Sometimes just seeing resilience can change out mindset and unlock our own resilience. That’s our hope with the Portraits of Resilience series – we hope the stories below will inspire you to tap into your own resilience.
Julie Simon
I get my resilience from the people I serve and the people I share an intimate all encompassing practice with – dance. Read more>>
Andrew Lee
I think my resilience stems from when I was playing golf competitively. I started playing golf when I was 6 years old. Then started playing tournament at 8 years old. I learned very early that you never give up no matter how bad you are playing. There are a lot of times where you have a blow up hole in the middle of the tournament but, if you stay focused and persevere you’ll still have a chance to win. Read more>>
Marcelo Ferreira
Resilience is definitely one of my favorite words in the English dictionary and without a doubt a trait that one must have in order to succeed in today’s world. I preach resilience to my players on a daily basis because I know how important being resilient was to me my entire life. Read more>>
Lisa Lindsey
I have heard it said that, “Show me your friends and I will tell you who you are”. While there is an abundance of truth in that statement, I would add a Baldwin quote, “Children have never been very good at listening to their elders, but they have never failed to imitate them”. My perseverance is rooted in the support and examples provided by my village in my early years blended with the love, support and diverse life experiences of my lifelong circle of close friends, Read more>>
Raa El
When it comes to resilience. I would say some are born with it due to their upbringing. Others by their natural temperament. For me, when I think of it, it always came down to this. Choice. Whether I realized it or not, previous, and present, instances can very well be a defining moment that may create a shift, in it’s wake. Leaving me better off than I was, the same, or worse. All on the hinge of my actions, or inactions. With this spark of enlightment, this epiphany, to not take so lightly, put-to-practice, as I grew older I became aware that I chose, more times than not. I chose who to ignore, I chose when to be humble, I chose when to weather the moment, the storm, and the times. I chose a bigger picture… a bigger future… I chose a stronger version, of myself… And that, was more important than the moment itself. Read more>>
Florinda Wilson
My resilience comes from my Mother and Father. Growing up on the Navajo Nation Reservation, I encountered a lot of adversity. As a strong Indigenous woman my resilient strength comes from providing our home with traditional values we can carry and honor. My resilience comes from decades of hardship not yet forgotten. My resilience comes from a space in my heart that wants to make a different within our communities. Read more>>
Camille Kauer
The Dictionary defines resilience as “the capacity to withstand or to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness.” My parents instilled being “tough” and resilient in their actions. We were always moving to new towns, cities, and even countries, and each time my parents would put down roots and build a community. Which taught me to do the same as an adult. everywhere I’ve moved, I’ve learned you are only as resilient as your inner circle and the community you build. They keep me motivated and to stay the course. Read more>>
Karen Edgerly
My resilience comes 100% from my mother. She had many challenges and faced them head on and always found the good through the bad. Can’t say I’m exactly like her, but there are qualities I have learned from her and resilience in one. Over a decade ago, my life took a big turn, I was hit with a health issue that rocked my world. Looking at my mortality made me realize I needed to make some big life changes. I quit my teaching job, stopped overloading my plate until it overflowed; work, kids, family, travel, and socializing. I started to say no and really took a look at what I needed and not what I thought everyone else needed. And the biggest thing I did was follow my desire to be a full-time silversmith. I took a scary situation and turned it into such a wonderful one, I am now following my passion of being a silversmith and constantly looking at how to keep my life in balance. Read more>>
Amanda Jefferies
From a very young age, I learned quickly I was going to need thick skin if I was I was going to put myself out into the world. I learned life is effing hard and I knew I had to pull myself up every time I was knocked down. Growing up in a low-income family quickly taught me that it was my responsibility to look out for myself and if I wanted something I needed to work as hard as I could until I achieved it. Recently, my outlook on resiliency has greatly changed. In March 2020 my life was completely turned upside down as the COVID-19 pandemic hit. At the time I was working as a manager at a community health center and overnight my professional life changed. Read more>>
Natalie Letona
My mother. Growing up I never knew how much she struggled financially and mentally, she made sure to always put my sister and I first. Making sure we had the things we needed and on occasion treating us to the things we wanted. Read more>>
Sue Lee
Our story begins in 2011 when I asked my friend Phillis Shimamoto to collaborate with me in asking some of our friends to collect new socks for those experiencing homelessness from Thanksgiving to end of December. We, along with our friends collected 575 pair of socks, which first week of 2012, in seven-degree weather we delivered the socks to three shelters in downtown Denver. Upon doing so we learned that socks were the #1 clothing need of those experiencing homelessness and the shelters rarely if ever had enough socks to pass out to those in need. At that point in time, we decided to do something about the lack of socks and the Sock It To Em Sock Campaign was birthed. Read more>>
Courtney Elmer
I thought my life was going smoothly. Building my own business, getting married to the love of my life…. But it all changed in an instant. Just two days after getting home from my honeymoon, I walked into the doctor’s office for a routine check-up. I walked back out with a life-altering diagnosis. Read more>>
Julia Tulsi Bagnoli
I can attribute my resilience and capacity to withstand, to my great thirst to grow as an individual and my devotion to the stars. It wasn’t until my twenties that I began to understand that my capacity to bounce back from “failure” and ability to gather information in the process was actually a strength of mine. It is not how many times you fail that defines you — it’s the amount of times that you’re willing to get back up, continue to distill all that you’ve learned and offer your best at every turn. My resilience is grounded in knowing that I’m not here to get things right on the first try and that I’ve found that something which my desire to go deep with overrides any course correction that may come my way. Read more>>
Ashley Gierke
I don’t always feel like I’m a resilient person, but reflecting on my past does suggest that. Like most people, my life has had its challenges and I suppose my resiliency has been honed by moving through them. After a long, unhealthy relationship in my twenties, breast cancer at age thirty, and my father’s unexpected passing a couple of years ago, I’ve learned the importance of caring well for myself. Sometimes that looks like talk therapy (I’ve worked with four professionals over the years and highly recommend it as a tool for coping and growth), other times that means napping, good food, and leaning on my support system. Most recently it’s meant taking time off from work. I’m big into the Law of Attraction and focus pretty diligently at being conscious of my dialog (internal and external). It’s teaching me the power I have in creating the life I want. Read more>>
Samantha K. Tan
I honestly think I got my resilience from my parents. Although my parents were separated and were both living in 2 different places from each other, I still got to watch and learn how they dealt with situations. I learned what their values were and instilled it within my everyday life. Read more>>
Heather Prall
Most people will face challenges in life. In many cases those of us who encounter extraordinary challenges, become more resilient. Personally, I have always looked at situations that presented difficulties, as something to overcome. Read more>>
Shannon Phillips
It comes from my deep drive to create and share what I am super passionate about which is music, dance, and art. Everything that I truly love, and honestly I don’t think I could live my life without pursuing it. I love music so much, and want to share that with the world. Ever since I was a little girl I loved all 3, and loved to perform. Read more>>
Pofsky
Resilience to me has been built through perseverance. Time and time again going through the motions of success and failure. The most rewarding thing is failing over and over again until you do finally get it right. Resilience is a word that was introduced to me by my mom at an early age – maybe I just didn’t exactly resonate with it until I got older and truly honed in on it for myself. Watching her and my pops develop a business all through my childhood was nothing less than the best example of hard work and dedication. Finding what I love, which of course is music, has really helped me develop levels of resilience as I’ve grown. Then, co-mingling music with business and getting the opportunity to develop, not only one company, but several has been a key point of me becoming who I am today. My resilience comes from me knowing and loving what I do, then being extremely confident in that. Read more>>
Jeneifer Threadcraft
My resilience comes from being a teen mom and raising 4 kids as a single mom. It has been a lot of trying days for me and I have been trying to make sure that I don’t be a statistic. Having a baby at 14 and living in a home where my mom was stern. I have always wanted to be successful and work with people but I always thought that I would be a registered nurse. But God had a bigger plan for me. However, I ended up in the mental health field and now I’m a License Professional Counselor. I own Positive Peering, Inc Enrichment Center. It’s crazy when I look back at where I came from. Through my journey of life I have been hurt and broken by strangers and family; but I thank God for my children. They kept me going and I’m sorry blessed. I learned just how blessed I was when I lost my son to domestic violence. Read more>>
Kijana Sharif Hudggins-Blanding
I get my resilience and work ethic from my faith and deep belief and trust in the Lord. As much as I want to quit and give up sometimes my faith will not let me. My forever trust in the Lord that this is truly my calling will not let me stop pursuing greatness. Read more>>
Audrey Buchanan
I learned resilience at a very young age, and it’s a muscle that I’ve continued to develop through every challenging season of my life. Read more>>
Michael McBride
On the deepest level, my resilience has come from my life growing up; my family was less than perfect. My parents divorced at a young age; I moved to and from more houses and apartments than I remember. My parents were constantly at odds, and often I was caught in the middle. Even in college, I health with financial hardships and a manipulative parent. However, despite all of that, I choose to keep pushing forward. After returning home, I eventually found a job that brought out my love for Marketing. That love and my love for art brought me to start creating artwork to sell on an online website. After getting married and moving to Arizona, my passion for art found a new spark in my love for Arizona. I started creating Arizona t-shirt designs at affordable prices without a lack of quality. I believe anyone should be able to show their love for this state, including those going through hard times. Read more>>
Camille Ware
Where do I begin…? I have experienced so much in my life and I love sharing my story because I get inspired every time I share it! I moved to Atlanta in September 1999, to attend fashion design school, where I began chasing my dreams. I always had an entrepreneurial spirit starting as a child. I attended Metro Technical School of Kansas City, where I learned to sew. Read more>>
Aimee Saturne
If you know me, you know that resilience is one of my key components! Being independent, especially in more than one medium, can be extremely tough. I’ve learned over time that no matter how many times you get knocked down, it’s always worth it to get back up and keep fighting for your aspirations. Rome wasn’t built in a day, and nothing worthwhile comes easily. If everyone stopped and gave up when they faced hardship, life as we know it would not exist. Read more>>
Aronde Gaskins
My resilience comes from understanding that one means of growth comes through persevering challenges. There are always lessons that can be learned from enduring challenges although you may not see them right away and I love to learn. Read more>>
Ketline Bazile
I got my resilience from growing up in a broken home. Most people believe that once you’ve experienced being in a broken home that should define you. But I’m here to serve notice that you don’t have to be subject to that, You don’t have to be subject to your past. I found out that I don’t have to have a victim mentality. I can change my future by believing in the person God created to be on this earth. That can be a person of influence, that I can be a person that makes a difference in my community. Read more>>
Rojonna Luv Handy
As human beings we all have to live this thing called life. No one is exempt from facing the obstacles that come with this life. No matter the level of the obstacle, you can trust that you will be served one on a platter. How you handle hardships varies on the level us as humans are operating on. For me, RESILIENCE is one of my main strategies that got me to where I am now and that keeps me continuing on this journey. I’ve watched RESILIENCE as a child, growing up in a single parent home. My mother was my first teacher of this strategy. Watching her do everything by herself, while providing a great childhood for me is my best memory. I never lacked for anything and if my mother didn’t have it she always made a way to get it. Throughout my life I have heard stories where young girls have missed and felt the absence of not having a “father figure” in their life. I’m cognizant of how blessed I am to have never felt the lack or absence of not having my father in my life consistently. It never bothered me and I wondered why. Now, I know it is because of the RESILIENCE my mother has in her. She didn’t allow the difficulties of being a single mother to hinder her or her daughter. Yet, she only let it make her stronger, wiser, and more motivated to do and be better. Read more>>
Ashley Shick
If you want the short answer, resilience comes from ambition and hunger to always be better and want better for yourself. I didn’t always know what I wanted my life to look like, but I always knew I wanted to be successful and build something for myself. Read more>>
Brittnee Brooks
Resilience-such a massive word that holds a hefty amount of power. Its such an honor that in this very place in my life, I’m able to answer the question, “where do you get your resilience from” to its fullest extent. Read more>>
Tash Ann
Not dissimilar to a lot of filmmakers, I started my career in film at a young age wanting to be an actor. This, paired with the fact that I chose to move immediately from a small town in Indiana to New York City, known to chew up and spit out people on a regular basis, is the foundation for my resilience. Read more>>
Andrea Eidelman
I have worked in the nonprofit sector since approximately 2005. There are many challenges in the nonprofit sector because resources are always limited, and the population’s needs are usually extreme. The work is demanding and requires you to give a lot of yourself. Working in this sector has given me all the resilience needed to tackle the significant challenges nonprofits tend to solve. Read more>>
Lynneisha L.Marie Charles
I get my resilience from my mother. I’ve watched her overcome major aversions in her life and she kept going. In my eyes, she’s always done what she wanted to do. Even if it’s something as small as dancing alone on an empty dance floor. That just showed me to do what makes you happy no matter what. Read more>>
Cetonya Martin
Resilience is the result of internal and external characteristics, including genetics, physical, mental, and environment. My resilience comes from watching my self-talk. I make sure my narrative is always positive. I also try to put things into perspective. Read more>>
Zailuv
I’ve had a lot of set backs in life. I think falling down is apart of what makes success so sweet though. If you fall down 100 times, that 1 time you make it feels so much more gratifying. Read more>>
Hannah Miller
I feel that I have developed resilience through a combination of factors, such as a strong work ethic, a willingness to take risks, and the ability to adapt to changing circumstances. Additionally, facing and overcoming challenges in the course of building and growing a business and as an Interior Designer can also contribute to resilience. Time has also provided opportunities for reflection and learning from my past mistakes. Lastly don’t give up! Don’t be discouraged if you face challenges along the way. Keep pushing forward, and don’t give up on your dream. Read more>>
Dupreea Williams
Honestly, my resilience comes from my childhood, teen parenthood and struggles. My childhood was rough, I saw my mother grow through so many challenges and struggles. Mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and financially. My mother journey of being a single mother was tough. 6 children, barely any help and being a young adult. Think about the mental and emotional wear and tear she experienced. At the time I could not understand but once I became a teen mother, I started to witness first hand the hardships of not having support with a child. My mental and emotional state was not equipped to nurture a child. I was still reliving trauma from my past, but I had to figure out how to give the love and care to this child and not focus on myself. As time went on, I had to come into the realization that either I sit here and cry about it or I build myself mentally. Read more>>
Isabel Brinck
My resilience comes from my spiritual development as a human being, and it has to do with understanding that everything that happens to us can serve for something better. This works if one has the right attitude towards life and doesn’t think that they deserve everything but that anything can happen and we must be prepared not to collapse in difficult moments. I believe that we can take life’s tough moments and come out strong, learn from suffering and know how to appreciate the smallest details that life gives us every day, as a gift. Read more>>
Liz Zorn
My parents always told me to never give up on my dreams and to work hard to achieve them…I knew from the time I was very young that I wanted to do something with cameras. It seemed obvious to me; always had. But it wasn’t the route that a lot of people in my life wanted me to take or supported me in. And it’s risky – I knew that. I had to start fighting for this career from a young age. I went through some really hard times in my life over the last handful of years, including the loss of a close family member, and that really changed a lot of my perspectives about life. I realized that nothing is guaranteed and we only have this one life to live – and it’s not a whole lot of time. Read more>>
Eduardo Rosas
My resilience comes from the moments in my life where I faced adversity. My grandmothers death, years of dealing with my fathers drug abuse, then eventually his death cornered me. These moments, plus many others, created the environment for my resilience to be exercised but more importantly, strengthened. Read more>>
Kierra Miller
When asked where do I get my resilience, there’s only one answer, my son. My son, Amir was born with a Congential Heart Defect in 2021. He has undergone two open heart surgeries and a number of procedures. Imagine watching your child have IVs, hooked to machines, having collapsed lungs, and the list can go and on and months later, he’s home, smiling, playing and just being a normal baby … it definitely made me resilient. It taught me that things are truly seasonal and you have to overcome any difficulty by any means necessary without much complaints. In life, we are dealt the cards, it’s up to us to chose how to play the hand. Read more>>
Michelle Stubbs
I know it’s the old know adage what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger but it is so true. From life’s knock backs big or small you learn, you grow, you build the resilience that those lessons teach you. Read more>>
Rugo Reefy
I believe my resilience came from the environment that I was brought up in. Poverty stricken, lack of resources, and the risk of becoming a product of which I come from. To add icing on the cake, it also comes from the ups and downs that I’ve faced as a young teen and adult. Hitting rock bottom with your back against the wall does something to your soul and mindset: you’re either going to fold or fight. I chose to be solid. Read more>>
