All throughout March--Women's History Month--the world has been celebrating the women who make a difference, those who are loudly leading movements, lending quiet support to a loved one and doing everything in between. Today we hear from guest-blogger, author, filmmaker and Joyful Heart Board member, Andrea Buchanan, on why we celebrate women. I've spent most of my career telling women's stories. I’ve made a documentary film about the March for Women's Lives in 2004, which was the largest march D.C. had ever seen, according to the people who tally those things. I’ve had the honor of interviewing women like Hillary Clinton and the late Governor Ann Richards, among many others, about reproductive rights for women. I’ve written and co-directed a film for Glamour Reel Moments that told the true story of a nurse who was inspired to love again after she witnessed a man lose his wife of 45 years to cancer and the love that filled the room among family and friends. And of course, I’ve written for and edited two books--both collections of stories told entirely by women. The first, called NOTE TO SELF, is about overcoming hardships in life and my latest adventure, LIVE AND LET LOVE, tells the stories of love and its many layers. Here is what I've learned about women: we are resilient. We persevere. We protect. And we love big, when we let ourselves. Women are complex and mighty creatures. I do believe that when it comes to overcoming great obstacles, we have what it takes to do it. But we can't do it alone. Community, friends, and sharing our story--and our burdens when we have them--is the key to getting through hardship in our lives. So when you find yourself faced with a great obstacle, reach out to someone you know. Tell your story to a friend. Making a connection with another is the first step in freedom, making your load a little lighter and opening yourself up to a world of possibility and love. I know this to be true because I’ve seen it with my own eyes, heard it with my own ears and felt it happen. We are lucky to be women, because within us is a built-in compass for compassion and grace. Andrea Buchanan’s newest book, LIVE AND LET LOVE: Notes from Extraordinary Women on the Layers, the Laughter, and the Litter of Love is in stores now. The perfect book to share with loved ones of any kind, the stories in its pages will definitely make you laugh, cry and get that warm fuzzy feeling inside. You can also pick up the inspiring NOTE TO SELF: 30 Women on Hardship, Humiliation, Heartbreak, and Overcoming It All, where you can read the stories of Joyful Heart’s very own founder and president, Mariska Hargitay and executive director, Maile Zambuto. And like @TheJHF, Andrea tweets. Follow @andreabuchanan for her latest updates.