There is no easy walk to freedom anywhere, and many of us will have to pass through the valley of the shadow of death again and again before we reach the mountaintop of our desires.   Nelson Mandela

Someone was hurt before you, wronged before you, hungry before you, frightened before you, beaten before you, humiliated before you, raped before you . . . yet, someone survived. . .  You can do anything you choose to do.  Maya Angelou

Strength does not come from winning.  Your struggles develop your strengths.  When you go through hardships and decide not to surrender, that is strength.  Arnold Schwarzenegger

You’re going to go through tough times – that’s life.  But I say, “Nothing happens to you.  It happens for you.”  See the positive in negative events.   Joel Osteen

In my deepest darkest moments, what really got me through was a prayer.  Sometimes my prayer was “Help me.”  Sometimes a prayer was “Thank you.”  What I’ve discovered is that intimate connection and communication with my creator will always get me through because I know my support, my help, is just a prayer away.   Ivanla Vanzant

There was a special kind of gift that came with embracing the chaos, even if I cursed most of the way.  I’m convinced that, when everything is wiped blank, it’s life’s way of forcing you to become acquainted with and aware of who you are now, who you can become.   Jennifer DeLucy