Wayne airport for a nice non-hectic, and proper welcoming into Cali! Because we’d already be about fifteen minutes from the beach, we’d put her luggage in the trunk and head out to Rogers Gardens for a beautiful outdoor O.C. welcome! If she still wanted to take a little more, I think swinging around Fashion Island is always a treat for some fun pics in the sun, topped with the elegance and breeze of Newport Beach. Once we grab a Gelato or delicious ice cream from Atomic Creamery! I think she might be ready to call it a day (or evening), so we’d be checking in at an already-reserved cottage at Crystal Cove, so that our first meal of her Day Two, would be to have breakfast on the sand at The Beachcomber. Photos at Crystal Cove come out beautifully with the ocean as your backdrop and um yes, we’d be playing, “Wind Beneath my Wings,” in the background. What more fitting song than to play the theme song from “Beaches,” which was filmed in a beautiful cottage there at Crystal Cove!

Day two and three would be there at Crystal Cove so that we could enjoy our toes in the sand all day and all night by the bonfire. The beautiful thing about Crystal Cove is that we’d only be a hop, skip, and a jump away from Laguna, so once we’ve had that perfect cup of coffee in our cottage the morning of Day three, we’d probably grab a quick, yet unhealthy breakfast from Ruby’s at the top of the cliff at Cottage Cove, then we’d be on our way to shop, stop and eat at Laguna Beach all day long. Because I’m all about sights and the ocean, wherever our day takes us, we’d most certainly be strolling up to The Rooftop Lounge a little before sunset for apps, then once all we could hear is the sounds of the breathtaking ocean, we’d hop in our car to end our day with a light and organic salad and most delicious coffee from the Urth Cafe. From there we’re heading to my place to settle and prep for our two days of fun, which will start by sleeping in, taking our time getting ready and heading to Snooze at The Orange Circle to power us up for shopping and snacking in between in Old Town Orange. What she doesn’t know is that from there we’re checking into The Grand Californian Hotel, where we’ll continue to walk, shop (and eat) at Downtown Disney, grabbing our favorite Starbucks drink to finish off at the huge fireplace in the hotel lobby. This is how we end Day Four, but we’re calling it a night earlier than later because first thing in the a.m., we––like every pro-team championship winner–will be going to Disneyland!

Disneyland is for EVERYONE. Whether you, like me, have been born and raised in California, or whether you’re visiting for the first time, it is a must-do at some point in everyone’s life. For my bestie, she’ll enjoy everything Disneyland has to offer and because we’re staying three nights at The Grand Californian, we’re doing California Adventure on Day SIX.

The good news is this is the perfect way to prime and prep her for our next phase, which will be in Los Angeles and Hollywood! After a good night’s rest from California Adventure, we’re hopping on the 5 Fwy., in all of her glory and driving into Beverly Hills to stay at one of my fave boutique hotels––The Avalon Hotel, Beverly Hills. Now, why I can often be a creature of habit, I’ve heard great things about the Mosaic in Beverly Hills, as well, So, I’d let her decide which she’d prefer! Because we’re in Beverly Hills, this would be a good time to scope out the Beverly Hills shops and eateries so we can determine where we’d like to hang out during the day.

So, in the morning time, I did mention I am a creature of habit, so although the Salmon Scramble is literally one of my all-time favorite breakfasts (at Urth Caffe), we COULD always head on over to a personal favorite dive of mine-–Nick’s on Pico! The food is fast, and tasty and you just “feel” like you’re in LA! It’s comfort food in the best possible way. I think because we just spent the last two days at Disney’s parks, we’re bringing it down a bit and skipping on over to The Grove and light shopping at Melrose, where we might want to end our night watching a movie on a rooftop at Melrose Rooftop Theatre, where we can just head back to the beautiful and not-so-pricey boutique hotel and enjoy it there for a bit if we weren’t ready to call it a night.

Morning has broken on this next day, and her week in SoCal is sadly coming to a close tomorrow, so here is now where we UBER or LYFT our way to Rodeo Drive and enjoy her in all of her array, as this is not a place to be rushed through. The stores, the sights, the sounds…are all absolutely beautiful and so here is where we spend a majority of the day, ending it with a delicious dinner either at The Beverly Hill Hotel or The Regent Beverly Hills. We’ll end our evening there because the next two days are in the hectic City of Angels where we’ll stay with friends in LaLa Land as I have several who live there in really cute spaces. This will keep it cozy, comfy, and fun. After a morning, we can grab a bite to eat near Los Feliz or in the heart of Hollywood––maybe even grab late lunch with friends on the Sony or Paramount Pictures Lot, and we’d celebrate her last night at the Hollywood Bowl, catching the beautiful tunes of the LA Phil under the stars. As sad as it would be for her to be leaving, I think she’s had a beautiful time in Southern California, doing things that some of us who live here get to do (there is a LOT to do), even though we haven’t even really scratched the surface.

In a perfect world, her flight would be red-eye so we can coast all the way down Sunset Blvd. from LA to PCH mid-to-late morning, stopping for a bite to eat either in Pacific Palisades, Santa Monica’s iconic boardwalk (bike-riding, anyone?), an eatery on Abbot Kinney, like The Tasting Kitchen, or perhaps somewhere on Venice Beach to take in the Pacific Ocean one more time. With time to kill there is always more outdoor shopping to be had at Santa Monica’s Promenade, but really it would depend on whether she wanted a chill last day, or if she felt she needed to squeeze in a couple of extra hours of shopping–with a Nordstrom, Anthropologie, and Zara, plus tasty restaurants, or we could wind down with dinner at The Huntley. Depending on how she wants to spend her day, you really can’t go wrong with any of those places––or just grub on good ole’ American food at Huston’s. The good news? We’re now only a hop, skip and a jump away from the LAX airport!

That’s a little of what my bestie’s trip could be like while out here (I never even mentioned church on Sunday, but yes, to church and brunch). I have a whole other idea covering other parts of our beautiful big city that I haven’t even mentioned. There is a LOT to do in beautiful California, but for THIS trip, that’s what her vacay would look like…I’m ready for her to fly out because that’s a trip I’d want to do myself! LoL.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Absolutely! There are a GANG of people I need to thank. A HUGE shoutout to my AMAZING team of producers––Sonia Luque and Denise Torres, who is also our course’s co-facilitator. I also couldn’t do what I do without the courageous women who shared their stories on camera––LMFT, Dr. Shanda Smith, Author, Ceitci Demirkova-Harper, Founder of “Changing a Generation,” Artist, Liz (Elizabeth) Vega, Bradleigh, Kalan, Marine, Desiree, Raelene, Estelle, my precious mama, Andrea Negron, and our organization’s co-facilitator, Denise Torres.

A whole other amazing bunch of ladies who were a part of our co-hosts and production team that need to get that loving shout-out are Dyanna, Julie, Michelle, Susie, photographer, Carol Pedroza, cast, Rose & Josh Bridston Kyree McField, and our production crew––Assistant Director & Camera Operator, Donald Robinson, and Producer & Editor, Sonia Luque, filmmaker, David Ivy and filmmaker, Lucas Christenson. A loving shout out to the gals who have shared their stories on our YouTube channel, and to the powerhouses who have been guest speakers at our events and conferences––Glaudi Fashion Designer, Johana Hernandez, Author, Ceitci Demirkova-Harper, “Until We Arise,” Founder, Rachel Caban, Fashion Show Producer, Lizbeth Espinoza, (also the Founder of “She Glams her Heart”), singer/songwriters & performing artists, Arielle Howell and Joyce Situ, and Ms. Jackson Can Cook’s Chef Lavette Jackson.

There are SO MANY others I need to thank like my mom for her constant love and pushing me to do the things in my heart while supporting and being a part any way she can and thank you to EVERY PERSON who has supported this movement financially. Literally, this COULD have not been done without every one of these people. To the New Gal Global team, I couldn’t do what I do without your love, support, and dedication. Shauna, who blogs in between being a single mama, to my administrative assistant, Pat, thank you for seeing the vision and for running with full throttle with it!

To every gal who has gone through our courses and whose lives are changed, this is just the beginning. I love you all and am excited for what your STRONG FUTURE has in store for you!

Website: sheissinglesheisstrong.org

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sheissinglesheisstrong/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cyndigalley/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ANewThingLIVETalkShow

Other: My new book: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0578398036/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tpbk_p1_i0

Image Credits
1. M&C Photography 2. Fashioned Magazine

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