Survival and Everyday Strength

There are books you read, and there are books that change you. One that recently left a lasting mark on me is Resolute by Benjamin Hall, a Fox News correspondent who survived a devastating attack in Ukraine. His story is filled with unimaginable pain, loss, and trauma—yet even more so, it’s filled with grit, gratitude, and the unshakeable will to live.

Reading Hall’s account isn’t just a lesson in global conflict or journalism—it’s a masterclass in human resilience.

Most of us won’t experience the kind of battlefield trauma he endured. But in our own way, each of us faces battles. Maybe it’s a diagnosis. A season of grief. Chronic pain. The slow shifts that come with aging. Or simply the exhaustion that can sneak in when you’re always trying to do your best for others while quietly pushing your own needs aside. 

Sometimes, life gives us no logical reason to survive—just something inexplicable. Benjamin Hall captures that beautifully. And it reminds us that there’s often more strength, more courage, in our story than we even know.

That same strength and courage is what I see in clients who decide to walk every morning, even when their joints ache. It’s in the person who starts strength training at 65, not to look younger, but to live better. It’s in every healthy meal cooked at home after a long day when fast food would’ve been easier. That’s the kind of everyday strength that adds up.

Health isn’t just about the number on the scale or the latest diet. It’s about fortifying your mind and spirit so that, when life hits hard—and it will—you’re not just physically prepared, but emotionally grounded.

So today, I invite you to reflect:

• Where in your life are you showing strength right now?
• What small decision can you make to reinforce your health—body, mind, or spirit?
• What’s the quiet force—your “something”—that pulls you forward when life feels heavy?

You don’t need to have all the answers. Sometimes just asking the question opens the door to strength you didn’t know was there.

If you feel moved, take a few moments to journal your thoughts—or share a small part of your story with someone you trust. And if you’d like, I’d love to hear from you too. Your strength might be just the encouragement someone else needs today.

You don’t need a battlefield to prove your strength—just the resolve to keep showing up for yourself, one choice at a time. Being resolute isn’t about never falling; it’s about rising again and again. That’s where true health, and true courage, begin.

Much love,
Health Coach Carol

“Nothing about self-discovery is simple or obvious—the journeys we take to truly understand ourselves are long and complex and often wrenching.”—Benjamin Hall