Growth is found in the valleys; it’s not found on the mountains. But being on the mountain allows us to see the beauty so when we have to go back to the valley, we can handle it.

~ Melanie Bradshaw

Have you ever experienced a sucker punch and thought, Why me? Melanie Bradshaw did. In fact, in 2021, our Brilliantly Resilient guest this week was treating Covid patients in the E.R. where she worked, lost her father to Covid, got Covid herself, was in a major car accident, and was diagnosed with breast cancer, undergoing major surgery twice to treat the disease.

If anyone had the right to ask, “Why me?” it was Melanie. But when the thought struck, she quickly turned it to “Why not me?” recognizing that she could be defeated or be tougher than the hits. She chose tough, knowing that we learn in the valleys so we can continue to strive for the view from the mountain top and appreciate all of its beauty.

Sucker punches, well, suck. But we always have a choice, and if you know us, we say it starts with a decision: Are you just visiting your challenge, or are you going to live there? We don’t usually have the choice to avoid a sucker punch, but we always have a choice as to whether that hit will define us. (Hint: It doesn’t have to!)

Tune into this week’s episode of the Brilliantly Resilient podcast to hear more from Melanie, her incredible story, and her amazing outlook to keep striving for the mountain top. Melanie is truly Brilliantly Resilient–so are you!

XO,

KS & MFB