I saw the video for the song written and produced by Megan McNeil , a childhood cancer patient called "Will to Survive." I had to share it, as it touched my heart.  The song has such a beautiful message.  Megan battled cancer for four years; she passed away at the end of January of last year. Her legacy will live on through the song and the lives she touched.

Paula Davis-Laack, JD, MAPP is a lawyer turned stress and resilience expert who helps high achievers and organizations improve performance, increase well-being, and manage stress by mastering a set of skills proven to enhance resilience, build mental toughness, develop leadership, and promote strong relationships.  She calls her philosophy, “Find Your Strong”ˢͫ.Paula writes extensively about resilience, stress management, and work/life balance for Psychology Today (www.psychologytoday.com/blog/pressure-proof), The Huffington Post, Ms. JD and others. Connect with Paula via: her website,  on Facebook, and on Twitter.

Water is an essential part of my life and a great teacher to me.

I cherish going to the beach, as it empowers me.  You may have guessed this through the theme of my blog. I look at the mighty rocks on the shore that stand firm despite the waves which persistently crash against them. The intensity of the tide will vary; and the rocks will be shaken, depending on the water’s strength.

Today, Yvonne Young is sharing with us about perseverance.I first connected with her after I found her blog.  I had  posted about standing tall and was looking for others who had done the same. I can relate to her and am excited she has decided to participate in this series.  So glad I connected with her :) Thanks Yvonne! You should check out her blog after you read her interview.

The song “Crazy Dreams” by Carrie Underwood resonates with me this week.  When you have an idea or dream, it may seem crazy or unattainable at the beginning.  However, just because the idea may seem far-fetched, as the song reminds you, the dreams will come true.

I'm so excited that one of my best friends, Shantelle Przybylo, is sharing her thoughts on perseverance with us today.  She is a Canadian Soprano and has performed all around the world. You can read her biography following the interview. I am blown away by her talent.  Shantelle has an incredible voice and delivers an outstanding performance.  She is also one of the most kindhearted people I have ever met.  I thought it was fitting to have her participate in this series as we encourage each other to follow our dreams.  Thanks so much Shantelle for sharing! Follow her on Instagram at @shantellethesongbird.

What makes a great leader? 

I'm so excited that Tara Fall is sharing with us today about perseverance.  I found her through her blog (http://findingstrengthtostandagain.wordpress.com/) by chance a couple months ago and am so blessed to have connected with her.  I think her story is so inspiring and should be shared with others. She has really inspired me to go after my dream, to persevere, and to overcome obstacles with optimism.  Hence, I had to ask her to be part of this series.  Check out the video of her story below before you read her interview to see what I mean.  Thank you, Tara, for finding the strength to persist and for encouraging others to do the same!

On a random shuffle of the songs on my Ipod this week at the gym, the song "So Small” by Carrie Underwood played. I have been inspired by Carrie ever since I saw her on American Idol in 2005.  I hadn’t heard this song in a while and forgot how powerful of a message it had. 

Michael Fear grew up in a small town in Indiana. Being an aspiring athlete in a small town brought its own disadvantages. There was no easy way to find and connect with the proper coaches or instructors that he needed to get better. After many months of searching, instructors were found through word of mouth. Michael and his dad were forced to drive 4 hours roundtrip, for hitting lessons. Michael thought, "There has to be a better way!" Therefore, he developed his own business, Get Better Today.

Bestselling Amazon author, speaker, and poet, Heather Grace Stewart was born in Ottawa, ON, and currently lives near Montreal, QC with her husband, daughter, and three feline friends.

Heather wrote her first poem at age five, inspired by falling down a lot while trying to figure skate. ‘At the Arena’ was published in her school newsletter. From that moment on, she was hooked on writing.

Linda Bacon, PhD, is a researcher on the inside track of weight regulation science – a scientist whose three graduate degrees, research, and clinical expertise uniquely prepare her to understand and translate the physiological, psychological, and socio-cultural underpinnings of weight control. An internationally recognized authority on weight and health, Dr. Bacon has published her work in top scientific journals as well as the highly acclaimed popular press book, Health at Every Size: The Surprising Truth About Your Weight.