Today, I want to talk about resilience: how to recognize your inner strength, accelerate the positives in life-changing situations, and most importantly; how to simplify your life, without mistaking simplicity for solitude.

National Women’s Day was March 8th, and the theme for 2025 is Accelerate Action. Throughout our lives, we take a thousand and one actions. Some are effortless, like a bite of sweet, delicious cake. Others test our courage. As Coco Chanel wisely said, “The most courageous act is still to think for yourself. Aloud.”

As a woman facing one of life’s greatest tests, caring for an ill husband suffering from vascular dementia while carrying the painful title of Estranged Mother and Grandmother, I know how heavy life can feel. My reality is complicated and emotional, but I have learned that even in hardship, we can find clarity by simplifying.

Life Altered in an Instant

On the morning of October 30, 2023, sixteen months ago, I awoke to a crash. My ultimate concierge had slipped on his socks and lay on the cold marble floor of our bathroom. His hip was broken. He remained stoic and calm. I remained soft-spoken and diligent because he taught me to think first and get hysterical later– not an easy trait for a woman under or over fifty! There was no hysteria, only action. I gently reassured him as I picked up the phone and called 911. Little did I know then that our lives would never be the same. That moment marked the beginning of a new normal.

For the next sixty days, I lived in hospital rooms. I longed for the comforts of our condo in the sky overlooking Lake Michigan, for quiet mornings walking America, my pooch, for laughter-filled lunches with friends, for elegant dinners with couples, for traveling the world, for time with family.

Mostly, I missed smiling.

Simply Inspired

As I sat in hospital rooms, surrounded by sterile walls and the constant hum of machines, my mind was a whirlwind. I had days of solitude to reflect on what the future might hold. One thing was certain: I would be in charge of everything. It was daunting, yet I knew I could not let fear or grief consume me. Instead, I needed to simplify life and focus on what truly mattered.

When I met my dashing ultimate concierge thirty-five years ago, my life transformed from simply inspired to worldly inspired. Our move from Honolulu’s simple paradise to Chicago’s grandeur was exhilarating, and I loved the adrenaline rush of both lives.

As I sat alone in those hospital rooms, I realized that I was being called back to simplicity– not out of choice, but necessity. The life I once knew was gone, replaced by a new reality. One that demanded resilience, patience, and unwavering strength. I would return to a simply inspired life, one that intertwined a new normal of caregiving, grief, and acceptance. Without support from my estranged daughters,I had no illusion of a helping hand. I had myself, my strength, and my ability to adapt.

The Power of Perspective

To navigate this new reality, I knew I had to find a way to ground myself and shift my perspective when grief and hardship felt overwhelming. I needed a tool to help me process my emotions, to remind myself that even in the darkest moments, I still had the power to choose how I faced each day. That’s when I turned to words. By putting pen to paper, by naming both the pain and the hope, I found a way to regain a sense of control. It was a small act, but it gave me clarity and strength when I needed it most.

Take a moment to sit quietly with your thoughts. Write down the emotions that weigh on your heart, but don’t stop there. Next to each heavy word, find its counterbalance. A word that represents resilience, hope, or possibility. Rewriting your list so that the uplifting words come first allows that positive shift to take root, empowering your mind to focus on strength and potential rather than the weight of adversity. This practice isn’t about ignoring pain; it’s about shifting your perspective and reminding yourself that even in hardship, light still exists. Your words have power. Use them to guide you forward.

How Creative Writing Helps Mental Health

The Art of Simplifying Life

When life hands us hardship, we often retreat inward. Eventually though, we must find our footing and create something new. I have learned that simplifying does not mean losing, but rather it means gaining clarity. By stripping away the unnecessary, I have found peace, purpose, and joy.

I once lived a simply inspired life in Honolulu, though I didn’t recognize it at the time. Now, in this new season, simplicity has found me again. I have gathered wisdom from my past and blended it with the lessons of the past sixteen months. They have nurtured a garden of strength within me. Not every thought blooms at once, but the roots remain firm.

Socrates said, “May the outward and inward man be at one.” I am becoming that woman and it is a very fruitful experience. As I align my inner strength with my outward reality, I find a sense of peace that no amount of external chaos can shake. This journey has taught me that true resilience isn’t about avoiding hardship but about embracing it with grace. In simplifying my life, I am not losing myself, but rather I am discovering the essence of who I have always been.

Riding the Waves of Simplicity

The relentless pace of life often leaves little room for a woman to create a sanctuary, a space where she can nurture both body and soul. Yet, in slowing down, I have discovered an unexpected gift. By letting go of distractions and focusing on what truly matters, I have uncovered a sense of clarity and purpose. Simplicity is not about stripping life of its richness but about distilling it down to its essence: peace, intention, and fulfillment.

I have learned to navigate a different kind of wave, the waves of simplicity. In this simplicity, I have found the strength to take meaningful action. No longer swept away by the expectations of others or the weight of what once was, I have embraced a quieter, more intentional way of living. This shift has not been easy, but it has been necessary, revealing a wellspring of resilience.

Simplicity has become my anchor, keeping me steady in uncertain waters. It has taught me that joy is not found in the rush of the world but in the quiet moments of presence and gratitude. In choosing to simplify, I have chosen to live, not in reaction to life’s hardships, but in harmony with them.

Simply Smiling

The first whispers of spring are arriving, and with them, a quiet awakening in my soul. Not the vibrant, energizing rush of past years, but a gentler, more purposeful renewal. This shift has not diminished my productivity; instead, it has redirected it. I’ve learned to embrace the fullness of life in its current form, savoring each moment rather than rushing through it. My focus is no longer on the frantic pace I once set for myself but on the depth and meaning of each task and each interaction. I now choose quality over quantity, finding satisfaction in what truly nourishes my heart and mind.

This newfound approach has brought with it a sense of peace I didn’t realize I needed. In slowing down, I’ve discovered a rhythm that feels both fulfilling and grounded. Life has become less about doing and more about being, allowing myself to simply exist in the present moment. It is through this presence that I’ve found a sense of contentment, one that allows me to weather life’s storms with grace, even as I continue to navigate this complex journey.

I find solace in caring for my husband, in the simple yet profound moments we share:

• I read beside him.
• I text and talk on the phone beside him.
• I daydream beside him.
• I write my stories beside him.
• I watch historical movies beside him.
• We share meals.
• We fall asleep holding hands.

This is my simply inspired life. And I am smiling. Amen.