At 35 years old, Bill has discovered he is as comfortable sleeping in a hospital bed as in his own bed at home. This is because, before he was two years old, he was diagnosed with a rare genetic condition called homozygous-familial-hypercholesterolemia which meant weekly hospital visits. He was the youngest person in North America to have a triple bypass surgery at eight years old.  Even with these incredible challenges and physical limitations, Bill was drawn to powerlifting in his 20’s and this practice continues to benefit him physically and mentally. In his early 30’s, his health came to a traumatic point when his aortic valve almost closed. This event tested his positive outlook, his confidence and led him to reach out for professional help. It also challenged his view of what it means to reach out for help from those close to him. Bill compassionately articulates the pain associated with resilience and how he now appreciates how his experiences have shaped him into the man he has become. 

Connect with Bill:
Website - https://www.musclebill.com/
IG - https://www.instagram.com/musclebill/
FB - https://www.facebook.com/MuscleBill

While supporting his sister during her cancer journey and before writing his book, Cycle of Lives, David learned a lot. Some of these included how much support there was for the concrete tasks of dealing with a cancer diagnosis but how little resources were available for the emotional side of things and how ill-prepared people were to face the emotional work of a cancer diagnosis. He wanted to connect with people at a deep level and knew he needed to form authentic connections with them to understand what they were going through.  He also learned that this skill of authentic connection is crucial when asking for help or offering help to others. This work of building relationships allowed David to hear powerful stories of grief, abandonment and isolation that still incredibly radiated hope, empowerment and that deep sense of connection. David also learned that so many of us are familiar with trauma either directly or indirectly and can learn so much from the trauma stories of others. 100% of the net proceeds from the Cycle of Lives book are allocated to raise money for organizations chosen by the fifteen participants of the project. Order yours wherever books are sold and consider leaving an online review to boost this important work.

Connect with David Richman:

Site - david-richman.com (cycleoflives.org)

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/davidrichman_cycleoflives/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/cycleoflives

Twitter - https://twitter.com/cycleoflives

Book - https://www.amazon.ca/Cycle-Lives-Peoples-Stories-Emotional-ebook/dp/B08KBYPVJV

Following her high school graduation, Noramy studied education in pursuit of her dream to become a teacher. Then, as it often does, life happened and the direction of the path changed.  Facing mental health issues head on in those early post-secondary years meant learning the hard lesson of asking for support.  Noramy needed to remember that lesson even as she travelled from university, to college back to university. Now, as she is on the cusp on entering a Masters program, Noramy has a unique vision of what it means to self-advocate. This life skill serves her well as she knows when it’s time to take a break, ask for help and even plan for the “best bad day”.  You can follow Noramy on Instagram.

When looking back on her life, Erica realized that during some of the most difficult times in her life, she was not writing or creating.  After navigating a very challenging year of debilitating physical pain stemming from a mental health condition, Erica now sees how beneficial writing can be to process emotions and to connect with ourselves and others.  Erica wrote a book about how she experienced the fear and loneliness during her invisible, yet painful condition.  Now Erica shares her passion for writing through her online writing community that connects people from around the world.  Check out the links to her Open Sky Stories community as well as her social media pages.

Website - https://www.openskystories.com/ 

FB - https://www.facebook.com/openskystories

IG - https://www.instagram.com/openskystories/ 

TW - https://twitter.com/OpenSkyStories

LI - https://www.linkedin.com/company/open-sky-stories/

Pixie & The Bees - https://www.amazon.ca/Pixie-Bees-Erica-Richmond-ebook/dp/B08JM7X2RV 

Carly’s early experiences with crippling panic attacks along with an obsessive need to do what was expected of her found her with a university degree and married with children at a young age but struggling.  Back when the panic attacks were common, Carly didn’t really see any helpful resources especially when a doctor suggested medication for her anxiety instead of looking for sources of her anxiety in her environment.

While working at her secure government job but not being able to spend time with her children, Carly was shaken by a series of ‘rock bottom’ events that woke her up from her discontented trance. One key event was the very unexpected death of her dance teacher and the dark times that followed led Carly to make some big changes in her life.

Those changes included leaving her marriage, quitting her cubicle job and launching a farm and forest school with her children.  Now she and her children spend most of each day outdoors connecting to the land, to the animals on the farm, each other and their own intuition and curiosity for what learning looks like. 

Carly’s concept of accessing her resources is extensive.  From changing her environment, seeing everything and everyone as a teacher, learning to befriend herself and surrounding herself with positive influences that may come from reading, long-term friendships or even connecting with like-minded individuals on social media platforms especially during the isolating pandemic times.  

Enjoy Carly’s poem of resilience called “Wildflowers”.

Wildflowers

Wildflowers do not ask for permission to grow – they just do. 

They do not wait for someone to plant them, water them. 

They find their way in the most unlikely of places. 

Cracks in the concrete, tiny patches of grass along skyscrapers and city buildings.

Farmer’s fields and pastures, dirt roads, abandoned railways. 

They refuse to be put in a box, growing only in someone else’s garden. 

And while others may focus upon the things that they are not...

A rose with thorns

A tulip upon rows of bright conformity. 

They are something more. 

They are free.

Check out Carly's Nature Hill Farm at https://www.naturehillfarm.com/ and follow Carly on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/naturehillfarm/ .

Monika exudes genuine warmth and joy that easily translates into the welcoming atmosphere she’s created at her stylish, organic salon.  Along with her talented and supportive team of stylists, Monika has graciously and courageously managed the roller-coaster of pandemic shutdowns and re-openings over the past year.  

In reflecting on her past losses and difficult times, Monika has learned to lean on those experiences to understand the necessity of perseverance.

As a young child, Monika experienced the loss of her father and tributes her mother for helping Monika and her brother to process their grief.  As an adult, she moved to Canada and began a new life that was even more challenging because she had to do that while learning English.  Learning is an on-going process for Monika and she treasures the power of books to support her health and well-being.

After a devastating condition impacted Monika’s sight, balance and even control of her own body, she began researching in earnest to learn more about the toxins used in her hair salon. Her learning paid off and she converted her salon to an all-organic business to reduce toxins for her, her team, her clients and for the environment.

Early in recovery, Monika received an invitation from a yogi friend to attend a yoga class with the sole intention of just lying on her mat. She resisted the invitation at first since she would require physical support to simply walk into the class.  But three years later, she was relishing her strong tree pose!  

Monika continues to grow and learn and is a beautiful inspiration to her colleagues, friends and clients!

Micaela was only nineteen when her father was diagnosed with terminal cancer and this was only one of “big events'' in her life that helped her learn how to face difficult times that would follow.  Along with the perspective she gained before leaving home, she also discovered the power of foundational habits. Years later, as she prepared to give birth to her child, she learned the difference between intention and expectation and was blessed with an empowering birthing experience.  Micaela values investing in others who then become a “well” of resources during hard times and this is evident with her friendships that go back to kindergarten. Even with her commitment to friends and family, she is grounded in the fact that she enjoys spending time with herself and relies on a keen self-awareness to guide her.

Jennie is no stranger to grief but she’d be the first to say that it doesn’t define her. After the loss of her college roommate to cancer, she realized that stuffing her emotions while focusing primarily on service to others wasn’t working for her in the long term. In light of the emotional toll that the loss took on her emotional and mental health, Jennie reached out for support. Knowing that resources beyond her own determination were available became a lifeline when she lost her brother and newborn son in close succession. Inconsolable sadness and anger led her to work with a cranial sacral therapist and that has proven to be a life-altering experience.  This power of this work has encouraged her to pursue her curiosity about the power of the body’s intuition and wisdom.  Now as a Reiki Master, Jennie supports others in their healing and overall wellness while continuing her studies in areas of embodied awareness.

You can connect with Jennie in the following ways:

Virtual Course called 'Moving Through Emotions' runs Monday nights, 7:30-8:30 on Zoom starting April 19 for 4 weeks.  Early Bird pricing $100 until April 9, then $120.  Email Jennie to register.

Website for Reiki info:  cranialwaves.com/jennie 
Reiki bookings (distance/phone or in-person):  cranialwaves.janeapp.com  or email
Email:  [email protected]
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/reiki.with.jennie/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Reiki-with-Jennie-103326924898351
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennie-wiebe-b066121b5/

Lisa is grateful for her parents who inspired her to develop a strong work ethic and a confidence to rely on her own ability. The self-reliance she developed growing up is balanced with a belief in the power of making and keeping real connections. Lisa believes that being real with others is one of her key strengths and is vital for keeping her relationships healthy and strong.

With two children who have been learning from home since September alongside both Lisa and her husband working from home, there’s been a need for strategizing and renegotiating roles to make the new system work. The pandemic has also been a time of renewed creativity for Lisa who began painting again after decades of being away from it.

Lisa’s grounded positivity was particularly beneficial when she experienced a challenging delivery of her first child and the residual PTSD that also led her to reach out for professional help.  It’s also helping her now when the stressors on the world stage are front and center. With passion, practical positivity and directness, Lisa sees good things in our post-pandemic experience.

Barb has been running since she was 10 years old and has a lifetime of lessons and insights that have come from listening to her body’s wisdom through that practice. Running provided her with a mechanism to help work through adverse emotions and even positive ones. It became a way to deal with life even when the physical act of running didn’t always feel good. Growing up in a family system where resilience was expected, she learned the skill of working through challenges without complaint early in life. This introduction to resilience-building evolved into a skill that she has relied on to face physical, relational and professional challenges. Barbara also shares the benefits of developing that habit of attending to your “self-care buckets'' as a method for support during difficult times.  From single parenting to running the Boston Marathon to defending her PhD, Barb has had plenty of opportunities to lean into difficult times and to learn from them. Keenly aware of her privilege, Barb is a grounded source of wisdom and encouragement for those looking for resilience, within themselves and from external resources.  To dig deeper into the work of  Barbara Frederickson (Broaden and Build Theory) and Michael Ungar to learn more about their theories of resilience, click on the links.  You can connect with Dr. Barbara Ward on LinkedIn.