Stories & Perspectives on Resilience Building

We’ve shared some incredible stories of resilience below that we hope will help you on your journey towards building up your resilience.

Vicky Keisler

My resilience comes from the life lessons I’ve gathered through the ups and downs of my journey. Growing up in post-war Vietnam, I was raised by my grandmother after losing my parents at a young age. She taught me the value of kindness, patience, and hard work, and instilled in me a belief in Karma. Her wisdom shaped how I approach challenges, always reminding me to act with integrity and trust that good actions will bring good results. Read more>>

Christa Rosenkranz

I grew up attending and later working at an all girls’ horseback riding summer camp, led by strong women. We were taught the skills of what it meant to truly take care of animals, ourselves and each other. Ranch work is hard work. The well being of the animals always came first. If you can do something yourself that needs doing, you do it. If you can’t or don’t know, you ask for help and you learn. You are dependent on your team because no one person can do everything on a ranch. And your teammates and the animals all depend on you too, and that responsibility is important. It is good work that feels good at the end of the day. Some days are fun. Some days are hard. Some days are exhausting. There were days full of tears, days full of laughter, other days you fall off your horse but you get back up when you are able, keep going, and I learned that life just keeps going no matter what happens, Read more>>

I learned resilience at a young age. My dad was in the Marine Corps for 30 years, and didn’t retire until I was 14. When I was growing up, my dad was gone a lot on deployments—at one point, he had four deployments in three and a half years. Growing up as a military kid was simultaneously the best and hardest part of my childhood. I had to be resilient. I had to bounce back in the face of fear. I had to continue living my life in the midst of the unknown, with half of my parental unit across the globe. Read more>>

Dominique Scarimbolo

Our resilience I believe really comes from an overwhelming sense of confidence and determination in what we are trying to do. We not only have very strong morals and ethics that we follow, but overall just a strong sense of self and standing up for what we believe is right. And the reason we fight on everything we do, is because we refuse to be silent, because silence is a form of acceptance. And if you don’t challenge and fight back when things are wrong, you are choosing to accept it. Our mom has always been super independent, and always told us that we can accomplish what ever we put our mind to, and being as independent as what she was and just being a very strong female figure when we were growing up, it additionally instilled a sense of resilience in us that we have continued to develop and grow as we’ve lived our lives.  Read more>>

I never knew I had resilience until my divorce and being ambushed by my own blood family.
It was a moment that shattered my expectations and forced me to confront deep-seated wounds and betrayals. The pain was overwhelming, and I felt lost, questioning my worth and my place in the world. However, it was in the midst of this turmoil that I discovered something profound: my true identity in God. Read more>>

Jakquan Jackson

My resilience comes from no longer wishing and hoping but instead knowing that what I want is already done. I simply need to take actions aligned with my desires. Over time, I realized that resilience is the result of trusting myself, even in the face of resistance. I view resistance as an opportunity to confirm whether or not I truly believe in what I am doing, depending on how I respond to it. Read more>>

Thomas Yoxall

I grew up as the oldest of five kids, with four younger sisters. Our parent, unfortunately, struggled with alcoholism and was also physically and verbally abusive. To protect my sisters from the brunt of her anger, I would provoke her, hoping she’d direct it at me instead. This continued until I was sixteen. During those years, I made a promise to myself: I would never give up, and I would never let anything or anyone break me. Read more>>

Joan M. Wood

My resilience really comes from a deep passion for pushing my limits and seeking adventure, especially in challenging outdoor conditions. I find a strong connection to nature through storm chasing and outdoor exploration. It’s not just about enduring tough environments, whether it’s heat, cold, rain, or snow, it’s about the thrill of capturing those unique, breathtaking moments that come from being out there. For me, every hike, every storm, is an opportunity to grow, challenge myself, and achieve something meaningful—whether it’s a perfect shot or a new milestone in my outdoor pursuits. My drive to constantly improve and my love for adventure fuel my resilience. The more I engage in these experiences, the stronger and more adaptable I become, and that keeps me pushing forward no matter what challenges I face in the Elements to make the perfect shot or the perfect adventure. Read more>>

Chromalogue Studios

The resilience in our brand is a result of our continuous drive to conquer the difficult things in life. Whether it’s building a business, learning skills, or pushing ourselves to grow in any aspect, we have a foundational belief that we are capable of all things and all levels of success as long as we continue to attack it. We have had major challenges occur in the history of our business, but as a team we always unified with a positive attitude and reaffirmed our ability to overcome the challenges. As a result, we’ve been able to build a brand that represents our resilience and be a successful photography/videography team! Read more>>

Krista Jones

Resilience, for me, stems from three core areas of my life: childhood, addiction recovery, and defiance.

Growing up, my father’s career meant we moved every 2 to 3 years. Without siblings, I had to rely on myself for consistency. Each move taught me critical skills: how to adapt quickly, accept impermanence, assess new environments for safety, and forge authentic connections. My parents largely let me learn from my experiences, and when they didn’t, my defiant nature often led me to push boundaries anyway. I’ve always been drawn to challenges—not out of recklessness, but because I needed to feel experiences firsthand. While this trait hasn’t always served me well, it’s been instrumental in building my self-confidence and resilience. I was never afraid to get hurt or fail; it was always about the experience. Read more>>

Attorney Te D. Smith, Esq.

I believe my resilience comes from the challenges I faced growing up. From kindergarten through eighth grade, I struggled with illiteracy. Every day was a battle to keep up in school, and I constantly felt like I was falling behind. It was frustrating and, at times, discouraging, but it also taught me something valuable: perseverance. Read more>>

Yuki French

Probably from the many years it took me to overcome the sadness from the loss of my mother who died at 38 from cancer when I was 13. When she died, I felt like the solid ground behind me just fell away. My mother had been the center of gravity for my older sister, younger brother, and me. My father’s focus, like for many Japanese men, especially then, had been on his career until my mom died. After she died, he and our relatives did their best to take care of us, but no one was up to the task of being able to help us process our grief. My father just wanted us to focus on school. He was good at keeping us physically well and fed, but he was unable to be there for me in the emotional way I needed at the time. For years after that I feel like I was going through the motions of life without feeling any solid sense of meaning.  Read more>>

Chelsea Brooks

My resilience stems from my Great-Great-Grandmother who, during the late turn of the century, had four children as a widowed wife and worked as a pioneering artist in Oregon. She carried herself into fame amongst prominent landholders and politicians at the White House when it was hung by President Roosevelt. Her history has fostered a deep interest in me to provide specialty items for kids to be able to enjoy the outside year-round. My mother was also raised by talented parents as performing musicians and later, partnering in a neighborhood instrument store. She has provided insight as to what it takes to raise children as a small business owner and how to balance the relationship between the two. This strong lineage of women in my family has empowered me with a happy, humble spirit to carry me forward no matter the challenge. Read more>>

David Prom

My family history has a lot to do with where my resilience came from. After many failures and hardships you learn how to overcome and move forward while gaining strength. My dad would always tell me that there is always a way to go through. He mentioned a metaphor that if there is a mountain, do not go around the mountain but go to the mountain and find the way to approach it, climb it. My dad was always creative and found solutions to obstacles no matter the circumstances and it is from him, my mom, and my past that have helped me gained the strength to be resilient. Read more>>

Tosha Gaines

My resilience comes from my father, a decorated Vietnam Veteran. After his exposure to Agent Orange during the war, he battled depression, diabetes, PTSD, and later dementia, yet he never let these challenges define him. He built a successful business, Gaines and Associates, while remaining an unwavering presence in our lives. Read more>>

Ethan Drone

In the context of songwriting and song production, my resilience comes from the desire to explore creativity through the medium of sound. I tend to think of resilience as an integral part of the process rather than some separate entity. A short explanation of my journey might help explain why.

Putting aside preconceptions of what skills a composer should possess, I consider resilience as a beneficial “trait”, especially when factoring in creativity as another likely requisite component to good songwriting. It’s probably not surprising that my songwriting style and approach have changed over several decades, and I would also hope that my continued pursuit of creativity and evolving musicianship have advanced my songwriting skills to a similar degree.  Read more>>

Nicole Culbreth

The primary source of my resilience stems from becoming a mother at the age of 16, a truly pivotal moment in my life. It was then that I realized it was my responsibility to create a pathway toward generational wealth for my family. As a mother, you take on many roles—protector, provider, counselor, advocate, and so much more. Raising a family requires you to balance these responsibilities with strength and determination. Read more>>

Karla Dipuglia

My resilience comes from the constant support and love of the people closest to me. As a creative person, I know how easy it is to be hard on yourself—our ambition can sometimes lead to disappointment when things don’t go as planned. Having a strong support system has been so important in helping me move forward, even during challenging times. Read more>>

Antonia López Montoya

I’m from Colombia, I’m from Latin America, I’m from the Global South, resilience is our way of living, it runs deep in our blood and fuels a shared sentiment of passion, of love for what’s ours and has been tried to be taken away, violated and exploited for consumption and fetish. Resilience is my parents creating a path of music, art and culture in a violent environment, resilience is my sister’s opinionated voice resonating in my head time and time again to stand up for what’s right, to fight for my art, for my politics, for my community. Resilience is waking up every day in a city that has been hit hard, but that has known how to rebuild itself, almost from scratch, with the strength of the people living in it.  Read more>>

Mar Mcintyre

What brings me to the word resilience?
When I’m in my workshop I have complete control of my environment refurbishing and creating furniture art. It helps me adapt to stressors, maintaining psychological well-being in the face of adversity.
I get to plan the way a piece of furniture starts and how it’s going to end up.
There’s a whole ritual behind it. Beginning with the cleansing, operation of repair, sanding, painting, staging and photography. Read more>>

Charlena Hayes

My resilience comes from hope, prayer, and seeing the results of pushing through tough situations. Managing, overcoming, then learning from past failures and setbacks has taught me to keep moving forward no matter what. Resilience comes from personal experience and not being afraid to fail. Read more>>

Robin Bogue

Resilience is more than just a word to me; it’s a way of life instilled in me from a young age. I witnessed resilience firsthand as my family members overcame challenges and embraced life despite setbacks. They are my guiding lights.
My Grandmother, Peggy Bogue, endured a lifetime of surgeries due to a childhood accident, yet she never let that slow her down. She lived life to the fullest as an entertainer, educator, and caretaker, using her cane not as a crutch but as a prop in her joyful performances of Frank Sinatras, New York, New York. Read more>>

Brianna Richer

When I think of the word resilience, I see the image of a spiral. Life is always offering opportunities to experience, learn, and expand. At times, you find yourself in a tight coil. You might feel so constricted that it seems like you’re completely stuck. However, as you take each incremental step forward, the coil simultaneously unfolds. You breathe a little easier. You discover the needed support through people, places, and experiences. With more space your perspective widens, and new ideas are born. This unfolding process allows for the expansion of your sense of self and how you choose to meet your world. The expansion that makes you feel more and more whole. Read more>>

Katia Munoz

I grew up watching my parents turn our home into the business they had at the time. That experience taught me that many things can happen beyond my control, but the one thing I do have control over is my attitude. Now, I see every challenge as an opportunity to learn. Read more>>

Danae Day

My resilience comes from being driven by a clear sense of purpose: to consistently deliver value, no matter the circumstances. I always look forward to being better than I was yesterday and that allows me to strive for greatness. I view challenges as opportunities for growth, not setbacks. Every obstacle I face is a chance to learn and create new boundaries. This mindset has been vital in navigating situations and maintaining my everyday roles of being a mom, a student, an employee, and an entrepreneur. Read more>>

Teia Goodwin

Resilience is a muscle that God nurtured in me through the exercise of affliction and hardship. When I reflect on my life, thus far, nothing has come easy. I have made countless mistakes along the way, but God’s mercy and grace have sustained me. All things considered, it’s been a beautiful struggle and life lesson of learning to endure to overcome. Read more>>

Staci Morris

My resilience comes from a balance of heart and determination – a combination of nurturing my inner creativity and tackling challenges with strategic, purposeful actions. It’s deeply rooted in my ability to adapt, create, and persevere through life’s challenges while not losing sight of my values. Making purpose-driven decisions, having the courage to build, executing a clear brand vision, and being deeply connected to moments of joy and wellness are central aspects of my resilience. It’s not just about pushing through difficulty but about transforming challenges into opportunities for growth and alignment. Read more>>

Xochilt Ruvalcaba

I definitely pull strength and resilience from life experiences throughout my childhood and young adulthood. Used to think a in frame of mind where I came from up from nothing but as I’ve begin to look in a different perspective. I now realize that even though I had minimal material Opportunities as a child and went through very much trauma. Each one of those experiences allowed me to gain perspective,each moment to help me to teach myself the tools I will need later in life. Read more>>

Katie Mancuso

My resilience comes from two things: an unwavering support system and my connection to my higher self. From a young age, I learned the core of resilience through adversity. My mother broke cycles of generational trauma, and witnessing her strength shaped my own ability to persevere. From age 7 to 9, I lived with an alcoholic who was verbally and physically abusive to her. Even at that young age, I relied on my natural optimism and survival instincts. When my mother found the courage to leave and embrace true independence, I saw firsthand what resilience looks like—strength without losing compassion. Read more>>

Crissi Rice

My resilience comes from the foundation laid by my parents, who, despite not having much, always found a way to make it work. They showed me how to persevere with determination, resourcefulness, and faith. Their example taught me to give my best in everything I do, no matter the circumstances. I also draw strength from my relationship with God, who provides me with guidance, purpose, and the unwavering belief that even in the toughest times, I can rise above and keep moving forward. Together, these influences have shaped my ability to face challenges with grace and grit. Read more>>

Monica Mclaughlin

I am an immigrant to this country. I am originally from Oakville, Ontario. My family on both sides come from a long line of resilient immigrants in Europe. My mom’s side shipwrecked on an island way up north-east Canada coming over from Britian, where my mother grew up living a farming rural lifestyle on a small, remote island. Her grandfather became a lobster fisherman, having her dad, my cousins, and uncles continue on his path. Read more>>

Giuliana Brandon

I had a very difficult childhood that made me who I am today. I grew up in a dysfunctional family and had to battle with the challenges of sexual abuse at a very young age. What I describe now as a very dystopian upbringing fueled my desire to build a different future for myself where I created peace and stability. As I pushed through, I always reminded myself that nothing lasts forever, not the bad things…not even the good things. Read more>>

Tony Kerrnaja

Having been an entrepreneur for 13 years, resilience has become second nature. Over the years, I’ve learned that being an entrepreneur often means being the person who has to solve the problem when there’s no one else in the company who can, and often no budget to hire outside help. This forces you to develop a problem-solving mindset and an unwavering determination to move forward, no matter the challenge. Every obstacle becomes an opportunity to learn, adapt, and grow, which is where my resilience truly comes from. Read more>>

Stephanie Eady

Resilience isn’t something you inherent. It is learned. I wholeheartedly believe that the resilience I do have has come from surviving all of the bad days and all of my failures. We all have them. I have been brought to my knees more times than I can count. I just try to keep reminding myself that these moments are necessary for growth. I have always been a strong willed and determined person, but I am still human. When things go all wrong, when it feels like life is kicking you while you’re down sometimes you just have to embrace it and appreciate it. Give thanks for those moments. It’s okay to have bad days, give yourself a short period of time to accept it. Then use it as fuel to rise up and overcome. Keep getting up even you it feels like you can’t. When those failures or bad days knock you you down, take a little break and prepare to come back even better. Read more>>

Nicole Notter

Resilience is the strength within us that whispers “keep going” even when the world feels like it is crumbling around us. It isn’t about bouncing back, it’s about rising stronger.

I believe I got my resilience from a combination of personal growth and the understanding of I am not alone. I found it in the decision to choose myself every single day.

I chose sobriety and that has been my greatest teacher in life. It has shown me to confront my pain, embrace vulnerability and rediscover the person I was always meant to be. Read more>>

Emma B

Resilience, that skill came from my parents. Both overcame tremendous obstacles in their lives. Sure, they could have quit and through in the towel, but they did not. Even when trials would come my way, they would have me evaluate myself and problem solve. And I appreciate them for that. Everything in my life that comes and thrives off purpose is from my parents. Read more>>

Alexandra Laliberte

My Type 1 Diabetes. There’s nothing in my life that tests, pressures, teaches, and humbles me more than this chronic illness. This isn’t a sob story, nor is it meant to highlight how much I suffer—quite the opposite. I’ve learned so much from living with it.

Day-to-day life with Type 1 Diabetes is trial and error, and honestly, you fail more often than you succeed. Sugar levels are affected by everything—and I mean everything: how long you sit, stand, or walk; what you eat; whether you’ve slept or stayed hydrated; the protein/fat/carb ratio in anything you consume (yes, even that new restaurant you were excited to try); new activities you take on; the difference between aerobic and anaerobic exercises; whether you meditate; the monthly hormonal roller coaster; if you’re sick, cold, or hot—the list goes on. Read more>>