Muster Up Some "Perseverance"

Here's how. An age old remedy to feeling down and discouraged is to get outside yourself and your world to see things from a different perspective. Particularly lately, I've had many emails and messages with busy women feeling overwhelmed and frustrated for numerous reasons. I can relate.

I particularly like when I can find a book, movie or story that engages me in a way that reminds me of what I do have, as well as the strength of the human spirit. A new book, Perseverance: True Voices of Cancer Survivors, does just that. The publisher was kind enough to send me an advance reader copy. Since it's targeted to youth and teens, I let my daughter read it first.

Here are her initial thoughts and an inspiring video...

Perseverance is a book about the struggle that college-aged students encountered to survive a life-threatening illness. For the review I chose to focus on some of the intriguing and inspiring points written in Christine Novotny’s chapter.

“I am a girl who loves her family and her friends. I believe there is a reason for everything and didn’t give death the time of day. Anyone put in my position would have had the strength we all carry to get through moments of hardship. One may say I or any other cancer survivor is unbelievably strong… but dears, you would have fought just as hard…”

Christine’s attitude is one of extreme modesty. She doesn’t stop to give herself credit but instead recognizes that in reality it’s just that she was the one chosen to display her strength in this way and at that time. This is one thing that I love about her. That and her “Hell no, I won’t go” attitude as said in the book.

Christine was diagnosed with cancer during her sophomore year of high school. The fifteen-year-old athlete, Christine, used her competitive nature to her advantage, despite painful and often times, frustrating procedures during the cancer. She refused to let cancer get the better of her.

Perseverance really gives you an inside view at the stories and battles that people everyday go through, the pain, the embarrassment, the defeat, and the victory. Check it out. This book will take you on amazing journey through the lives of people just like you.

You can watch the video below as well which gives you insight into the author, Carolyn Rubenstein's inspiring journey that started when she was in middle school.