Resilience is often the x-factor that differentiates between mild and wild success. The stories of most of the wildly successful folks in our community have exhibit an extreme degree of resilience and we’ve come to believe that if our goal is to help our community achieve great outcomes we have to help build resources and knowledge around how one can become more resilient.
Leesha Archie
My resilience was forged through fire. Life has thrown me countless curveballs, from car accidents to pancreatic cancer. These trials have reshaped my perspective on business, nonprofit work, and the precious gift of life. Read More>>
Billy Dunston
I got my resilience from the military and Brazilian jujitsu. There is a mental toughness developed by willfully putting yourself into difficult situations. No 14-hour day on a movie set will ever be as challenging as an hours-long gunfight over uneven terrain. While that is an extreme circumstance, We all have something devastating, but we are still here. Divorce, death of a loved one, etc. Eventually, we bounce back it’s human nature. Resilience in the film industry is one of the best skills to develop. You’ll hear hundreds of “No” before you get one “Yes” and when that’s done, the cycle starts over. There are no guarantees but it’s done for the love of the art and it’s a long game. Read More>>
Radha Subramanian
“Throughout the journey of a dancer, one faces various challenges that tests one’s resilience, but I believe for me the strength comes from a combination of factors.I have always had a strong sense of purpose and a desire to overcome obstacles. When faced with adversity, I ride on the wings of Grace of God and Guru Mandala. It’s this inner fire to spread our tradition that fuels my resilience and keeps me going. Additionally, the unwavering support from my family, Mohanji – founder of HSTD and loved ones provides me with the strength to persevere. Read More>>
Edit B Kiss
It was a long journey. I had a constant fight in me. One part of me wanted adventure and was extremely curious about everything while the other part of me was introverted and scared. So many times my intuitive spiritual part brought me into tricky situations when my ego part completely freaked out. I could not stop this because I felt bored without exploration. Eventually, I ended up with panic attacks and other physical syndromes. I knew I had to find a solution to these issues, I needed to find a natural cure because taking tranquilizers were not my kind of option. Read More>>
Mary-Catherine LaBossiere
I believe my resilience has developed overtime, starting in childhood when I started playing and competing in tennis. Tennis is as much, if not more, a mental sport than it is a physical sport. Of course, physical conditioning is how you will get to the top, but the strategy and composure the sport takes truly forces you to become more resilient to every mishap, every error, every amazing play by your opponent. As a singles player, all the responsibility falls on you to perform and to overcome the struggles you have throughout a match. Read More>>
Sierra Miller
The resilience I possess is derived from the powerful influences of my mother and grandmother. Their unwavering strength and refusal to give up in the face of life’s challenges have served as guiding lights, providing me with role models, a supportive upbringing, valuable life lessons, emotional support, and inherited traits. Their examples have shaped my ability to persevere, instilled confidence in facing obstacles, and remind me of my own inner strength. Their resilience continues to inspire and empower me as I navigate my own path in life. Read More>>
Corian Love
Both of my grandparents are from Mississippi, and both are able to recall segregation and being treated horribly simply for wanting a better life for themselves and their family. So they moved to Memphis, TN and planted roots in the heart of North Memphis, by purchasing a lovely home in the Evergreen Terrace district.
My grandparents never settled, nor did they ever get so comfortable that they became stagnant. They instilled this same determination and zest for life into their children, into my mother. Who in turn instilled it into me. Read More>>
Dvid
My family, the way I was brought up and knowing the sacrifices that so many have made in order for me to have the opportunities I have, keep me pushing everyday. My name is Dvid (dah-beed) I’m a recording artist- my grandmother brought me from Medellin Colombia to Jacksonville Florida when I was 7 and this city has raised me ever since. Read More>>
Raw Talent
I get my resilience from always being the underdog. Ever since a little kid growing up with my brother, and cousins I’ve always walked around with a chip on my shoulder, and it’s probably gonna always be there ! Just because of how I grew up, I have a lot to prove. Read More>>
Cydney Boudreaux
My faith in God gives me resilience. Every step of this journey i feel like i have got knocked down but God has put me back on my feet and blessed me to be in a better situation than what i was in. i have been in some rooms and worked with some people i didn’t even think i would ever be in. My resilience come from my faith all things work out for the good of those that serve him and i just have to keep pushing and doing the work ! Read More>>
Beverly Williams
I believe I Foster a positive outlook on life by focusing on gratitude, optimism, and self-belief. I practice reframing challenges as opportunities for growth and learning. it has taken me some time though I have developed a mindset that sees setbacks as temporary and I have grown to believe in my ability to overcome obstacles. Read More>>
Tyana Conway
My resilience comes from my life. Everything I’ve been through has made me the woman and business owner I am today. I could write a book about my struggles, sit here and complain about everything but all I really have is that I’m grateful for it all because I’m stronger because of it. I’m able to handle the obstacles that continue to come with life and the obstacles that pop up with my business with so much grace because of the resilience that lives inside of me. Read More>>
Gina D’Andrea-Penna
Resilience, in my opinion, is a complex weave of personal experience and inner drive. For me, the first threads of experience were spun by my family – particularly, from experiences with my sister, who has Down syndrome and various medical issues. Watching my sister and parents persevere rubbed off on me. My sister’s pervasive positive attitude rarely waned despite countless doctor’s trips and procedures, which taught me that facing adversity with a smile ultimately makes difficulties less daunting. Read More>>
Semline Singleton
My resilience draws its deep wellspring from my Haitian heritage. Rooted in the vibrant tapestry of my culture, I have inherited a legacy of unwavering strength and hope. From an early age, my parents instilled in me a profound understanding of our people’s history, teaching me that resilience is not merely a trait but a defining characteristic that flows through our veins. Read More>>
Tijuana Johnson
My resilience comes from a series of internal and external characteristics. I’m here for starters; it’s in my DNA. As a black woman born in the United States I, know my ancestors overcame many adversities which allowed the bloodline to continue. I would be doing them and myself a disservice to give up when times get tough. As far as the external factors, surviving lots of hurt and disappointments, having a few individuals speak life into me and having faith in God has kept me going. Every day I’m allowed to wake up I know there is a reason I’ve been given another chance. I know my greater is coming. Read More>>
Roberto Nieves
Well, let me share a personal story with you. Despite my current image of being a comfortable and outgoing individual, it hasn’t always been this way. Growing up, I faced both a learning disability and a speech disability. I was that kid who struggled with stuttering, finding it difficult to even sound out a complete word. People would stare and make fun of me, and even adults didn’t always exhibit the patience I needed, which was evident from their expressions of frustration. Read More>>
Leslie Catlett
My resilience is a reflection of my late grandmother. She was a true example of dignity and strength. My grandmother’s resiliency was a deep-seated faith and acknowledgment of how to live and have faith, even in the hard times. She loved her family deeply and passed down the ability to stay self-assured and diligent at any stage of life. Life challenges and adversities teach lessons and stimulate growth. I learned how to persist and persevere, as my grandmother gracefully demonstrated. Read More>>
Sophia Franzone
My family is my anchor. They ground and support me through the roughest of times. They push me to be the best I can be and taught me the true meaning of strength. Even when I feel like quitting, the unconditional love they show keeps me going because I know that if I ever fail, I still have them. It is comforting and selfless, and for that, I am grateful. Read More>>
Beverlee McMillen
This may sound a little strange, but I think it all started from the moment I was born. I had a fight in me after the doctor told my mom that I had an 80% chance of being brain damaged from having the umbilical cord stuck around my neck for 2 and a half minutes. Luckily, I overcame those odds! I have always been a strong minded individual since childhood. Read More>>
Shilpa Lewis
My resilience derives from a deep understanding that I am connected to something much greater than myself. Growing up with immigrant Indian parents in the 70s, I confronted the challenges of dual cultures, a patriarchal society, and forging my path in a male-dominated technology field. These experiences have instilled in me an unwavering determination and an inner knowing that I can weather any storm. Read More>>
Gil Acevedo
For me, resilience comes from family, fitness, and fortification from a lifetime of challenge and adversity. But first let’s define what resilience means. To me, it means the capacity to persist through challenge and adjust to change. My family and loved ones are the most important thing to me, and it is from them that a lot of my resilience stems. Nothing beats family, like Torreto from Fast and the Furious always says. It’s our love for others that makes human beings capable of feats beyond ourselves. For my family, I am driven to overcome the hardest of challenges. They inspire me to make this world a better place, so that the next generation can pick up where I left off. Read More>>
Evangeline (Eva) Bundi
I draw my resilience from the incredible women in my family who have faced immense challenges and still managed to demonstrate strength and love. For instance, my paternal grandmother, despite enduring domestic abuse, found solace in the art of cooking and used it as a way to show us affection and care. Her resilience in the face of adversity taught me the transformative power of love and the ability to find joy even in difficult circumstances. Read More>>
Sarah Swanson
What a great question. I had to stop and really think about this. I believe the best explanation I can come up with for my resiliency is from lived experiences. I do think resilience comes more natural to some and can be taught to others. For me, I think I have always been resilient even before I knew what it meant. Even with that, I can contest to the fact it hasn’t always been easy to be resilient. Most of the time it is the very opposite of what you feel naturally. Read More>>
Khristin Isley
First and foremost, I have to describe resilience and resilience to me, is being able to recover or dad and adjust to life situation that’s taken place. downfalls or some may look at it as failures can all be a correlation to test ones resiliency. Over all else, I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. My lord has promised this and it’s a verse I abide by, daily. I believe I’ve been created via divine and purpose.However, you can only imagine, this also brings life tests. I’ve been tested in many forms. Physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. No matter how hard one tries to prepare, life is very unexpected. Read More>>
April Stuck
Being a steward of the land can be a daunting task. Climate change is bringing unforeseen weather patterns and has us breaking records each year. With so much out of our control, it’s easy to get overwhelmed and feel that the task of regenerating a depleted space is insurmountable. However, each and every day I’m reminded that life is resilient. The plants and the bees and the butterflies all respond to the changing conditions and find new ways to thrive. Of course, we have to help them along at times but despite difficult conditions, they find a way. Read More>>
Margaret Burns
I get resilience from the inspiring colleagues + clients with whom I work. I also call on my own inner strength, which I have been cultivating over the years through Kundalini yoga, meditation + traveling to spiritual places around the planet to access the greatest energy for support. I am lucky to also have such a beautifully supportive + understanding family. Resilience is something I teach, as it is essential as we move into the more intense energies on the planet. Read More>>
Dr. LaTarsha Holden
My resilience was developed after I overcame a life of poverty and homelessness. The mental shift was the hardest obstacle I had to overcome. Being homeless in the streets of Atlanta for four years, with six children, uneducated and underemployed at thirty-five years old I had to learn the art of discipline. Read More>>
Kerry Pastine
As a child, I was diagnosed with led, mercury and other metal poisonings, resulting in a myriad of symptoms and illnesses. This was in the late 60’s and, at the time, our society wasn’t tapped into alternative medicines. My mom had her hands full with 6 kids, a daycare and an abusive husband. She wasn’t allowed to drive or leave the house unless my dad took her to the grocery store, the bank or church. Read More>>
Fonda Sloan
My resilience come from my mom. I watched her over the years overcome many obstacles that was placed in her way and she handled each one with style and grace..She made it look easy to conquer which gave me the strength to keep going and strive for greatness. My mom had the support of my dad but she moved as if she had to do everything on her own. Watching her move the way she did helped me build my resilience, I would always say “if my mom could do that so can I” this mentality pushed me through many obstacles and prepared me for the world today. Read More>>
Danielle Wilburn
My resilience comes from my mother. She taught me about faith in Jesus and that opened my eyes to realize nothing is impossible. Yes, life will give you trials but you can always overcome obstacles with faith. And not just faith in God or whichever religion you believe in but faith in yourself and the will to never give up. Read More>>
Norman Kary
When you’re a visual artist in a field of thousands you have to love what you do and overcome any obstacles that come your way.My art work has alway driven me to more and do the best work I can; otherwise, you’re waisting your time and energy when you should be finding something else to do.I’ve received many rejection letters from juried shows. I look at this way.The jurror is just one person with his or her idea of what good art should be included in a show. There are predigest and agendas that play a part in every jurror. You simply have to have less of thin skin and presevere. Read More>>
