Resilience Archives - Amy Jo Honey

My Bestie Was Unalived in 1990.

amyhoney March 28, 2025 March 28, 2025Amy Honey, Amy Jo Honey, Womens Empowerment

In 1990, my best friend was unalived by a 25-year-old man. She was barely 20. He beat her so savagely with a baseball bat that blood and brain matter touched the ceiling of her 18 foot loft. That’s the image I still carry. At first, we all blamed her fiancé. He was abusive, angry, and controlling. So of course we thought it was him. We alienated him. Shut him out. He lost his fiancée and all his friends in one horrifying moment. But it wasn’t him. It was her neighbor. Just a weak man that was obsessed with her. And yeah… if you don’t want to be accused of unaliving someone, maybe don’t beat your partner Here’s what still makes my blood boil. The man child who did it begged the judge for leniency. Because he “had his whole life ahead of him.” Fricking narcissists! You know what the judge said? He said it was one of the most brutal cases he had ever seen. Then he gave him the maximum sentence allowed by law at the time: 15 years. That was it. That’s what her life was worth. Meanwhile, that guy is currently out. He got out when he was 40, and he brutalized the family by appealing every chance he got, and forcing them to relive the horror. And now here’s the part that connects the dots: 90% of people who commit gRape or redrum like this are men. And in 1990, only about 6% of Congress were women. So…

Hope in the Face of Control – Rising Above Fear and Oppression

amyhoney March 1, 2025 April 4, 2025MEME's

In times of uncertainty, when those in power seem determined to tighten their grip, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. It’s easy to believe that the system is too big, too corrupt, too impossible to change. That’s exactly what they want you to think. Instead, we are going to choose rising above fear and oppression. They want you to feel trauma.Because a traumatized mind is easier to manipulate. When you are constantly anxious, constantly reacting, constantly in a state of survival mode, you don’t have the energy to resist. You don’t have the clarity to think for yourself. You don’t have the strength to rise. They want you to feel hopeless.Because when you believe nothing will ever change, you stop trying. You stop questioning. You stop standing up for yourself and for those around you. They want you to accept the world as they’ve designed it—where you have no power, no voice, no future beyond what they allow. They want you to feel powerless.Because people who believe they have no control will not fight back. They will not unite. They will not challenge authority. Powerless people become obedient people. And obedience, without question, is how oppression thrives. But here’s what they don’t want you to realize. Your spirit is stronger than their control. Your mind is capable of breaking free from their narrative. And, your heart is resilient beyond their imagination. You are not powerless.You are not alone.And no system, no government, no force in history has ever been able to suppress people who refuse to…

Howard Brown: From the depths of two cancer battles to the heights of Silicon Valley success—Howard Brown’s memoir is a beacon of resilience and triumph

Liz Rubico October 11, 2024 October 11, 2024Meet The Authors

Howard Brown’s story is one that really sticks with you. It’s not just about surviving two battles with cancer—it’s about finding a way to thrive, no matter what life throws your way. In Shining Brightly: A Memoir of Resilience and Hope, Howard takes you through his personal journey, from being knocked down by cancer (twice!) to building a successful career in Silicon Valley. But it’s more than that. His story is about fighting for something bigger—hope, connection, and even peace between different faiths. Imagine being in your twenties, excited about the future, only to be told you have cancer. Most people would understandably break down, but Howard didn’t. He fought hard, leaning on cutting-edge treatments and the support of loved ones. And he won. But then, years later, cancer came back. It would’ve been easy to feel defeated, but Howard faced it head-on again, determined not to let this disease be the end of his story. Meanwhile, in his professional life, Howard wasn’t just coasting. He was making waves as an entrepreneur in the fast-paced world of Silicon Valley. It wasn’t an easy path—building companies from scratch never is—but the same resilience that helped him beat cancer fueled his success in business. He embraced risks, stayed innovative, and pushed forward when things got tough. But what makes Howard’s story even more special is his work outside of the cancer fight and business world. After everything he’d been through, he developed a deeper connection to others, especially those from different backgrounds…

Adele Saccarelli-Cavallaro: In the search for Oz, the greatest treasures aren’t found on the road, but within ourselves.

Liz Rubico October 8, 2024 October 7, 2024Meet The Authors

In “Searching for Oz” by Adele Saccarelli-Cavallaro, we’re taken on a journey that feels familiar to all of us—the search for meaning, fulfillment, and that elusive feeling of “having made it.” For so many, the idea of Oz represents this magical place where all of life’s problems are solved. It’s a destination where everything finally falls into place. But as Adele beautifully illustrates throughout the book, the greatest treasures we seek aren’t found at the end of the yellow brick road. In fact, they aren’t found on the road at all. They’re within us. Think about how often we look for happiness outside of ourselves. We set goals, chase achievements, or seek approval, thinking, “Once I get there, I’ll be happy,” or “Once I achieve this, I’ll feel complete.” Whether it’s a better job, a relationship, or financial success, it’s easy to believe that something external will magically bring fulfillment. But Adele reminds us that the real treasure—whether it’s courage, self-love, peace, or wisdom—has always been inside us. We just forget to look there. In the book, we’re reminded of the characters from the classic tale: the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion. Each of them believed they were missing something essential—a brain, a heart, or courage—and they thought Oz was the place to find it. But by the end of their journey, they discovered that everything they needed was already within them. The Scarecrow had his intelligence, the Tin Man had a heart, and the Lion had…

Scott Cramer: Life’s messes don’t stop for dads – Discover how to rebuild when everything seems to be falling apart

Liz Rubico October 5, 2024 October 4, 2024Meet The Authors

Life’s messes don’t stop for dads. Discover how to rebuild when everything seems to be falling apart. Fatherhood is an incredible journey, filled with love, joy, and, let’s be honest, a lot of responsibility. From the moment you become a dad, you’re no longer just living for yourself—you’re shaping the world for your kids. But let’s face it, life doesn’t slow down or get easier just because you’ve got little ones depending on you. Bills, work stress, relationship problems, personal struggles—life has a way of throwing chaos at you when you least expect it. And sometimes, it all feels like it’s crumbling around you. In Daily Dad: Picking Up the Pieces, author Scott Cramer dives into these moments when being a dad feels overwhelming. He reminds us that the real strength of fatherhood isn’t about never falling down. It’s about learning how to get back up and rebuild when everything seems to be falling apart. We dads often feel like we need to keep everything together, no matter what. Maybe it’s the pressure to always appear strong, or the fear of letting our families down. But the truth is, life’s messes don’t stop just because you’ve got kids. In fact, the responsibility of fatherhood can sometimes make those messes feel even bigger. You might be struggling with losing a job, dealing with relationship issues, or even just trying to manage the day-to-day stresses of life. When things get tough, it’s easy to question your ability to lead and wonder how…

Dan Clouser: The diamond is where talent meets hard work, but only a coach can unlock the full brilliance of both

Liz Rubico October 4, 2024 October 4, 2024Meet The Authors

The diamond is where talent meets hard work, but only a coach can unlock the full brilliance of both. In Dan Clouser’s The Beauty of a Diamond, Through the Eyes of a Coach, the baseball diamond is more than just a field—it’s a place where magic happens. It’s where talent and hard work meet, but without the guidance of a coach, that magic might never be fully realized. You see, a coach isn’t just there to call plays or yell from the sidelines. They’re the ones who help players see the potential within themselves, even when they don’t yet believe in it. Think about it: talent can only take an athlete so far. A gifted player might have all the skills in the world, but if they don’t have someone to guide them, they may never reach their full potential. It’s like a diamond in the rough—valuable, sure, but it needs to be polished to truly shine. That’s where hard work comes in. And that’s where the coach steps in. A coach sees things that others can’t. They see beyond the game, beyond the stats, and beyond the surface-level abilities of their players. They’re able to recognize the untapped potential that might not be obvious to anyone else, including the player themselves. But talent and hard work alone aren’t enough without direction. And that’s why coaches are so essential—they take raw talent, shape it, and guide it toward excellence. In The Beauty of a Diamond, Through the Eyes of a…

Jen Du Plessis: Success is sweeter when it’s unexpected. Tell Me I Can’t, and I’ll show you the impossible made real

Liz Rubico September 21, 2024 September 20, 2024Meet The Authors

Success is sweeter when it’s unexpected. Tell me I can’t, and I’ll show you the impossible made real. There’s something about being told, “you can’t” that just hits different, isn’t there? For some, it’s discouraging—like a weight pulling them down. But for others, it’s the spark that ignites a fire within. In Tell Me I Can’t, Jen Du Plessis talks about this exact feeling, about using that doubt as fuel to make the impossible possible. When someone tells you, “you can’t,” it’s tempting to believe them, especially if the odds seem stacked against you. But that’s where the magic happens. You get to make a choice: do you accept that as truth, or do you take it as a challenge to push harder and prove that anything is possible? For Jen, and for so many of us who’ve been counted out, the choice is simple—we prove them wrong. And here’s the thing—success is never easy. It’s messy. It’s full of long nights, quiet sacrifices, and moments of doubt. But when you achieve it, especially when no one expects you to, there’s no feeling quite like it. Jen captures this perfectly in her book. She talks about how those small, unexpected wins become personal victories. When people don’t see it coming, that success feels even sweeter, like you’ve quietly snuck in and claimed something that was meant for you all along. When people say “you can’t,” they’re not just doubting your ability—they’re trying to put limits on what you can achieve. But…

Kenyon Glover: A man broken by the world, reborn through faith—this is the story of rising stronger, more focused than ever

Liz Rubico September 17, 2024 September 14, 2024Meet The Authors

In The Rebirth & Resurrection of a New Man: Faithful and Focused, Kenyon Glover shares a raw and inspiring story about a man who hit rock bottom but found a way to rebuild himself through faith and determination. This isn’t just about bouncing back—it’s about completely transforming into someone stronger and more focused. At his lowest, this man felt like life had stripped everything away from him. He was dealing with loss, failure, and hardships that made it seem like there was no hope. But in the middle of all that pain, he turned to his faith. His connection with God gave him the strength he needed to not just survive, but to start over in a whole new way. This is where the true rebirth begins. Glover shows how faith can be the light that pulls you out of the darkest times. But it’s not just about belief—this man made a choice to get focused and live with more intention. He took control of his life, making every decision with purpose and refusing to let the things that used to distract him knock him off course. With faith, he found his strength. With focus, he stayed on track, no longer letting the past or outside noise hold him back. Glover’s message is simple and relatable: if you want to truly change, you need both faith and focus to make it happen. The Rebirth & Resurrection of a New Man: Faithful and Focused isn’t just a story of one guy…