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.
Tae May
I’ve spent most of my life taking care of myself. I didn’t have the best home life and it was often hard for me to imagine having much of a life for myself at all. Once I was finally free of the abusive home I was living in, I was able to start building a life I never thought possible. Once I gained that independence, I never wanted to lose it again. I continued to work harder to become a better person in order to maintain that freedom. I believe that is where my resilience came from. I took my pain and turned it into my power. Read More>>
DeSerra Whitfield
My resilience is a testament to my mother’s teachings. She instilled in me the belief that the power within me is the driving force that propels me forward, encouraging me to relinquish control as nothing in life is ever perfect. She taught me to enter situations with the right mindset, and even when things veer off course, to unearth the strength to persevere. It became clear that fleeing from problems only led to a recurring pattern, the same problem would surface, just dressed in a different scenario. Rather than looking for an escape route, she emphasized the importance of tackling problems head-on, and finding solutions. Her guidance has been instrumental in shaping my approach to life’s challenges, fostering a resilience that continues to grow with each passing day. Read More>>
Chris McClellan
I think we become more resilient with experience. We can see that through each trial or obstacle, we grow and learn what we value. The more I come to know myself, the more I trust myself. I spend less time on what’s not important to me, and focus more on what is. I enjoy my life more, and I appreciate my self and the experiences I’ve had that make me who I am today. Read More>>
Keezy
I have a lust for success. I want to be able to be in a position to help others and give advice in hopes to help people.
Hello my name is Keezy and I am primarily a computer engineer. My ultimate passion is being a recording artist and to one day have my own professional studio outside of my home.
My brand is called “Only Day 1” the symbol stands for family, loyalty, and respect. It also represents the people that’s been with you since the beginning. Read More>>
Remicha Carter
I believed resilience is in my DNA. Resilience courses through the veins of my family lineage. It is a trait that has transcended generations, passed down from my grandfather, my mother, and my paternal grandmother. Despite the adversities they faced, they refused to succumb to defeat, inspiring me with their incredible strength and determination. Read More>>
Kam
Growing up, I was the only girl of three boys . My aunts all had boys as well, so I was surrounded by males majority of the time. Being the only girl in the middle of different aged sibling and cousins in itself started my journey of resilience! I always looked up to them so I had to do what they did! Once I got out of high school I got a job, moved into my aunts house for the summer until college started and it’s there where she gave me my first responsibilities, bills and curfews . This is also when I met my boyfriend at the time! After the summer, I went to college to live the HBCU life and boy did I have a time. I maintained my relationship while in school and ultimately ended up moving back home to Atlanta to be with him, and we got married. Although my marriage didn’t last, we created the best thing that has ever happened to me in my life, which was my daughter. She is my everything, my why, and one of the main driving forces that make me as resilient and strong to this day. When I had her my life changed for more than what I could imagine. I was only 21. I didn’t want kids, but I have learned more from her than I have learned from anybody in this world. With her innocence of being a child and looking up to me, I never wanted or want to let her down, and it’s my hope to never do so. Read More>>
Micaela Love” El Fattal”
I have had a long, hard battle with c-PTSD, that stemmed from abuse as a toddler and that eventually led to me being badly extorted, as a child. By 12, I was pregnant by someone, who raped me and although I did end up miscarrying (probably due to severe stress), I realized that my situation had become very dangerous. Read More>>
Hope Easton
Well being born with the name Hope, I am forced to spring eternally. Well I have to say I have my hands in many baskets musically! My number one heart throb is writing, recording and performing my own songs!! I also play cello for many different groups and musiciians/artists. Which is great, because I love a little challenge and it adds to what I do with my own music. I have a new tune that has yet to be released and Im so excited. Still undecided whether I will make a video or just put up a photo. Probably the latter. Read More>>
Stephanie Stuart
Becoming a resilient interior designer has a lot to do with both skill set and mind set. It involves developing a set of skills, mindset, and practices that enable you to navigate challenges, adapt to changes, and bounce back from setbacks. I grew up in an entrepreneurial family and learned a lot about both from my dad. I have a strong support network and surround myself with a supportive network of mentors, advisors, and like-minded entrepreneurs to bounce ideas off. When I learned to prioritize self-care by eating well, exercising and meditating it made a huge difference in my outlook. By taking those variables off the table and being able to focus on other decisions, I have the opportunity to look toward continuous learning in both interior design skills and new technology. Read More>>
Joslyn Rose Lyons
Growing up in Oakland and the Bay Area in general, is where my resilience comes from. It’s the rose that grows from concrete. Learning how to find my purpose and my path amidst all of the obstacles, is one of the main factors that helped shape me into the director and artist that I am today. There is a process of alchemy that needs to be present when we want to pursue our dreams. That fire what helps us persevere and we need it in order to sustain the success.. When we feel that resistance ,show up, while we might want to fold, it is those moments that we must keep going, to cross the thresholds. That is where my resilience comes from. Facing the shadows the find the light and continue to move, grow, and evolve. Read More>>
Teal Korby
I have lucked out in this lifetime to have found my partner, Jazz, very early on (in 9th grade, to be specific) and I’ve been with them since; I have double-lucked out in that Jazz is an incredible human being. They’re the kind of person to withstand any adversity, spill out their last pennies, and offer a shoulder when they’re all out of joints and limbs when someone needs it. From them, I’ve been able to learn how to push past hard circumstances and stand strong through them. We’ve dealt with homelessness, financial instability, emotional growth, and plenty more throughout our time together and their resilience along with the resilience within our relationship has seeped through my everyday tasks and interactions. Another key to the resilience that I’ve learned is patience, which is a skill that takes a lot of practice especially when the patience needs to be for other people or entities because we have to remember that the next person is juggling as much as we are, just in a different way with different things. Read More>>
Zen Miller
I assist with hospice and palliative care for people transitioning from this life to their next life,. A full line of services that focus on the comfort, hope and quality of life for my clients and their families during their last days, weeks, and months together.
Holistic services such as sound bath healing, massage and red light therapy, manual lymphatic drainage, and energy balancing to help your loved one cross easily. Read More>>
Bethany Smith
Resilience is an essential trait as an entrepreneur! It comes from doors closing and finding the window or tiny crack to go through. Each time I rose back up after being knocked down, I became more resilient. Every time I overcame an obstacle, I became more resilient. Resilience beats talent every day of the week! I own The Legacy Theatre in Tyrone, GA along with my husband Mark. We moved to South Atlanta in 2004 from New York City. In 2005, I had the architectural plans for Legacy. And by 2006, we opened the doors to our gorgeous “gem”! It had been my dream to own a theatre since I was 19. I was always fascinated by old movie houses and loved the idea of job security! Growing up in Terre Haute Indiana, I was raised by a strong single mom who taught my sister and I how to be independent and resilient. She taught us to dream big and be limitless. I always knew I wanted to spread my wings and perform. I started performing professionally. I worked in theme parks, regional theaters and cruise ships. I had traveled most of the World by age 25! I have always been a goal setter and a dreamer and believed that my dreams are within reach. Read More>>
Bernadette Capulong
In it’s infancy, I ran my company, BC Design Haus, entirely out of my kitchen, entirely on my own. It was here that I learned what it meant to “hustle,” and in less than two years, I managed to build a small, but substantial client base and get a taste for what it was like to be my own boss. It took a ton of hard work and sleepless nights, and I wasn’t always successful, but I learned a lot about what it takes to be an entrepreneur from the experience. Read More>>
Chelsea Kunde
I find myself to be a very resilient person in general but when I was 26 years old I was diagnosed with cancer (Hodgkin’s lymphoma). It was a devastating diagnosis and one of the most challenging times in my life. Throughout my treatment, I was able to still have good days despite going through chemo, feeling weak, and losing my hair. I also had very hard moments but throughout, I was able to stay optimistic and fight. Cancer changed me forever. On one hand, I have a hard time trusting my body but on another hand, I feel strong and confident that I can do hard things. That I can overcome obstacles and whatever life throws me. I am thankful for learning this through this experience. Read More>>
Lovie Johnson
My resilience was born from childhood trauma, my connection to sports (college/pro basketball), and my FAITH.
I’ve been blessed with the ability to uniquely create AND tell stories that people are, and will be, intrigued by.
My passion is to inspire others to be better not just to others…but to themselves as well. Read More>>
Kathy S. WhiteBear” Copsey”
Resilience comes from experiencing many challenges in our lives. Some of these challenges are small, some are great. We all face challenges of many sizes along our journeys, and I have certainly had my fair share. To name a few, for most of my life I have dealt with being bullied, health challenges including pain I feel body-wide and chronic fatigue among other issues that I feel every moment of every day since I was 17 years old, going thru tough financial times in the past including being as poor as eating one meal every other day, and so much more. Read More>>
Logan McErlean
I would definitely say I get my resilience from my family, friends, and partner. I have seen everyone in my life go through so many trials and tribulations and they still make the best of this life that we have. I could not do it without them! Read More>>
Clint Schwabedissen
I have an extremely high tolerance for pain and resilience. Looking back, I believe it comes down to two different principles.
The first principle is self-accountability. Everything that happens to me, good or bad, is ultimately based upon decisions I’ve made. We are the common denominator for everything that happens in our life. For some, that can be depressing, but it drives me to know that I can do anything or switch my life around. Applying this to business is the same thing. Read More>>
Alex J Nakamura
I get my resilience by asking myself in tough moments: “What is the other option?” and painting a clear picture for myself of what the road ahead might look like if I don’t make the hard choices. That image always end up being scarier than whatever intimidating challenge is in front of me at any given moment. But it’s not only about scaring myself straight; I also look into the positives of what taking the difficult road would look like and if I can muster some excitement out of it I’m golden! More often than not life has rewarded me whenever I’ve made those leaps so that gives me the confidence to keep going. Read More>>
Rhonda Steinke
The first place my resilience comes from is being attached to a “why”. A purpose to get back up after a fall and to try again. Every category of my life has a purpose so when struggle shows up in that area I’m able to attach to the why as a helping hand out of the mud.
Beyond being attached to my why, I attribute resilience to good health practices and my meditation practice. I’m finding with the consistent practice of Pranic Healing and Arhatic Yoga it is typically becoming easier to pick back up after the struggle. Read More>>
Oscarin Ortega
Growing up as the son of two hardworking immigrants from Oaxaca, our family faced limited resources and opportunities, constantly struggling to make ends meet. Our culture ingrained the importance of survival and hard knock minded education from an early age. Read More>>
Avriele Williams
Honestly, I get my resilience from life. Life has thrown me many obstacles that at the time seem impossible to overcome. However, I watched my mother overcome obstacle after obstacle as child and even now as an adult. So resilience has been instilled in my years before I knew what the word was. I can say the last 3 years of my life has by far been the toughest. So many times I have wanted to give up and not care of the outcome. I have always known I was a strong person but over the course of the last few years life has shown me just how strong I am. And now that I am a mom to two beautiful daughters. I have to instill resilience in them, just as my mom did for me. I have to show them that you can withstand the storm and come out stronger than ever. To always be determined and know that you can and will overcome whatever life may throw your way. Read More>>
Risto Miettinen
Good question. I really wish I knew? I guess it comes from enjoying making music more than anything else. When I started playing guitar as a teen, I’d always run back home to practice which was far more exciting than homework. I was always obsessed with music and guitar magazines, studying them relentlessly. I’d say having passion is the most important ingredient of resilience. Read More>>
Sasha Mkdad
Single-handedly my resilience comes from my mom. My mother is an immigrant-born woman that endured so many hardships in her life, but always overcame them — but not only that, she excelled and exceeded expectation. She taught me how to be fearless and strong with her actions — never really needing to say words but speak with her decisions. My whole life I was able to see what a strong Latina woman was through the ever-changing world around us. I am blessed in this life to have her as a role model. Read More>>
Leilani Graceffa
I mainly get my resilience from everything my parents and family taught me as a kid. I would say all the bad things I’ve experienced since I was born, but those are just traumatic experiences to me that greatly hindered my life. Read More>>
