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.
Oluchi Nwokocha
My mother. My mother is freaking awesome. My mom came to this country with my dad from Nigeria in the 80’s. I’ve watched them raise seven kids from a small two-bedroom townhouse in San Jose to the six bedroom house we now have in Sacramento. I have watched my mother raise seven kids while obtaining two different Master’s degrees. I have watched her fail, persevere, and triumph. My mother continuously shows me that nothing is impossible with a little grit and a lot of prayer. I would not be the woman I am today if it wasn’t for my mother’s grace, ambition and determination. Whenever I feel life slapping me in the face and I think I cannot go on, I think about how hard it was for my mom to be in this country not knowing the customs and struggling with the language. My mom inspires me to keep going. She inspires me to pursue my dreams with pure unadulterated ferocity. My mom is the dopest woman I know! Read more>>
Sarah Kleinhans
We weren’t rich but we weren’t poor. Living on the coast of New Hampshire, I had a great childhood but it wasn’t because my parents had money to do all sorts of things, it was, rather, because they found opportunities to give us wonderful experiences. For example, timeshare condos would give not only small tvs, toasters, gold coins, and other treasures for going to their presentations, but they would give us free meals in luxurious settings. My dad would find places to go and we would pile into our station wagon to visit gorgeous lakefront or mountain condos. To be fair, he was truly also looking at potential vacation opportunities so he wasn’t just in it to waste the time of the salesperson. He had a good job and suddenly one day in high school, he came home and told us the company car was going back. Not only did he lose his job due to the company going bankrupt, but he lost his pension that he was counting on for retirement. Read more>>
Jamie Simes-Bonner
My resilience is rooted in the incredible example set by my mother and strengthened by my faith in Jesus. She was a single mother of three children, balancing the demands of parenthood while pursuing her college education. Despite the challenges, she graduated, became a registered nurse, found love and got married. Her perseverance and unwavering commitment to our family have deeply influenced me, teaching me the importance of hard work, dedication, and never giving up, no matter the obstacles. My faith in Jesus has profoundly influenced my resilience. It offers me strength, guidance, and a sense of peace, helping me navigate life’s challenges with a positive outlook. Additionally, my husband and daughter are constant sources of support and inspiration. Their love and encouragement give me the strength to face challenges head-on and keep pushing forward. My family is my anchor, and they motivate me to bring my best to every event I plan, ensuring that I overcome any hurdles and create unforgettable experiences for my clients. Read more>>
Adam Martinez
I get my resilience from my parents and the neighborhood I grew up in. Being able to adapt and face challenges and obstacles head on Read more>>
Kaila Matthews
Resilience is an inside job. Losing my mother at a young age taught me the power of a good rebound. I wholeheartedly believe that even bad things that happen only happen for me and not to me to propel me closer to my north star. Read more>>
Greg Konsor
Growing up on a small farm in Central Minnesota was my first experience. I worked a large garden with my grandma, picked rocks on freshly worked fields for a week straight, stacked hay on a hay rack and then in a 100-degree hay loft, and chased livestock that broke through the fence after a summer storm. After such experiences as a young adolescent, one does not give up easily when facing obstacles. Secondly, I spent two years in the Peace Corps in a rural village in the tropics of Belize, Central America, which hardened my resiliency and skill set. The village had no electricity or water, and I had to take a one-hour bike ride to get supplies. Learning the Spanish language was also challenging. Looking back, the experiences were difficult but oh-so rewarding. Read more>>
Mel Yackley
One of the things I am most proud of is my resilience. In fact, because I have felt it and seen it in action, throughout seemingly the darkest of times in my life, it is one of the reasons I trust myself so deeply. I gained resilience from a multitude of life experiences, one of them stemming from a lifelong commitment to recovery from addiction. I have been in recovery from drugs and alcohol since 2011, and I have maintained this lifestyle throughout some fairly traumatic and stressful life events. A string of single days put together to comprise nearly 13 years at this point in recovery, takes a lot of work, commitment, and brutal honesty – not only with others but with oneself. In 2017, my best friend and mother was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer; by the time it was diagnosed it had already metastasized (spread) to her brain. I watched my parent go from full independence one day to being unable to work or even complete a task such as making a pot of coffee independently. We lost her 7 months after she fell ill, right in the middle of the holidays – December 3, 2017. During those 7 months, I became a fierce advocate for her and my dad in navigating her healthcare. I also continued to work full time, three hours away from my parents, while managing her care and also somehow trying to come to grips with what I knew to be true – that she would be gone within the year at age 64. I had just turned 33. Read more>>
Stoney Love
I grew up with a grandmother, who raised me, that used a walker to walk every where she went. You’d think that it would’ve deterred her from thriving and living a quality life, well it didn’t. She cooked most, if not all, of the meals in our house for five people daily. Washed dishes, did laundry, took care of herself all while enduring dialysis weekly. Seeing her resilience gave me hope, drive, and first hand confirmation that nothing can stop you but you. Decades later I would be hit by a car riding a moped, rendered unable to walk. The first person that came to mind was Mama and her strength. Facing this healing journey alone was definitely a challenge, but one I could thrive through. I invoked the strength of the woman I watched and revered for years, and still do! To this day, I carry the strength of Matilda with me on the journey of life! Read more>>
Tom Mancuso
I have faced some incredible list challenges such as the death of my father at 21 and a serious motorcycle accident at 28 which left me with a traumatic brain injury and a leg amputation. I have learned if you do reuse to give up you can overcome enormous obstacles. Learning others who have been successful in the same experiences and leading with kindness for others helps propel your progress. Read more>>
Yevhen Sentiabov
I believe life experiences and challenges directly impact our character and qualities like resilience.
My mother was raising me and my younger brother all by herself. She was working two jobs to provide food and pay the bills. To be able to help her, I found my first summer job at the age of 14th. Since then, I have been working at least partially. While studying at the university I met my future spouse and we stayed in that city building our small family after graduating. When in 2014, Russia occupied my home – Crimea, I was not able to go there anymore and visit my mom, she had been living under Russian occupation for 4 years. Only in 2018, finally, we were able to bring my mom from the occupied Crimea. Meanwhile, my younger brother was living in the liberated from Russian-supported collaborators Luhansk region.My childhood and war which started in 2014 contributed to building my character including resilience to stress and challenging life situations.
In 2019, my wife and I moved to the US and opened a new page in our life book with new experiences and challenges. Read more>>
Charlene Gladney
My resilience is deeply rooted in my faith, which teaches me that all things work together for good for those who love the Lord and are called to fulfill His purposes. Throughout my life, both personally and professionally, I have faced numerous setbacks, but God has always guided me through them. Each challenge taught me valuable lessons and helped me grow stronger. As a child with braces on my legs and the looming threat of surgery, I endured teasing from other children. However, I learned perseverance and discovered that with practice, I could run without falling. I also witnessed my mother’s determination as she earned a BS in nursing and a master’s degree to become the first family nurse practitioner at the Guilford County Health Department, despite facing significant discrimination. During my college years, I learned to overcome depression, a skill that proved invaluable later when I faced postpartum depression with the help of mental health professionals. I also learned to manage and leverage my extreme ADHD, using it as a springboard to help thousands of youth who grew up in similar circumstances (poor, single-parent homes) through the founding and development of Operation Xcel. Read more>>
Patrecia Moore
I believe resilience is in my DNA. Being a Black woman from the South, especially from a small rural North Carolina town, where opportunities were scarce, I had to embody resilience at a young age. There were few job opportunities, so I had to accept the options or strive for more. I made a conscious decision to strive for more, become a change maker, to show others that no matter where you come from, anything is possible. For me, resilience it about pushing forward, breaking barriers, and creating paths for other to follow. This comes from hard work, taking the time to learn your craft and/or trade, determination, and a vision that you can overcome any obstacle. Read more>>
Elsie Ureta
I had to build my resilience growing up with my mom and brother. My mom raised us a single mother where she struggled to put food on the table and made sure we got an education going to high school. She worked long hours at her jobs to make sure we were financially stable paying rent, groceries and providing us on her own. Seeing my mother go through so many obstacles growing up made me realize that I can push through anything that life throws at me. Read more>>
Robert Rossi
Resilience is as much providential as it is experiential and inspirational. Each one of us experiences a tremendous life journey to the point of allowing new experiences; it only makes sense that the life we have previously lived conducts itself as such. I feel that I receive my resilience from the energies around me and that it works with my existing energy to form the inspirations I need to overcome adversity. It is important therefore, I believe, to maintain good energy. And to remain mindful of a universe and energies at play that are active all around us. Read more>>
Carlos Zelaya
I love my family, but I don’t like them very much. Growing up my family was dysfunctional and it has continued into my adulthood. Throughout my upbringing I began to understand that as much as I wanted things to improve, they wouldn’t and I would essentially be on my own. Of course I had my friends, whom I always considered more of a family, and I hoped to one day have a family of my own, but my formative years taught me to rely on myself. As a working class kid I learned to work on my car because I had no other choice, I experimented with cooking once I moved out and now I think I am an excellent cook. When I was 18 I had what I would later find out was a kidney stone. I was living on my own with no insurance so I drove myself to the emergency room at County-USC, there I was told I probably had a stone but would have to wait for at least 6 hours to see a doctor. Read more>>
Nohemí Chávez
Any resilience I have is a gift from God, Yahweh. The more I got to know who God is, His love and really build a relationship with Him, I developed a strength that I didn’t know I had. Overcoming adversity becomes easier when you know that you are not walking this path alone, even if at times it feels like you are. I’ve always known I had to be strong, but through my relationship with God, I’ve realized that I don’t always have to have things together. I’m not supposed to. If I could handle everything by myself, then I wouldn’t need Him. Knowing that even in my weaknesses, even in my mess, I’m still loved and that he can carry whatever I’m willing to lay at His feet is a beautiful truth. I know I can overcome anything because I have that understanding that He’s fighting this battle with me and for me. Most importantly, that despite how dark things might seem, He will never leave me, nor forsake me and joy always comes in the morning. I can stand on this truth because I’ve seen it happen in my life over and over again. God had more than enough reasons to give up on me. But that’s what separates His love from man’s. He’s never given up on me, so when things are falling apart and I’m in darkness— I know I’ve been here before and that He’s been with me every step of the way. He is the one constant in my life. Once you experience true unconditional love, you can fight through anything. Read more>>
Natalia Almomani
My resilience comes from a mix of confidence and developing purpose through prayer! When you have a sense of purpose and you’re able to find meaning in life, you are able to accept change, focus on what you can control, have unwavering optimism, develop coping skills and are able to practice self-compassion. Read more>>
Pete J. Armstrong
I get resilience from never giving up. I find a way to overcome the next challenge. When you overcome, you grow, you learn, you transform. You build muscle, you become more fit. I may not always believe in myself but when I do I take action. I ask for help. I find a way forward. I have been through a lot, including never feeling like I belong, to struggling with addiction, and being a single father. For example, in grad school as a single father I was coping with stress with porn and casual sex. I had immense shame for these behaviors and lots of anxiety. I ended up getting several panic attacks over the course of a couple months that ultimately led me to therapy. In therapy, I found a way forward where I didn’t have use porn or sex to manage my ability to cope with my low self worth. And so, in 2014, I removed both porn and casual sex as a coping mechanism. Three months later I met a woman who would become my wife. We got married, I abstained from all things sexually that were holding me back. We had a child together but the blended family dynamic was tough on our marriage. We recieved counsel and marriage therapy and read several books but we agreed to divorce in 2020. The marriage was a gift, including recieving my daughter. Read more>>
Angela Maria Parra Toledo
Everything began with finding something that truly motivates and inspires me to keep going in this life. My purpose is to make the world a better place for all living beings through my art. I’ve discovered that spreading this positive energy is like spreading a virus. Even on the toughest days, I use various techniques to motivate myself, whether it’s mental tricks, physical activity, or even adjusting my body’s chemistry (with sun, a hug, etc) The key is to take that important first step without overthinking it, and everything else will fall into place. I like to say “Just throw yourself into the pool” Throw or push, but the first step always tends to be the one that needs to be fast, no time to overthink it. Read more>>
Tika von Mehren
In the middle of my junior year of high school my father passed away. I went to bed one night and the next morning my entire life changed. The shift was cosmic. Instantly my entire world was thrown into chaos. In less than twenty four hours my life had gone from teenage girl worrying about a junior prom date to not knowing if I would ever be able to stop crying. In the weeks and months that followed I was constantly told how strong I was. It was confusing to constantly be told I was strong when I felt the farthest thing from strong. As I got older I began to realize that what most people were trying to say was resilient I was however, at the time I didn’t think I had a choice but to be resilient. I could not rely on my mother or any other family members for guidance through the tragedy so I found my own way. There was definitely some disassociating going on and suppression of emotions, which through many years of therapy I have started to untangle thank goodness, but over all I look back and realize I also made the choice to find some joy and excitement to look forward to. The idea of things to come and the optimism of what my next adventure could be have always given me the ability to more easily adapt to every situation good or bad. I know I have already survived the worst. Read more>>
Shanae Strachan
I get my resilience from my parents, but in particular, my father, Stephen Strachan. Who, despite having me at the young age of 20 started his family and continued on to raise and provide for four children, while being a teacher, entrepreneur, youth leader, a basketball coach to hundreds of young men and women. I saw my father tirelessly and fearlessly overcome the odds, defeats, and life’s ups and down. He taught me to never give up and that I had the power to conquer all, and for that I am grateful. Read more>>
Ali Duncan
My father. He was raised in segregation and kept moving forward to grow his business and care for his family. Read more>>
Jesus Ibarra
I was born in a poor town and I grew up in a city town as poor as my place of birth. Since my early years I knew that If I wanted anything, I needed to work hard to get it. I have been working since I was ten years old and I have experienced a lot of solitude since childhood. I know that nothing is free. Those experiences helped me to develop my inner power. If I want anything it’s up to me and no one else. Read more>>
Logan Rackliff
I can say deeply, truthy, resolutely that I get 100% of my resilience from The Lord my God. My faith in Jesus Christ as my King and Savior has lead me to have limitless relationship of hope, joy and peace with God the Father. In prayer and in God’s word I find hope and steadfastness. I would be amiss to not mention the the support of my wife, brother’s and sisters in Christ and from my father, mother and grandparents, but I also know these are gifts from God and Him working through them. Read more>>
Alejandro Espaillat
I believe I get my resilience from several sources. Firstly, my family has always been a massive pillar of support for me. They’ve taught me the value of perseverance and shown me that even in difficult times, I can find strength through connection and encouragement. Secondly, my own experiences have shaped my resilience. Overcoming challenges in my personal and professional life has made me more adaptable, focused, and determined. Each obstacle has allowed me to learn and grow, helping me build a stronger foundation to handle future difficulties. Lastly, I find resilience through self-care and mindfulness practices. Whether boating, reading a good book, or praying, these activities help me recharge and maintain a positive mindset. My resilience comes from a combination of supportive relationships, life experiences, and personal practices that keep me grounded and focused. Read more>>
Emily Spencer
I am influenced by strong family matriarchs, including my Dutch and Danish grandmothers and a remarkable aunt, all of whom were hit by heavy weather in life, and all of whom endured their personal storms with grit, faith and extreme resilience. As a young woman, I was deeply moved by my uncle’s stories of my immigrant grandmother Eleanora Flink, who was a midwife during the German occupation of the Netherlands in World War II. While in midwifery school in Amsterdam as a young woman, she witnessed the mass deportation of Jews, and and her school sheltered a young Jewish girl. She then endured the Battle of Arnhem, a failed attempt by the Allies to liberate that city (as depicted in the award-winning 1977 film A Bridge Too Far). Refugees in their own country, she and the Flink family were forced to evacuate their Arnhem home on a day’s notice, with only their bicycles and a few belongings, and no where to go. After walking miles to the east, they eventually reached the town of Rheden. Stranded in an unfamiliar town, not yet rescued by brave British liberators and having no idea when or if that day would ever come, my resilient grandmother immediately put her gifts as a midwife to good use. She rode her bicycle in the middle of the night and often through pouring rain to the homes of expectant mothers. She delivered hundreds of babies under harsh circumstances and with severely limited resources, including as patients many fellow refugee women passing through the town. Read more>>
Malan B
Psalms 121:1-2 Read more>>
Jo Davis
My resilience comes from embracing creativity and the artistic process, which I discovered in the wake of profound loss and personal struggles. When I was 26, my father piloted a plane that crashed into the mountains of North Carolina, instantly killing himself, my mother, and my sister, the writer, Amanda Davis. We had been close and I was a young 26. A day wouldn’t go by without speaking to them. As the baby of the family, I had been dependent on the guidance of my parents and sister, relying on them as holders of some grand playbook of life. It was a devastating loss and over the years, I have run from it, ignored it, and ultimately grown to love and respect it. Over time, I leaned into creating and the creative process to heal from the accident and its aftermath. When the accident happened, I was living in San Francisco with my boyfriend, using my sister’s garage as my painting studio. After the accident, I moved back to the east coast to be near friends and family, married my boyfriend, and had three children. I always found jobs where I could use my creative talents in the art and design world. However, I was also avoiding facing my sorrow by suppressing it and becoming more and more medicated. I numbed myself with alcohol, weed, and increasingly high doses of antidepressants. Our brains can’t process a loss that complex all at once. The grief is too enormous. My work in the art world felt rewarding, but I was also detached from it in some ways. Read more>>
Sydney Sorenson
We lived with my grandfather growing up and he was the epitome of resilience and humility. Even though his parents were poor, he worked hard as a welder to provide for his family. He almost lost his leg in a steel mill accident, yet somehow I never heard him complain. Despite setbacks, he remained youthful, was an avid reader, incredibly punctual, active, and always present. Hearing stories and watching him navigate life’s challenges taught me to bounce back and adapt to change. Above all, Grandpa Vern always made time for me and was the first to celebrate my wins. I have a bell he made hanging in my kitchen that rings in memory of him. Read more>>
Charlene McKnight
Today, I get my resiliency from my trauma and the need to use my experiences and knowledge to help others. Hence, Four Giving Hearts came to be. Four Giving Hearts (FGH), a 501(c)(3) organization, was founded June 18, 2018, in the memory of RJ McKnight and Jon Paul McKnight, two of the “four” giving hearts. The logo colors represent the birthsto Read more>>
Eli Gerson
We had to find our resilience before we opened and then shortly after. Resilience comes from careful planning, research and education. Going into an industry which was already on the downslide from its peak a few years prior, we knew there was risk. The brewery/taproom model absolutely exploded in the late 2000s and continued through 2015 or so. That meant a lot of competition and the requirement to set our quality and customer service goals extremely high. We spent the better part of 4 years writing business plans, rewriting them, going to school, working for other breweries and talking with our peers to ensure we had as much knowledge as we could to compete in a crowded market. This research helped us choose our location as we knew there was a lot of opportunity in Grand Junction as the brewery scene was still in its infancy. Shortly after breaking ground, COVID hit. And after we opened, we complied with health and safety standards which meant all our planning was cut by 50% due to capacity limitations. But, we kept our quality high of product and business high to weather the pandemic. Read more>>
Itzayana, Alejandra Montoya
We recently took a trip to our hometown in Mexico and it reminded us of the resilient lineage of women that we come from. We have been blessed with resilience as our inheritance, but it goes beyond that, too. Being immigrants ourselves, like many others who migrate out of necessity, we have been in situations where we just have to be resilient. Times are a little different now, though, and we can choose to use resiliency to thrive, not only survive. Building resilience as a tool for thriving involves developing a sense of community, becoming self-aware of your physical, mental, and spiritual needs, and knowing how to best tend to them, and having faith. Whether it’s faith in yourself, the outcome, the universe, the sun, or whatever you choose to believe in. Read more>>
