FEATURED
Finding Joy and Purpose in Laos.
I was born in Switzerland in 1980, a very sporty and temperamental little girl. During my teenage years, I first studied languages, then sociology and political science and eventually earned...
FEATURED
On a Mission to Help Survivors of Violent Crimes.
I’ve lived in Monmouth County, New Jersey, my entire life. My daughter, Kiersten, was born the day after I turned 20. I was young, single and unprepared but I had...
FEATURED
Menopause Meets Its Match.
Growing up in the northeast of England in a working class neighbourhood meant that there was lots of opportunity for me to be led astray. As I started high school...
FEATURED
Digging Up Your Buried Dream at Any Age
I’ve known I was a writer since I was three. I was one of eight kids, and when you grow up in those great big families, you desperately want something...
Change Advocates
Menopause Meets Its Match.
Growing up in the northeast of England in a working class neighbourhood meant that there was lots of opportunity for me to be led astray. As I started high school and, in a concerted effort...
Improving the Lives of People with Autism
As a young woman growing up in New Jersey, I would not have imagined that in my 50s, I’d be President of NEXT for AUTISM, a non-profit organization focused on building and supporting innovative programs...
Turning the Loss of Her Son Into a BIGVISION For Sober Life
I was born in Brooklyn, New York in the 60’s where I had a very nice, normal childhood in a modern orthodox Jewish family. My family included a brother and a sister, great parents, and...
THE RESILIENT
On a Mission to Help Survivors of Violent Crimes.
I’ve lived in Monmouth County, New Jersey, my entire life. My daughter, Kiersten, was born the day after I turned 20. I was young, single and unprepared but I had a lot of support from...
The Light in 9/11
My daughter Jen hadn’t been feeling well so I took her to school a little late that day. She had just started 2nd grade in our quiet little New Jersey town. I got home a...
One Mother’s Poignant Campaign After Losing Her Son to Overdose
I grew up in New Jersey, in a close-knit Italian family. My husband, Tito, is from Argentina. I have three sisters and a brother and between us we have nine kids who are all very...
Submit A Story
We love to share stories about courage, strength, and determination. Please send a brief summary of your journey or someone you know to Rose@gritandsoul.net
UNCONVENTIONALS
An Accidental Tour Guide to the Arctic
I’ve taken the scenic route through, well, just about everything in my life! I was married for about 5 minutes in my 20’s (his folks lived in a castle in Portugal, what was a girl...
Career Transformation from Nurse to Goat Farmer!
I grew up in Oyster Bay, Long Island surrounded by animals. My dad brought home a lot of strays and we had a menagerie that included horses, dogs, cats, turtles and even an injured owl....
How a High School Dropout Became a Successful School Principal
At 86 years old, I’m a widow, mother of four boys, one granddaughter that I raised as my own, and retired educator. I was born on July 31st, 1931 in Newport News, Virginia. My six...
CAREER SHAKERS
My Child’s Frightening Food Allergies Sparked a Passion Within Me
My entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to education, were nurtured by my parents. I grew up in a small town in Fayetteville, North Carolina to an African American father and a Korean mother. While my father...
Unexpected Path for a Champion of First Generation College Students
From Actress to Entrepreneur I’ve always followed my own zig zagged path through life. I went to Wellesley College wanting to be a Supreme Court Justice but ended up going to acting school. Ah, remember...
Beginning a Modeling Career in her ‘50’s!
Growing up in Canada, it was inevitable that I would embrace outdoor activities in all seasons, however, in the dead of those long winter months, when frigid temperatures prevented any sort of outdoor fun, I...
