What does "being strong" mean to you? For me, being strong means developing resilience to life’s trials. One constant in life is that we will always have hardships, but that’s what develops character and strength. I grew up as a competitive figure skater and one of the main things you learn is that every time you fall you get back up again. That’s so true not just in skating, but in life as a whole.
How does family shape your perception of strength? I was born with asthma and life-threatening allergies. My parents easily could’ve raised me to have a victim mentality, but they put so much effort into making sure I felt like any other kid and that I could do everything other kids could do. I’ve never felt like a victim, even though it would’ve been very easy to. I’m so thankful to them for that.
How have your trials made you stronger? I’ve suffered from depression and anxiety for years, but they really came to a head in college. It’s been 6 years since then, and I still struggle, but I’ve had an amazing support system and have found ways to get out of the hole I feel like I fall into sometimes. It’s gotten easier and easier to not feel helpless and stuck. I’m able to have more resilience that has come with a lot of practice and support from family and friends.
Alyssa’s Intentional Act of Kindness
How did you use the $100? I have a friend who has been hit hard with the pandemic. She lost her job, has been dealing with health issues, and is still trying to pay off her student debt/medical bills on top of it all. It felt good to help in that small way and I think she really appreciated it.
What was the ‘Intentional Act of Kindness’ process like for you? Honestly, it took a while to come up with how to use it because I don’t get to see her a lot so she wasn’t really on my radar. There seemed to be so many different ways to use the $100 and I couldn’t decide on how to ultimately use it. I prayed about it and she came to mind and I felt so at peace about my decision.
I’m so thankful to have been a part of this process! It felt amazing to be able to help my friend out. At first, it felt like such a small drop in the bucket, but I could see how much the small act of kindness meant to her. I’m thankful that I was really able to take the time to reflect on how I could help others and I hope to be able to continue.