I’ve been through the fire—and I’m still rising.

I didn’t learn resilience just from a textbook. I learned it by living through pain and hardships I never imagined I could survive, especially when they kept coming relentlessly.

I’ve experienced the heartbreak of domestic violence, the quiet grief of family estrangement, the mental and physical exhaustion of care giving through mental illness, and the devastation of divorce. I’ve loved someone through addiction—and then had to survive the aftermath of his tragic suicide.

I’ve endured a traumatic brain injury that left me relearning how to walk and talk, take care of myself, drive, and every daily task. Then I did the same for my professional life, only to face chronic health issues, repeated home losses (repeat water damage in different homes), financial collapse, and the soul-wrenching grief of losing my beloved service dog—on the same day I had major surgery.

And still, I rise.

Over and over again, I’ve chosen to rebuild, not just survive. Each chapter brought me closer to the version of myself that is grounded, strong, and deeply aligned with my purpose. I have lived my life with resiliency.