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.
Delatria Sam
As a writer and new author, I’d say my resilience comes from my life experiences, including overcoming challenges and adversity. Growing up in The South, facing personal losses, and navigating the book publishing industry have all contributed to my resilience. My work in clinical research has taught me the importance of perseverance and attention to detail. Additionally, my journey as a new cancer writer, health and medicine magazine writer, and soon to be children’s book author has shown me the value of resilience in communicating complex information in a clear and compelling way. Read More>>
Kayla And Manny Hightower
For Manny and me, resilience comes from faith, lived experience, and a heart to serve. We’ve both faced battles that could have broken us, but God used them to build us. Our background in mental health taught us that healing is a process, and with the right tools and support, people can rise. Resilience isn’t about being strong all the time. It’s about trusting God, leaning on each other, and showing up anyway. Read More>>
Brian Ceballos
My resilience comes from my closest friends who are creatives and my passion for helping others through my work. These friends, who are also into photography, design, or videography, are always there to share ideas, give honest feedback, or pull me out of a rut. For example, when I was struggling to figure out a theme and lighting design for a photoshoot, one of them helped me work through the brain fog with some fresh ideas, getting me back in my groove. What really keeps me going is knowing my work can bring someone’s vision to life— Read More>>
Britt Stewart
I think, for me, resilience has always felt less like a choice and more like a calling. Even when life has handed me setbacks — like when my partner left FreeRangeFamilies — I’ve found that I can’t stay down for long. There’s an overwhelming pull in me to keep moving forward, to build something that serves a purpose greater than myself, and to do work that genuinely helps others. Read More>>
Abhilash
My resilience is a complex weave, drawn from several wellsprings throughout my life’s journey. It’s not a single source, but rather a combination of ingrained traits and hard-won lessons.
Firstly, a significant part comes from my upbringing in a small Indian town. There, resources weren’t abundant, and opportunities often had to be carved out through sheer effort and ingenuity. This environment instilled in me a resourcefulness and a “make it work” mentality from a very young age. You learn to be adaptable when things aren’t handed to you on a silver platter. Read More>>
IAN FINDLEY
I was raised in an abusive and negligent household. I can recall many nights leading up to foster care where I wouldn’t know where my next meal was coming from. There were plenty of days where I wouldn’t know where my mother was or if the rent for that day or night at whatever motel we were staying at would be paid. Going through all of that teaches you how to be grounded when the ground itself is moving. Read More>>
Richard Reutter
Long before I had the opportunity to officially work with my Mom at Caroline’s Cakes, I admired how she approached each and every task in her day, each person that she interacted with, and each challenge that she faced. Her determination was admirable and watching her taught me a lot, so I am happy to say that I got my resilience from her. A large percentage of any problem can be consumed by how you choose to handle and react to it. She instilled in me a mindset that put our customer and this business above all else and that mindset combined with a strong work ethic allowed us to work through any challenge that we were faced with. Read More>>
Kalonji Kadima
I get my resilience from my parents. My dad traveled from Democratic Republic of Congo to the US on a school scholarship and got himself established. 2 years later my mom traveled with 5 children on her own to join my father in Wisconsin. I draw inspiration and my resilience from them because seeing and knowing what they had to endure to make a way for our family is remarkable. They are my true heros. Read More>>
Roger Omeus Jr
I suppose I get it from my parents. Both of them are from Haiti and migrated here in the early 70s. Navigating a strange country, mastering the language and having to over come racism (which we’re still fighting to overcome) freshly off the heels of the civil rights era couldn’t have been easy. But they managed to raise 4 children in the midst of it all. Read More>>
Maria Micha
I got my resilience through having to tackle life’s challenges since I was very young.
I was raised in a family where everything seemed to be, from the outside looking in, perfect. But there were many put-downs directed at me by one family member. Although I was told repeatedly I would not make it in life, somehow I knew I would have the life that I desired. Read More>>
MICHAEL DECOLE
My resilience comes from not having any other options
It’s either this or nothing, the saying goes no one’s coming to save you so you have to be your own hero in your own book. Read More>>
Cherry Perez
I gained my resilience by realizing that nobody is coming to save you but yourself. I’ve overcome a lot of adversity in my life including homelessness, drug addiction, legal battles, and abusive relationships. Through all of those battles, I was the one who had to show up and fight for myself – nobody else is going to do it for you. It’s up to you and you alone to put in the work. At this point, I have come too far to ever stop fighting for my life. Read More>>
Trina Zaragoza
My resilience comes from a lifelong relationship with both service and survival.
As a registered nurse and holistic practitioner, I’ve stood at the intersection of crisis and care for over two decades. I’ve worked with people at their most vulnerable in hospice, homes, and healing rooms, and every time, I’ve been reminded that resilience isn’t just about pushing through. It’s about returning to yourself, again and again. Read More>>
Amy Elizabeth
I have lived many lifetimes in this one incarnation. My resilience comes from NDE, Cancer, and multiple challenging experiences. I have let life breathe through me with many difficult storms and came out stronger. Read More>>
Raquel Martinez
My resilience comes from my discipline and constant hard work whenever I am faced with a challenging obstacle. Knowing that each mistake or failure is a learning opportunity which gives me the motivation to keep on going. This motivation allows me to be my natural self which improves the quality and creativity of my work. Knowing that with my resilience I can bring a blank canvas into life. Read More>>
Sir-Ken Celli
You know, I get my resilience from a mix of things — part stubbornness, part strategy. But really, it comes down to knowing who I am and what I stand for. I’ve always believed strength isn’t about brute force — it’s about purpose.
I’m a Capricorn, so yeah — I’m built for the long game. I don’t rush. I don’t break easily. I climb, even when the mountain is steep and the weather’s turning. There’s something in me that just… keeps going. Quietly, steadily, relentlessly. Read More>>
Tashara Newton
I pull my strength from the women before me. I pulled from my bloodline my ancestors. I have some really strong woman in my family that did what they believe they had to survive and take care of the family. So when things get hard and I feeling alone, I call on my ancestors to pour into me and give me some of that energy. Read More>>
Radka Styskala
No one is born resilient – we become resilient by surviving the hardest parts of our lives.
For me, it was built slowly, over time, especially through the painful moments when everything felt like it was falling apart.
For years, I was in constant motion – pushing, proving, performing… until my body and soul simply said no more.
What I experienced wasn’t just exhaustion – it was a total disconnection from myself. I felt numb, lost and completely worn down. Read More>>
Sarah Garcia
I believe my resilience was shaped in the quiet, unseen moments the ones where I kept going even when I wasn’t sure how things would work out.
About 14 years ago, I was working in finance, helping others navigate their goals while quietly putting my own dreams on hold. I had spent a lot of time in that world, but something inside me kept whispering that I was meant to do more something with heart, something with healing. So I enrolled in massage school while still working full-time at the credit union. Once I graduated, I picked up spa shifts on nights and weekends. Read More>>
Kate DeCristo
My resilience… I’m not exactly sure where it came from. But I do know what comes from it is a sense of pride in myself. I have always been a fan of success stories, specifically in entrepreneurship and I noticed early on from other’s stories that resilience is key. To me, the number of setbacks or hurdles in my story is not relevant, what matters most is the rate at which you come back from these hurdles and pivot around them. Read More>>
Bjorn Johnson
Bjorn gets his resilience from the storms he walked through alone—the kind of pain that doesn’t make headlines but shapes legends. He’s been knocked down, overlooked, and tested by life in ways most couldn’t handle, but he never let the darkness steal his light. Instead, he turned wounds into wisdom and heartbreak into harmony. Bjorn doesn’t just bounce back—he evolves, elevates, and executes with vision. His resilience is rooted in purpose, fueled by truth, and sharpened by every scar he’s earned. He’s not here by accident. He’s here because he refused to stay broken. Read More>>
William Keel
So my story is a bit different from the average. I was a drug addict for 15 + years. The process of recovering from that has taught me one person can o ercome anything in their path if and only if quitting is never an option. Read More>>
Jude Toy
I’m very optimistic because I believe we have the power to choose how we feel each day—whether to focus on the good or dwell on the bad. Every situation offers two perspectives, and even when things aren’t ideal, we can still find meaning in the journey it took to get there. Sometimes, simply being grateful for the struggle itself can reveal hidden blessings. My faith in God plays a vital role in this mindset, constantly reminding me of His great love and wisdom guiding every step I take. Read More>>
Brooke Buck
My mom. She is hands down the most resilient person I know. She’s currently fighting ovarian cancer for the second time and somehow takes everything in stride, always with grace. Growing up on a farm, things weren’t always easy for my parents. My mom worked long hours to provide for our family while my dad was working hard to grow and invest in the future of the farm. It still amazes me how they juggled it all. I don’t ever remember them complaining or even looking tired. Read More>>
Larry Zeiger
Growing up in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, my parents instilled in me confidence, creativity, and hard work as the building blocks of my life. Teachers (especially in high school and at the University of Miami) and my close friends always encouraged me to be the person I am. I always loved the creative arts. On rainy days or snowy days of which there were many in Cleveland, I would often go to the public library and read plays, film scripts, and learn about famous artists. Read More>>
Jennifer Gunlock
At its core, my resilience comes from my persistent need to make art. If I go too long without exercising my creative muscle, I get cagey and irritable. That sums up for me what defines a person as an artist. They just can’t not do it. I recall meeting phenomenally talented people in college and grad school who soon quit their practice, never to return to artmaking, and that astonished me every time. Read More>>
Mary Anderson
I get my resilience from my grandma. She had a really hard upbringing, as did I. We both struggle with anxiety and depression, but she has taught me to continuously get up and fight it. Her story is such a motivation to me, and how she always gets back up from anything and always shows up.
She has taught me so much, and she deserves so much. She is my best friend and the person I go to for anything and everything. I owe her and my papa the world and can’t ever say thank you enough for everything they have done for me. I love you to the moon and back forever! Read More>>
Karim Ghelani
Essentially, I’ve realized that failures aren’t setbacks; they’re valuable learning experiences. My career began in high-pressure Hollywood environments, developing campaigns for a major studio and managing talent relationships.
Today, I serve as CEO of Full Media Works Entertainment, a media finance and creative production company specializing in film and music. Read More>>
Aalexus Longmire
My resilience comes from within—and from my ancestors.
There’s something in me that naturally wants to overcome whatever feels challenging. Being an entrepreneur, especially as the founder of a fashion publication, is a journey that often feels bigger than me. But I come from a family that has always had to rise above obstacles, and I’ve seen that strength modeled firsthand. I carry that legacy with me. And above all, I lean on my faith in God. That’s my foundation. Read More>>
Christopher Jackson
My dad navigated the complexities of life as an African American man during the era of Jim Crow laws in the South. His story is not just one of survival but of extraordinary achievement. He served as an Air Force search and recovery paratrooper—standing out as the only one in his unit. This was a time when opportunities for people of color were scarce, yet he persevered and rose to become a data processor and accountant on Wall Street in the 1970s. Throughout this demanding journey, he remained a devoted family man to my mother and his three children. Read More>>
Pilar Torres-Contreras
Not having the money for rent is one of those situations that hits hard- it touches your stability, your sense of safety, and your ability to protect your children. Reaching out for government assistance takes courage. A lot of people don’t realize how humbling -and brave- it is to ask for help when your back is against the wall. Read More>>
Lalo Montoya
My resilience comes from the passion I have for modeling and the desire to continue creating opportunities for others. After 10 years, I returned to modeling in Miami, which was a personal challenge, but also an opportunity to keep showing that it’s never too late to achieve our goals. Additionally, the creation of América International Models is a reflection of my commitment to personal and professional growth, not just mine, but for everyone involved in the competition. My resilience comes from facing my own fears, stepping out of my comfort zone, and moving forward, always focused on the legacy I want to leave. Read More>>
Perry Rickard
In her poem, “The Summer Day,” Mary Oliver asks, “Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” This quote runs circles around my brain every time I face a challenge. Diagnosed with PTSD at 19? *Insert Mary Oliver* Living on a remote island with nothing but a carry on? (True story by the way.) *Insert Mary Oliver* Read More>>
Ela TOKARSKA
I get my resilience from doing the work, even when it doesn’t pay off.
Classical music demands everything—your time, your energy, your focus and still offers no guarantees. You can practice for months and still fall short when it matters most and for a young musician, that’s hard to face. Read More>>
Peggy Brown
Setting the way-back machine to the elementary school playground, it was fulla bullies. I remember one day in maybe third grade, coming home crushed over being harassed by somebody at school. My mom said, “just ignore ’em.” I thought, hmm. Okay. And that was that. Turned out that sound advice has been remarkably disarming and has served me well over time. There is almost always somebody or something impeding the path forward, and there’s almost always a way to get through. Read More>>
