It was the autumn of 1959. I’m sitting in a cafe booth drinking a Coke with a guy my parents wouldn’t rate higher than zero. My friends have coerced me into meeting with him even though I am aware of his ‘Bad Boy’ image, and

I am the sibling of someone with high medical needs, which makes me a glass child. The day my sister Julie died, I yelled at a street person to get out of my way as I hustled to the hospital to be with her in

I want to share my story in hopes that it might resonate with others who find themselves stuck in a toxic relationship, feeling confused and torn between the highs and lows. For years, I was trapped in a cycle of emotional manipulation and turmoil. The

I grew up with a good background, a good family, and a good neighborhood. But I wanted adventure; I wanted to have fun. And with a father who was extremely controlling and didn’t show much affection, I craved freedom and love. So, at 11 years

To be my father’s daughter, I had to be resilient.  When I describe my dad, I do so with a smile on my face and love in my heart. I tell people he was among the most creative, generous, and positive people I’ve ever known.

The pivotal moment of resilience came when I reached my breaking point. I found myself grappling with the painful realization of why I had let people violate my boundaries and why I had remained silent even when it caused me pain. I questioned why I

I’m on my fourth kidney, so I’ve lived through complex medical crises for three decades, and then nine years ago, I added the role of family caregiver to my resume. I was doing everything that a “good parent” of a child in the hospital should

Within 10 weeks, I was diagnosed with an aortic root aneurysm, gene mutation, & had an open heart surgery. Straight down my chest is a 5 inch scar that goes through my skin, my sternum, and everything I knew before. I lay on the operating

At 24 years old, six weeks before getting married, I almost died from a ruptured ovarian torsion. It was the night of my bachelorette party, and instead of being on the dance floor with my best friends, I was in an emergency room fighting for

I Refused to Let 2024 Mirror 2023—Here’s How I’m Making 2025 Even Better! Resilience in Action: My Journey from 2023 to 2025 Resilience is a term with different meanings for different people. For some, it’s the ability to push through life’s challenges; for others, it’s