In this inaugural episode of Resilience and Grit, Kathleen DuBois shares the deeply personal story of preparing for and trekking Mount Kilimanjaro, and the stinging decision to turn back just shy of the summit.

What was meant to be a crowning achievement became a profound lesson in listening to the body, honoring limits, and redefining what resilience and grit truly mean. After returning home, Kathleen learned she had been battling COVID during the excursion, reframing what she once viewed as failure into wisdom and self-respect.

This episode explores disappointment, courage, and the quiet strength required to walk away from a goal when pressing on would be detrimental.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

1. Training for a lifelong goal and facing unexpected challenges
2. Both the sting and good lessons learned from not reaching the summit
3. Why turning back can be an act of strength, not weakness
4. Finding joy and positivity while navigating hard times
5. Redefining success when life doesn’t go as planned

If you’ve ever felt discouraged by an un-achieved goal or wondered what it means to surrender and walk away...this episode is for you.

Note From Kathleen: The Podcast cover shows my six friends and me--the Super Seven-- who embarked on this Kilimanjaro adventure together and we are all forever bonded from the experience.

Onward and upward!