A Billboard, a Book, and a Heart Full of Gratitude

I never could have imagined this moment. Standing in the heart of Times Square, looking up at a larger-than-life billboard featuring Resilient AF: Stories of Resilience, Volume 2—a book I had the privilege of co-authoring—was nothing short of surreal. It was a moment of pride, disbelief, and an overwhelming wave of gratitude.

But beneath the flashing lights, my heart carried something deeper: the weight of my grief. Because moments like these—the epic, once-in-a-lifetime kind—are the ones you wish you could share with the people you’ve lost. And yet, in the glow of that billboard, I felt them with me.

This journey wasn’t just about the billboard—it was about the people who stood beside me and those who lifted me from afar. And what a journey it was! As I reflected on how I even got here, I had to remember that the people I was missing died. I had sacrificed so much life, love, and hope to even be standing here. As I also looked around in grief and gratitude, I saw my daughter who was with me. I saw my husband Chantz with me. We were all experiencing feelings similar, yet so different. 

I never take Graci and Chantz’s support for granted—they stand with me in both triumph and despair, and for that, I am endlessly grateful. I also need to thank my family and friends; I received so many messages on socials, texts, and love from so many. These are my biggest cheerleaders and this why I am able to continue to do what I do is the support I receive from them all.  

I also couldn't do it without you the community who I share on socials my life and my business with. I shared this book not just to sell copies, but to spread resilience. And you all showed up—buying, sharing, and supporting these powerful stories from around the world. You made this moment even more meaningful. I've said it over and over again, this book is full of stories of so many who have found their own resilience. One story may not resonate with you, but many may. 

To recap our journey in NYC:

• Thursday upon arrival we ate and took in some sights around the city
• Friday we took in more sights, great coffee, museums, and was finally able to meet some of my grief-y online friends in person for the very first time. My friend Kera from Chicago, my friend Nina from Miami, my friend Moira from Madrid, Spain, and a couple new gals Gina from NYC. Also, Blair & Alana from Canada who are the founders and creators of the whole entire book. We ate at a delicious French restaurant. 
• Saturday was the BIG reveal of the billboard and we had a photo shoot in front of the it in the middle of Times Square! EPIC MOMENT! It was Cold AF as well. Saturday night we were able to eat with Chantz' cousin and stuffed our faces pretty good! 
• Sunday Blair & Alana hosted a beautiful brunch for all the authors from volume 1 & 2 that were able to be there. It was SOOOO good and meeting so many people, even my new friend from Dubai! I rocked some kick-ass sparkly boots with a pink blazer (totally out of the norm for this girl). We of course then headed back to change into our game day gear as we were ready to root and cheer on the KC Chiefs victory into the Super Bowl! 
• Monday we did a lot of walking and taking in parts of the city we hadn't seen before. We had an amazing dinner with my friend Moira (from Spain) and her lovely friend Melanie. Chantz' friend from NY was able to join us as well and the dinner was superb-Ah-mazing sushi! 
• Tuesday we headed home and I really sat on the plane and was like "What just happened"? LOL...the feeling is so surreal honestly. 

This brings the whole feeling of this epic trip and amazing anthology to what I always say; we can have "both/and". We can have the grief living in our hearts and we will feel it forever, but the love and joy we feel is in the forefront of all we do. It's okay to have both and it's okay to feel it deeply. 

I never wanted to say goodbye to any of my people; I didn't want to bury my one year old son, I didn't want to become a widow at age 36 y/o, and I didn't want to say goodbye to my brother either. But, what I can do for their memories and honor their lives is putting that one foot in front of the other and continue to create, share, write, show up on billboards, tell their stories, and tell my story of resilience. We don’t all have to do this. But we can all do something. If your 'something' is simply carrying love alongside your grief, then my friend, you are doing just fine.

This wasn’t just a celebration of a book. It was a testament to resilience, to finding purpose after loss, and to honoring my story—our stories—in a way I never thought possible.