Marie Francesca Izzo…I am 66 years young and sometimes I feel like I am walking in mud struggling to get out before it turns to cement. I have been through many chapters in my life and the thought of starting over…well, it is frightening, exhausting and causes me to run right back to my cocoon.

On the other hand, I need, we all need, a rejuvenation at times, a redefinition of who we are and where we are going. Sometimes, we just want to press the reset button.

I am not a psychologist, I am not a writer…what I am, is someone who is fascinated with the human spirit. Why is it that some people can rise above their challenges and make something of themselves, while others, not only can’t rise above their challenges, instead, they plummet into a seemingly bottomless chasm.

My inspiration for this blog was my husband, Bruce B. Blackburn III. He was a person who made a difference in this world. He overcame extreme medical challenges and shifted his focus from illness to wellness. He went from being a hospice patient at age 38 –– to living another 14 years…defying every doctor and their prognosis. He shared his passion, enthusiasm and compassion with everyone he met. His story symbolizes hope, courage and a knowing that no matter what our challenges are to never give up.

This blog is about winning from within and the power of the unbreakable spirit. It is a collection of stories of people from all walks of life who faced their challenges head on and rose above them…It’s not what happens, it’s what we do about it that shapes our future.

Together, let’s set the reset button again and see where it takes us…