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Woman Who Lost Her Entire Family Waits for a Friend - But Someone She Wasnt Expecting at All Shows Up Instead
Uplifting News

Woman Who Lost Her Entire Family Waits for a Friend - But Someone She Wasnt Expecting at All Shows Up Instead

In the tight-knit community of Sugar City, amidst tales of loss and heartache, a remarkable story of compassion and resilience emerges.Ruth Clark, a woman whose life has been marked by unfathomable tragedy, finds herself at the center of a touching display of kindness.The Tough Times One Woman Was Going ThroughPhoto by Karolina GrabowskaHaving endured the heartbreaking loss of her five children to illness and the recent passing of her beloved husband, Rick, Ruth's journey is a testament to the strength of the human spirit.A heartwarming video from East Idaho News captures the essence of Ruth's story, showcasing her unwavering dedication and selflessness in the face of adversity.Despite the immense challenges she has faced, Ruth remained steadfast in her role as a caregiver, balancing the demands of caring for her four sons with Muscular Dystrophy and her daughter's illness while also juggling a job.Yet, amidst her own trials, Ruth displayed an extraordinary level of empathy and generosity. A few years ago, she selflessly donated her wheelchair-accessible van to a family in need, demonstrating her compassion for others despite her own hardships.Tragically, the recent loss of her husband compounded Ruth's grief, leaving her burdened with the financial strain of funeral expenses.How Strangers Surprised a Grieving WomanIn a heartening turn of events, Secret Santa, through the East Idaho News team, orchestrated a surprise visit to Ruth's home, bearing not only financial assistance but also a message of community support and love.Ruth, expecting a visit from a friend, opens the door to the unexpected visitors, and is greeted with warmth and compassion. The revelation that Secret Santa will cover her husband's funeral expenses and provide additional funds for her to visit a grandchild in Maine leaves Ruth overcome with tears of gratitude and disbelief.This touching moment captured on camera serves as a powerful reminder of the kindness that exists within communities, offering a glimmer of hope in the midst of sorrow.Ruth's journey, though marred by tragedy, serves as a beacon of resilience and compassion, inspiring acts of kindness and solidarity far beyond the borders of Sugar City.How One Woman Proved the Importance of CompassionIn a world often overshadowed by darkness, Ruth's story shines as a testament to the enduring power of human compassion and the transformative impact of even the smallest acts of kindness.Ultimately, Ruth's experience reminds us that in moments of despair, it is the outpouring of love and support from others that sustains us and restores our faith in humanity.As we witness Ruth's journey unfold, let us be inspired to embrace compassion, extend a helping hand to those in need, and foster a community built on empathy, understanding, and unwavering support.More from Goalcast:Flight Attendant Notices Grieving Mom and Hands Her a Note – Little Did She Know He Would Become Her SolaceGrieving Mother Honors the Memory of Her Young Daughter With a Gift to a Stranger – The Note She Writes Moves an Entire Toy Store to TearsWaiter Pays for Grieving Stranger’s Grocery Bill – Then She Comes to His Workplace With a Heart-wrenching Note

16-Year-Old Puts Her Abusive Father in Jail - Today, the Police Officers Who Arrested Him Walked Her Down the Aisle
Love Stories

16-Year-Old Puts Her Abusive Father in Jail - Today, the Police Officers Who Arrested Him Walked Her Down the Aisle

On July 15, 28-year-old Ivy Jacobsen walked down the aisle to wed her now-husband Tristen.Despite not having her father there, she didn't walk alone. Because while he may not have been there for her, 15 other men were. And whew, you're gonna want to grab the tissues for this one.Why the Father of the Bride Wasn’t at His Daughter’s WeddingPhoto by Dominika RoseclayIvy was just 16 years old when her abusive father walked into a prison cell and out of her life. A sophomore in high school, Ivy played a pivotal role in having her dad arrested and convicted after enduring years of sexual abuse. In July 2013, after three separate trials, Ivy's father was convicted of rape of a child and child molestation. He's currently serving 16 years in prison.After the last trial ended, Ivy was finally free to rebuild her life. She graduated high school and became a law enforcement officer. She currently works as a school resource officer in East Wenatchee, Washington State, which she says is her "dream job."And now, she's a newlywed.And through it all, there have been a number of men who stepped up when her father so miserably failed. Men who shouldered the responsibility of helping to raise her, mentor her, and love her. Men who selflessly made sacrifices to help a child who wasn't their own. Men, she says, without whom she'd "be on the streets."Men who taught her the true meaning of what it is to be a father. Including her father's arresting officer, David White.15 Men Step Up to Walk a Bride Down the AisleIvy knew that on her wedding day, she wanted to do something special to pay tribute to the men in her life that stood by her when she needed them most. "I wanted to honor these 15 men because they were true examples of FATHERS who deserved to be called 'DAD,'" Ivy wrote in an Instagram post. So, she invited them to continue their journey with her...down the aisle.Wedding planner Karrah captured the heartwarming moment on camera and uploaded it to TikTok where it's been viewed over 12 MILLION times. Because it's THAT BEAUTIFUL.As the bride makes her way toward the altar, the men take turns accompanying her, two at a time with one on either side. They hold hands and usher her a few steps down the grassy path before handing her off to the next pair of waiting men.The caption on the video tells a powerful story: "On her wedding day, she asked 15 of the most important men in her life to escort her down the aisle." "These men included her brother, brother-in-law, childhood coaches, and the police officer who arrested her father."With each step, it's obvious that this is so much more than just a love story between a man and a woman on their wedding day. It's a love story between a woman and her "fathers." The men who CHOSE to stand with her throughout her life.(Don't cry, don't cry, don't cry).When Ivy reaches Tristen the officiant asks, "Who gives this woman to be married to this man?" Her entourage thunderously responds with a collective, "We do."*SOBS*How One Woman Is Turning Tragedy Into TriumphThe gut-wrenching video is melting hearts around the world. In addition to its 12 million views, it's also garnered over 1.8M likes and 17K comments."I can’t stop crying. this is so beautifully heartbreaking 💓," writes one emotional commenter.Another writes, "This is beautiful. I’m so grateful she has all these amazing men to show up for someone who couldn’t in the first place. ❤️""Her Village! they all gave her what she needed in a dad!" writes a third.But it isn't just the men who stepped up that make this so beautiful. It's Ivy. Her strength, her resilience, and her overwhelming courage."Thank you for sharing this and being vulnerable. As a survivor of domestic abuse due to a very abusive marriage, I admire your strength to live above what you’ve experienced," writes one person."Wow, as someone who grew up with an abusive father and let him walk free, I am so proud of her for standing up for herself. She deserves to feel safe and protected," writes another.In an interview, Ivy credits David White, her father's arresting officer, and her own student resource officer from middle school, with being a hero. But the truth is, she's the hero.Despite enduring unthinkable trauma by the man who she should have been able to trust the most, Ivy is thriving. And now? She's using her own tragedy to help others. From Hurt to HopeIn a follow-up TikTok, Ivy thanks viewers for their outpouring of love. She also reminds people that they don't have to live a life imprisoned by their trauma."We all have a story that shapes us — it does not define us — but shapes us and empowers us in ways to move forward."Ivy JacobsenIvy is definitely moving forward. And thanks to the unbreakable bonds she shares with 15 very special men who prove that love really does have the power to triumph over tragedy, she's not doing it alone. More from Goalcast:Bride’s Father Dies Before Wedding – So Her Mom Gifts Her the Ultimate Daddy-Daughter Dance SurpriseBride and Groom Stand at the Altar – Then He Asks Her to Step Aside for Someone ElseBride Bows Head During Wedding Ceremony – The Voice She Hears Next Leaves Everyone in Tears

8-Year-Old Gets Lost in the Woods for 50 Hours - Uses His Wits and Helps His Friend Find Him
Uplifting News

8-Year-Old Gets Lost in the Woods for 50 Hours - Uses His Wits and Helps His Friend Find Him

Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park, Michigan’s largest state park, is a remote, hilly area dotted with lakes — a favorite spot for hikers, fishermen and campers. Eight-year-old Nante Niemi was there with his family, who was happily participating in all three pastimes. When the group decided to split up, half of them going for firewood and the other half going to fish, Nante decided to go with the group in the woods. After a while, he asked if he could go back to the campsite.It was early afternoon when Nante started walking back to the campsite by himself. That was the last time anyone would see him for nearly 50 hours. How One Little Boy Went Missing in the WoodsPhoto by Felix MittermeierWhen the two groups reunited at the campsite early that evening, they noticed that Nante was missing and immediately started combing the woods themselves. When they couldn’t find him, they called the police.Meanwhile, the eight-year-old boy had wandered over two miles from his campsite and was completely lost in the unfamiliar terrain. But he kept his wits about him and started to devise a plan of action. Nante started by following blue hiking marks on trees but ended up circling the same area over and over. When it started to rain, he took cover under a log.Still, that evening, no help had reached the missing boy. The temperatures plummeted but fortunately stayed above freezing. Nante spotted search helicopters circling overhead, but there was little he could do to attract their attention. An 8-Year-Old’s RealizationPhoto by Brandie RobbinsThat’s when the boy realized that he would have to do something to aid the search and rescue efforts. He stomped his feet in a patch of mud and ran around leaving muddy footprints. In the hilly forest, there were lots of puddles of standing water, but Nante knew he shouldn’t drink it. In order to stay hydrated, he ate snow.Meanwhile, more than 150 search and rescue personnel were combing the area. They covered a 40-square-mile area on foot, in addition to crews searching by air and in the water. The family would later find out that Nante was difficult to find because he kept moving in circles. But it was those muddy footprints that he thought to leave that would eventually lead to his rescue.The Clue That Led to Missing 8-Year-Old’s RescueA volunteer team joined the Michigan State Police to help with the search efforts, and Eli Talisman, a friend of Nante’s, was called in to join them. It was hoped that Nante would call out to a friendly voice or respond to a friendly face. The 18-year-old immediately packed a bag and joined the volunteer team on the ground. They searched for the missing boy in the thick woods, calling out to him and listening for a response. Then they saw the muddy footprints.Colin Gauthier, part of the volunteer group that found Nante, explained, “We had four or five guys there that were looking at these footsteps, and then we heard a sound of some sort. It sounded like a scream, just like a scream, but one of the guys said, ‘Ah, it’s a bird’…we were following these steps in the mud and then, as we were doing that, I heard it again, but this time it was completely clear.”How One Little Boy Used His Wits to Aid in His RescueAs soon as Eli heard it, he jumped into action. “I grabbed my bag that was on the ground and I started sprinting, and I get over this little, tiny hill, and all I see is this little, tiny, white sweatshirt.” Eli looked down to find Nante with a weak smile on his face. He grabbed his young friend up in a bear hug, immensely relieved to have finally found the boy after long hours of searching. Eli laughs as he tells the story of that moment; Nante looked at his friend and asked, "Were you looking for me?"The volunteers got the exhausted child into a carrier pack, and Eli carried him out of the woods. After being checked by medical authorities, Nante was released to his family, safe and sound. Nante’s school district shared the news of the boy’s rescue on its Facebook page.When hearing Nante’s story, it’s easy to forget that this missing boy was only eight years old. He’s in second grade. And yet, miles from his family’s campsite, alone in the woods overnight, he showed remarkable bravery and resourcefulness. Nante kept a cool head throughout the ordeal, making smart decisions when it came to not drinking standing water, sheltering from the rain, and especially, leaving marks for rescuers to find. The experience is something that will likely have a large impact on him, and he can be proud of the part he played in his own rescue.

Mom and Her 4 Kids Were Stuck in an Abusive Situation - So She Built Her Own House Using YouTube to Escape
Uplifting News

Mom and Her 4 Kids Were Stuck in an Abusive Situation - So She Built Her Own House Using YouTube to Escape

Situations of abuse are complicated and nuanced, and there are many reasons why women choose to stay. Often women are scared to leave because they aren’t sure where they will go or who they can turn to, and they’re terrified of what comes next.Now, one woman who survived such an experience has a very powerful message: you can persevere. And she’s proof.A Dark SituationCourtesy of Cara BrookinsAbout a decade ago, Cara Brookins felt trapped. For a short period of time, she was married to a man that, she told CBS News, “Descended into full-blown paranoid schizophrenia.” They divorced, but he still came around and scared the family.Brookins remarried, believing the man she committed to was strong enough to handle her past. “But I was wrong, and he turned out to be a very violent man,” she revealed.RELATED: Domestic Abuse Survivor Marries The First Responder Who Saved Her LifeAt the time, Brookins’ children were 17, 15, 11 and 2. She didn’t have enough money to afford a house for all of them, but she knew she needed out of her current situation.“Eventually, I realized there was no way that I could ever make this situation better. It was the realization that maybe if the kids and I are out of here, then we have a shot,” she recalled.A Clean BreakCourtesy of Cara BrookinsBrookins moved herself and her kids into a safe space: a tiny home outside of Little Rock, Arkansas. That’s when she came to a realization: there was a way to secure a home large enough for her and her four kids.“I had rented this cabin for a Thanksgiving getaway. Driving there, we passed this house that had been ravaged by a tornado. It was this beautiful dream house, and it was sort of wide open," she recalled to the outlet.RELATED: Clever 911 Dispatcher Saves Woman From Domestic Abuser By Noticing Subtle Cue"You don’t often get the opportunity to see the interior workings of a house, but looking at these 2x4s and these nails, it just looked so simple. I thought, ‘I could put this wall back up if I really tried. Maybe I should just start from scratch.’”So that’s what she did. She put together enough money to buy all the construction supplies she needed and bought an acre of land. Then, she and her kids jumped right in.“Once I had bought all these supplies and they were all piled up, there was no way out,” Brookins added. “There wasn’t enough money to pay anyone to put them together. There was no Plan B.”A Family Effort The family had no background in construction work (Brookins weighed just over 100 pounds and worked as a computer analyst), but they turned to YouTube for help. There, they’d watch videos on how to frame a window or how to put a foundation together. They’d research a few different ways and find the one that worked best for them and the home they were building.Everyone pitched in, too. The older kids would work on the house before and after school as well as on weekends, and everyone would take turns watching the youngest.RELATED: Woman Survives Psychological Abuse And Proves You Can Find Healthy Love Again“They were all in,” Brookins added. “My biggest fear was that my teenagers would wake up and say, ‘No, I’m not doing this.’ And it never happened. It was the first time they had felt any sort of power, any sort of control over their lives. And they knew how much they needed it.”In the end, this amazing family did everything from the ground up: hand-mixing the mortar, running gas lines, and framing the walls, as per CBS News.“It hurt,” Brookins confessed. “It was not something that was a great match to us physically, but my kids got up every day, and they came out here. I was working all day, and they were in school, and we would work into the night, sometimes by headlights. It was incredibly intense. There was nobody going to the movies. There were no dates, no hanging out. It was all hands on deck.”A Powerful MessageNow that Brookins is on the other side of her domestic situation and her house build, she wants to share her story with other women who feel trapped in their own situations. She wrote a book, Rise, How A House Built a Family, and she has some advice for anyone else who feels like they can’t leave a bad circumstance.“Forget everything you’ve been told about taking baby steps. Everybody says, ‘If you just take a small step every day, it will get better,’” she said. “In my experience, though, it doesn’t. You have to make a big leap. It has to be this huge, enormous act. For us, it was building a house. For somebody else, it could be something totally different. But you need to do something big that changes your perception of yourself.”If you or someone you know is in a situation of domestic abuse and needs help, there are resources out there. The National Domestic Violence Hotline is available 24/7 and contains many helpful tools. The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence is another helpful resource.Sometimes taking that first step is the hardest. But it could also be the start of a whole new future.

50-Year-Old Woman Challenges Herself to Spend 500 Days Alone Underground - When the Time's Up, She Doesnt Want to Leave
Uplifting News

50-Year-Old Woman Challenges Herself to Spend 500 Days Alone Underground - When the Time's Up, She Doesnt Want to Leave

How much time are you able to spend alone, without seeing anyone else? A few days? Maybe longer? Now, how much time do you think you’d be able to go without seeing anyone else while also living alone, underground? One woman figured she could last 500 days… and she was right.A Scientific JourneyCourtesy of PexelsOn Saturday, Nov 20, 2021, a Spanish mountain climber named Beatriz Flamini entered a cave in southern Spain to spend 500 days in isolation. She was 48 years old and wanted to help scientists see how a human would handle living underground for so long. According to the Associated Press, the project was called “Timecave.”Flamini entered the cave 70 meters underground, armed with books, painting and art supplies, and knitting. She used two cameras to document her experience and then placed the recordings at an exchange point. Her team dropped off food and other necessities at the site throughout her time there.According to AP, there was a team of psychologists, researchers, physical trainers and speleologists monitoring her, but none of them had direct contact.After five hundred days underground (excluding eight days where technical difficulties forced her to stay isolated in a tent, instead), Flamini emerged, triumphant.A Lovely TimeShortly after Flamini came out of the cave, there was a press conference where she detailed her time there. She asked who was buying the celebratory round of beers, and admitted she lost track of time after about 60 days.At no point did she feel like she would hit the panic button though, even when a swarm of flies attacked her. "If this is your dream and you're realizing it, why are you going to cry?" she said, as per Reuters.“In fact, I didn’t want to come out,” she told reporters. "When they came in to get me, I was asleep. I thought something had happened," Flamini added. “I said: 'Already? Surely not.' I hadn't finished my book.”Then, because she hadn’t showered in more than 16 months, the now-50-year-old asked to be excused.A New Record Flamini missed a lot of things during her time in isolation, like the end of certain COVID restrictions, the death of Queen Elizabeth, and the start of the Ukraine war. But her team also believes she now holds a world record, which will hopefully be verified soon.According to the AP, Italian Maurizio Montalbini set a world record in 1987 by spending 210 days in a cave. There are also reports of a person who spent more than 460 days underground in 2016.RELATED: 10 Celebrities You Won’t Believe Set Guinness World RecordsFor now, Flamini is looking forward to catching up with friends and family. Doctors will also continue to monitor her mental and physical health in the near future, so she’ll wait to hear their final assessments before planning her next adventure. Until then, she’ll have fond memories of this one.“I didn't talk to myself out loud, but I had internal conversations and got on very well with myself,” she added. “You have to remain conscious of your feelings. If you're afraid, that's something natural but never let panic in, or you get paralyzed.”You're More Capable Than You RealizeIt takes a strong person to survive an isolating experiment such as this, but this story is also touching because it reminds us of just how incredible the human body is. If you can put your mind to something, you really can achieve incredible feats. Flamini is proof of that. We may not be able to survive a cave, but we can get through hard things. Often, the only person that stands in your way is you. This story just reminds us that sometimes we have to stop the negative self-talk and get our grit on instead. Because once we do, we’re basically unstoppable.

35 Strength Quotes That Will Have You Flexing Those Metaphysical Muscles
Leaders

35 Strength Quotes That Will Have You Flexing Those Metaphysical Muscles

When you picture a strong person, your very first thoughts may be of a bodybuilder flexing muscles honed by countless hours in the gym. However, upon reflection you’ll realize that true human strength often has little to do with muscle mass, rep counts, or weights lifted into the air. Sure, your indomitable will may have allowed you to push past all the adversity you found in the gym to gain strength and increase your physical capacity, but in truth, true strength has everything to do with perseverance and bravery. Ironically, human strength often has much to do with being gentle. Here’s a quick anecdote to prove it.Arnold Shows the WayArnold Schwarzenegger, former governor of California, world-renowned movie star, and of course the most famous bodybuilder of all time, won the title of Mr. Olympia a stunning seven times. He perfectly demonstrated true strength when a fan sent him this Tweet: “I know this is pandering but, I’ve been depressed for months and haven’t hit the gym during that time. Mr. Schwarzenegger can you please tell me to get off my lazy ass and hit the gym? I swear to everything I hold dear that I will snap out of it and go.” Schwarzenegger’s response, according to BBC? “I’m not going to be that hard on you. Please don’t be that hard on yourself. We all go through challenges, we all go through failure. Sometimes life is a workout. But the key thing is you get up. Just move a little. Roll out of bed and do some pushups or go for a walk. Just do something. One step at a time, I hope you feel better and get back to the gym. But don’t beat yourself up, because that’s just useless talk. It doesn’t get you closer to the gym. And don’t be afraid to ask for help. Good luck.”This man, one of the strongest souls and most massive characters, one renowned for physical strength, he instead showed the power of the human spirit and counseled self-care, kindness and compassion instead, not tough love. And guess what? It worked. That depressed and lethargic gentleman reportedly got himself right back to the gym and felt better than ever. How to build up emotional and spiritual strength and resilience?If we can first agree that strength is not a physical quality so much as more of a metaphysical manner, then we can move ahead to discussing how it is best built up and maintained. It all starts with a mindset.In spite of overwhelming obstacles you perceive in your way, in spite of the broken places you perceive inside yourself, in spite of your fear of all that may go wrong out there in the world, you can and indeed must decide that you are going to be a brave man or woman and stand firm against the challenges you face.Easier said than done? Sure. But take heart, it’s not about any of us becoming heroes overnight or thinking that the only way to succeed is by getting it right every single time: it’s about finding just enough inner strength to take that first step of the journey. It’s about doing the right thing as often as we can and not giving up on all of it if we fail now and then. And it’s about knowing that, often, in difficulty lies opportunity. Sometimes, to simply survive is to succeed. Life is the summation of all of our choices and actions, and if on the balance you did your best most of the time, and you did right more often than not, you will have lived a life of strength and goodness. Being strong doesn’t mean going it aloneStrong people are often depicted as solitary, stoic, go-it-alone types, but that conception is really best left to books and movies. In reality, the strong help those that they can and are not too proud to ask for help when they need it.You are not alone on life’s journey, so why act like it? There’s no loss of face in turning to others whether you need a whole lot of help or just a bit of motivation.So if a few motivational quotes help you feel stronger and better able to face new challenges or cope with those already extant in your life, by all means read and re-read them each and every day. Motivation is, after all, not a one-time thing: it’s not a shove that starts us rolling, but a steady push that keeps us going. The more we can learn to stay motivated, the more confident we’ll feel. And if you think all confident people – or, more to the point, those who seem confident – were simply born that way, then think again. For most people, confidence is learned, honed, and developed. It is achieved, you might say, rather than innate. Reading some confidence quotes written or spoken by those to whom you look up can help you build up your own self-confidence, often because you will see just how much these seemingly towering figures are just like you.Once you have learned how to get and stay motivated and you are confident enough in your abilities and inherent self-worth, guess what? That’s right: that’s strength already. Believing in yourself and being ready to charge ahead toward your goals means you have the emotional fortitude needed to manifest those things in life that will make your life satisfying and meaningful. Famous and affirming quotes about strength that will help you see how strong you really areGo ahead and draw some personal power from these 35 quotes about strength spoken or written so well."Be sure you put your feet in the right place, then stand firm." – Abraham Lincoln(Getty)“"With the new day comes new strength and new thoughts."– Eleanor Roosevelt"A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles." – Christopher Reeve(Getty)“Do not judge me by my success, judge me by how many times I fell down and got back up again.” — Nelson Mandela. “If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.” — Martin Luther King, Jr.(Getty)“We need women who are so strong they can be gentle, so educated they can be humble, so fierce they can be compassionate, so passionate they can be rational, and so disciplined they can be free.” — Kavita Ramdas"For what it’s worth: It’s never too late to be whoever you want to be. I hope you live a life you’re proud of, and if you find you’re not, I hope you have the strength to start over again." – F. Scott Fitzgerald(Bettmann / Contributor / Getty)“We will either find a way, or make one.” — Hannibal BarcaA brave man acknowledges the strength of others.” — Veronica Roth(Axelle/Bauer-Griffin / Contributor / Getty)"One has to understand that braveness is not the absence of fear but rather the strength to keep on going forward despite the fear.” – Paulo Coelho"You never know how strong you are, until being strong is your only choice." Bob Marley(Evening Standard / Stringer / Getty)"What makes you different or weird, that's your strength." Meryl Streep"Courage is the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently." Maya Angelou(Getty)“The human capacity for burden is like bamboo — far more flexible than you’d ever believe at first glance.” Jodi Picoult “The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.” Mahatma Gandhi(Dinodia Photos / Contributor / Getty)“When we long for life without difficulties, remind us that oaks grow strong in contrary winds and diamonds are made under pressure.” Peter Marshall"The undertaking of a new action brings new strength." Richard Evans“Mastering others is strength, mastering yourself is true power.” Lao Tzu(Getty)“It is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves.” Edmund Hillary“Shallow men believe in luck. Strong men believe in cause and effect.”Ralph Waldo Emerson(Otto Herschan Collection / Stringer / Getty)“There is a stubbornness about me that never can bear to be frightened at the will of others. My courage always rises at every attempt to intimidate me.” Jane Austen(Getty)“When you have exhausted all possibilities, remember this: you haven’t.” Thomas A. Edison“We do not have to become heroes overnight. Just a step at a time, meeting each thing that comes up, seeing it is not as dreadful as it appeared, discovering we have the strength to stare it down.” Eleanor Roosevelt(Getty)“You have power over your mind – not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.” Marcus Aurelius(Hulton Archive / Stringer / Getty)“We don’t even know how strong we are until we are forced to bring that hidden strength forward.” Isabel Allende“It is good to love many things, for therein lies the true strength, and whosoever loves much performs much, and can accomplish much, and what is done in love is well done.”Vincent Van Gogh(Getty)“I believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong. I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe that tomorrow is another day and I believe in miracles.” Audrey Hepburn(Getty)“The harder you fall, the heavier your heart; the heavier your heart, the stronger you climb; the stronger you climb, the higher your pedestal.”Criss Jami“Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved.” Hellen Keller(Getty)“Strength does not come from winning. Your struggles develop your strengths. When you go through hardships and decide not to surrender, that is strength.”Arnold Schwarzenegger“The world breaks everyone, and afterward, some are strong at the broken places.” Ernest Hemingway(Lloyd Arnold / Contributor / Getty)“It’s your reaction to adversity, not adversity itself that determines how your life’s story will develop.” Dieter F. Uchtdorf(George Frey / Stringer / Getty)“This is no time for ease and comfort. It is time to dare and endure.” Winston Churchill(Getty)“It is really wonderful how much resilience there is in human nature. Let any obstructing cause, no matter what, be removed in any way, even by death, and we fly back to first principles of hope and enjoyment.” Bram Stoker(Bettmann / Contributor / Getty)“Rock bottom became the solid foundation in which I rebuilt my life.” J.K. Rowling(Gareth Davies / Contributor / Getty)"When I dare to be powerful, to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid." Audre LordeWhat many strength quotes have in commonDid you notice a common thread running through easily half of these compelling quotes about strength? It is indeed that so many of those quoted spoke about characteristics you may at first associate with the opposite of strength.Note all the attention paid to fear, failure, and weakness – true strength comes when we achieve in spite of such faults. Note how often adversity and challenges are mentioned instead of each and success – no one respects anyone who has faced no challenges in life, even if they are but challenges created for one’s own self, also known as goals and achievements.From famed writers and artists to politicians of ancient times and modern to great religious and spiritual leaders and beyond, the same themes emerge when people speak about strength, and most of them revolve around the idea that true strength looks nothing like perfection or repeated success, but rather it looks like persistence that leads to achievement after repeated failure.Take to heart one more quote. It is often misattributed to one of the most famous philosophers of all time, Aristotle, whereas in fact the actual quote comes from Will Durant, who was at least writing about philosophy in his aptly named 1920s book The Story of Philosophy, via Medium. The quote is: “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.”And taken on its own, it’s a great quote – it’s an admirable and, better yet, an actionable affirmation we can use to motivate ourselves each and every day. But the quote is also a fine one because of the long-term perspective it can help us gain in our lives. Thinking about a quality as a habit makes it seem more attainable and more maintainable as well. In other words, you may not feel strong today or tomorrow, but you might next week or next month and maybe you will feel that way all of next year and the year after that.And just maybe, looking back over the years, you will feel you were strong more often than not, and that should make you feel rather excellent.