FOR.TI.TUDE (NOUN):

COURAGE AND STRENGTH IN THE FACE OF ADVERSITY OR HARDSHIP.

The Fortitude Fix is designed for those of us who are ready to live our lives more abundantly not in-spite of, but BECAUSE of the stories, our stories, that have led us here to this place and time.

I was born with the most common inherited blood disorder in the United States, Sickle Cell Disease, and no one knew. It’s an inherited disease, I had it and no one knew. This means my parents did not know their status as carriers. As soon as I could, I became an advocate telling everyone I could about Sickle Cell.

At a young age, I recognized that our stories have power. Healing!

This was the beginning of my life as a health educator! I learned that it is okay ask questions, stand up for yourself, advocate for your health and spread the word. These beliefs continue to drive me.

I’ve been through a lot of hardship in my life and a word that was bestowed upon me from family, teachers, friends and even strangers was resilient. To be resilient or show resilience means that someone has the ability to return back to it’s original state that after its been pulled, stretched, bent.

We are humans. Our lives are a series of experiences and I’ve found that there really isn’t a way we can walk away from the many events of our lives unchanged.

Today the word that motivates me in my life and in my work is Fortitude. The ability to handle life’s obstacles with courage and come out on the other end changed. Strengthened!

I could have allowed the hard times in my past to limit and define my future. Instead I found motivation in the mess and turned those stumbling blocks into stepping stones. I now use my experience to educate, motivate and inspire others to do the same. It is our stories that connect us, that let us know we are not alone. There is strength, power and healing in your story! Speak up because someone is needs to be inspired by it.