In this episode, I share my experience from signing up for an adult beginner ballet class six months ago (and I've stuck with it!).

What started as a simple idea to try something new quickly turned into a humbling crash course in French dance terminology, awkwardness, comparison and the uncomfortable reality of being a true beginner again. Not easy, for us high achievers!

Just a few weeks in, I learned we would be performing this past December in a recital. Yes. On a stage. In front of people. Dancing to the "Waltz of the Flowers" segment of The Nutcracker.

I wanted to quit more than once. But I kept showing up.

And when I finally stepped onto that stage, heart pounding and getting light-headed, I discovered something powerful.

Doing hard things on purpose builds confidence in a way comfort never can.

If you have ever thought, “I am too old,” “I am too late,” or “I will probably look ridiculous,” this episode is for you.

Because sometimes the most powerful thing we can do is simply show up, wobble through it, and keep going.

And here's the link to The Comfort Crisis by Michael Easter (such a great read!).

Onward and upward.

In today’s episode, I am joined by a very special guest, my dear friend Beth Walker, who recently retired after nine years as an elected official on West Virginia’s highest court (including Chief Justice).

Beth's story personifies resilience, grit, strong leadership and making hard decisions that affect positive behavior change.

In this heartfelt conversation, Beth shares how she triumphed over challenges and adversity. She takes us on her journey of embracing a healthier lifestyle, including (like me!) permanently removing alcohol from her life. Beth speaks candidly about how that decision transformed her clarity, leadership and overall well-being.

Two of my favorite "Beth Walker quotables" from this interview:

“I actually learned there was not enough Tito’s vodka to fix every problem...”

“...be a lighthouse, not a tug boat.”

These powerful insights capture the heart of this episode: learning to stand strong, lead with clarity and release that which no longer serves us.

This episode is for anyone who:

1. Is navigating adversity (personal or professional)
2. Wants to accomplish major health goals, one step at a time (and it takes time!)
3. Is curious about taking break from alcohol or quitting all together

Beth’s story reminds us that at any point in life, we can make decisions to become a steady light that guides the way for ourself and others. And she sure is a steady light to so many!

If you would like to hear my own juicy journey of going alcohol-free, you can listen here:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/i-quit-drinking-for-90-days-eight-years-later-im-still/id1868855299?i=1000749405020

Thank you so much for tuning in. I am so grateful...

Today is a big day for me. I am exactly eight years alcohol-free.

What started as a 90-day challenge during Lent turned into one of the most life-changing decisions I have ever made.

In this episode, I share the personal story of my relationship with alcohol, how it quietly shaped my choices, my coping mechanisms, and my identity, and what ultimately led me to stop. For decades, drinking was woven into every chapter of my life. School. Social life. Work events. Grief. Looking back, nearly every poor decision I made had alcohol somewhere in the picture.

Quitting was hard. It required white-knuckling, redefining relationships, and navigating very real adult peer pressure. But on the other side of alcohol, I found clarity, peace, resilience, and a grounded sense of self I never knew was possible.

I did not quit drinking to make my life easier. I quit drinking to make my life better.

Eight years later, I am filled with gratitude for the inspiration of Andy Ramage, Father Richard and many other amazing people who I've met on this incredible journey.

Here's a link to Andy Ramage's podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/andy-ramage-podcast/id1572654044

And you might also be interested in following my friend Andy Garwood. We were in the One Year No Beer Challenge group together and--trekked Mount Kilimanjaro in 2022 with five other friends. https://andygarwood.com/

Onward and upward!

Life does not come with a roadmap. Getting through hard things is a skill we build that serves us throughout our entire lives

In this episode of The Resilience and Grit Podcast, I share four lessons on navigating life’s challenges. They are inspired by my own personal journeys, including a hiking accident that left me with two broken bones, seven weeks in a bright pink cast, four weeks in a brace, and months of physical therapy.

We talk about the courage it takes to ask for help, the importance of surrounding yourself with supportive people, making peace with the messy middle, and holding on to belief when things feel uncertain. I also share a powerful rally cry from motivational speaker Les Brown that reminds us that no matter how hard things get, we can make it through: "No matter how bad it is...or how bad it gets...I am going to make it."

If you are facing something difficult right now, this episode is a reminder that you are not alone and that growth often begins in the middle of hard things.

Hello there everyone! I am a talker. Always have been. So choosing to spend three days in complete silence at a monastery felt equal parts intriguing and terrifying. No talking. No phone. Eating in silence. No distractions. Just quiet, chapel bells, wooded trails, hospitable Monks, and my own thoughts.

In this episode, I take you inside that experience. What it felt like to arrive, how the silence affected me physically and emotionally, and why returning to the noisy world afterward was harder than I expected. I also share why silence has since become one of the most grounding practices in my life and how you can begin to explore it for yourself.

Retreat Website for Abbey of Gethsemani in Trappist, Kentucky (...on Monk Road, don't you love it?) https://monks.org/visit-us/retreats/

Retreat Website for Holy Cross Abbey in Berryville, Virginia https://www.virginiatrappists.org/retreat-house/

Thank you for tuning in!

Arthur Brooks' Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/office-hours-with-arthur-brooks/id1832119842

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!

Hello and welcome to The Resilience and Grit Podcast! This weekly show is all about navigating through hard--and sometimes excruciatingly painful-- things and coming out the other side a better version of ourselves.

Through real stories and inspiring conversations, Kathleen DuBois and her occasional guests explore how life’s hardest moments can lead to growth, healing, and lasting happiness.

If you’re looking for some inspiration on living a more meaningful and content life, this show is for you.