I’ve often been called nosy because I ask a lot of questions. Okay, I accept that characterization—but I prefer to say I’m curious. I ask questions to understand what makes people tick, what drives their passions and purpose, and who inspires them. I truly believe every woman has a story that can inspire others—if given the chance to share it.

Before I introduce you to an inspirational woman I met this past year, let me ask you a question (see, I told you I ask a lot of questions): Who inspires you? And you know what’s even better than being inspired? (Oops, another question.) Letting the person who inspires you know they’ve had an impact on your life.

Today, I want to tell you about Charlotte Ashton—a successful realtor who is kind, warm, friendly, hardworking, outgoing, and compassionate. But that’s not why she inspires me. Charlotte doesn’t just talk about what matters to her—she acts on it. That’s what makes her truly remarkable. She’s someone who follows through on her commitments, and when she shares her story, she makes others believe they can achieve their dreams too.

Charlotte has been swimming her entire life, though she doesn’t remember ever taking lessons. Her family recalls her fearlessly jumping off the diving board at just three years old! Growing up in Silver Spring, Maryland, she followed in the footsteps of her older siblings and swam competitively from ages 9 to 18—even reaching the national level.

Later, she accepted a college volleyball scholarship, putting swimming on the back burner.  At age 30, she briefly returned to the sport, joining the Master Swim Group at the Hagerstown YMCA—a supportive, knowledgeable, and caring community of swimmers.

Years passed, but Charlotte’s passion for swimming never faded. Imagine her surprise and delight when, after a 28-year hiatus, she reconnected and trained with members of the Master Swim Group she first met in 1992 including Paul Brabson, George Rohrer, Carol Socks, Ken Grove and Allen Donaldson.

With renewed enthusiasm and improved stroke technique, Charlotte participated in the Chesapeake Bay 1-Mile Swim in 2018 and 2019. Then during the COVID-19 lockdown, Charlotte, like many others, took time to re-evaluate her priorities and set new life goals. She committed to living a healthier lifestyle, adopted a nutritious diet, lost 45 pound and, under Paul Brabson’s guidance, began training for the grueling Great Chesapeake Bay 4.4-Mile Swim in 2022.

Motivation is essential, but support is just as critical. Charlotte found both in the group of swimmers at the Hagerstown YMCA—who offered encouragement, boosted her confidence, and shared stroke tips, drills, and training regimens. With their support, at age 60, Charlotte completed the 4.4-Mile Bay Bridge Swim for the first time.

She competed again in 2023 and 2025 (the event was canceled in 2024). In 2025, 433 of 481 swimmers finished the race. Charlotte, at age 63, placed third in the Wetsuit Female category and finished in the middle of all swimmers. Now that’s inspiring!

Charlotte is a compelling storyteller who speaks from the heart. When I asked her about the most difficult part of the 2025 race, she said:

“When I was about ¾ of the way through, the current was getting stronger, and the waves were knocking me around. I was struggling to stay on course. I looked around at the other swimmers and said to myself, ‘I’m not doing this alone. We are facing this challenge together. Just keep on swimming. I will finish what I said I would do.’”

She also shared that she had a case of the “pre-race jitters,” when doubt creeps in and hijacks your confidence. While waiting for the race to start, she chatted with a 70-year-old woman attempting the swim for the first time. That conversation became a new source of inspiration. Charlotte told herself, “If she can do it, I can do it too.”

Inspiration is a funny thing—it can be a powerful catalyst for change, a reminder that struggle precedes growth, or a sign that resilience is just around the corner.

Not everyone wants to swim across the Chesapeake Bay, but we all have dreams we want to pursue. Knowing the courage, persistence, and resilience required for Charlotte to take on such a feat, I asked her what advice she’d offer others. Her response:

“Preparation is key. Do the proper research. Talk to people who’ve done it before you. Find people who encourage you—and train, train, train.”

Sound advice, no matter your goal.

As I mentioned, I love asking questions. So I had one last question for Charlotte: Who inspires you? She quickly named Billie Jean King, Mark Spitz, Martina Navratilova, Dara Torres, and Gertrude “Trudy” Ederle—the first woman to swim the English Channel. I hadn’t heard of Trudy Ederle, so Charlotte recommended I watch Young Woman and the Sea, a Disney movie released in 2024. I watched it that very night—and now I’m recommending it to you.

Inspirational people like Trudy and Charlotte have a unique ability to light an inner fire in others and encourage them to chase their dreams. And that, my friends, is the power of a story well told.