Never Ever Give Up Hope

Lorraine Reguly, B.A./B.Ed., is an author and English teacher-turned-freelancer for hire. She offers 4 different services on Wording Well to help you with writing/blogging, and editing. Lorraine has helped many become published authors! In her interview, Lorraine shared her story of how she overcame suicidal thoughts that plagued her for years.  "Deciding what to do when you are suicidal is tough. You don’t know what to do. You don’t know who to turn to. YOU JUST WANT YOUR PAIN TO END."   Lorraine was raped when she was a 14-year-old virgin and tried killing herself when she was 15 years old.  She felt hopeless many times throughout her life.  She was a single mom who got involved with prostitution.  After going to school and becoming a high school teacher she quit teaching to return to prostitution. Her son ended up disowning her and in her pain, she smoked crack cocaine for 10 months. That was when she hit rock bottom.  There was nowhere to go but....up. After she nearly died from a burst appendix, it was a major turning point for her. She realized she did NOT want to die!  She wanted to LIVE!   She quit all negative things. She reconnected with her son.  She then started blogging and opened up her freelancing business a year later.  Then she wrote her books. Listen to her amazing story here:

Judy Glenney is an author, speaker and a mover and shaker.  She wanted to compete in weight lifting but quickly realized there were no categories for women to compete.  Through a long process she started the competition sport for women nationally, then internationally, then into the Olympics. She has won several championships, both nationally and internationally.   As a late in life mom, she had only one son whose life was cut short by suicide at the age of nineteen. Judy's story of her son's life will grab you from the beginning of her interview as it is about the very timely and sensitive issue of transgenderism.   She openly revealed her emotions and frustrations both before and after her son's death.  She shares how she reacted to her son's wishes to become a girl to the guilt she encountered when he died.   Judy shares how the public school agenda is too quick to embrace the transition for young children  Listen to her interview to gain new insight  into the world of kids and transgenderism

Charlana Kelly is an author of numerous articles and three books, “You are Not Here by Accident,”  “Reaching Out with a Message of Hope” and “In Search of the King's Court.”  Charlana's accomplishments are numerous; entrepreneur, pastor, community ministry leader, Podcast Host and CEO of SpeakTruth Media Group LLC.  At the age of six, Charlana found out that she was adopted which sent her on a downward spiral into her teens and beyond.  During her interview she delves into this subject and how it can affect kids.   Charlana learned many truths on her journey such as:   What we expect to come to pass.....will   There is always hope -- you are worthy and valuable   Hopelessness is losing your expectation of good   In her interview, she explains how to find your TRUE IDENTITY and how that can change your life.  She learned this truth after she grasped the truth about her adoption.     Charlana's question to you is -- Do you have a greater purpose than what you are living today?  If so, you are not alone.  You are part of a fierce army of ordinary people created to do extraordinary things.  There is MORE to you than you can imagine.

Rebecca Faye Smith Galli is an author and columnist who writes about love, loss, and healing. Surviving significant losses—her seventeen-year-old brother’s death; her son’s degenerative disease and subsequent death; her daughter’s autism; her divorce; and nine days later, her paralysis from transverse myelitis, a rare spinal cord inflammation that began as the flu—has fostered an unexpected but prolific writing career. The Baltimore Sun published her first column about playing soccer with her son—from the wheelchair. 400 published columns later, she launched Thoughtful Thursdays—Lessons from a Resilient Heart, a weekly column that shares what’s inspired her to stay positive. Becky Galli was born into a family that valued the power of having a plan. With a pastor father and a stay-at-home mother, her 1960s southern upbringing was bucolic--even enviable. But when her brothe­r, only seventeen, died in a waterskiing accident, the slow unraveling of her perfect family began. Though grief overwhelmed the family, twenty-year-old Galli forged onward with her life plans–marriag­e, career, and raising a family of her own–one she hoped would be as idyllic as the fam­ily she once knew.           But life did not go according to plan. There was her son’s degenerative, undiagnos­ed disease and subsequent death; followed by her daughter’s autism diagnosis; her separation; and then, nine days after the divorce was final, the onset of the transverse myelitis that would leave Galli paralyzed from the waist down.      Despite the waves of adversity, Galli maintained her belief in family, in faith, in loving unconditionally, and in learning to not only accept, but also embrace a life that had veered down a path far different from the one she had envisioned. At once heartbreaking and inspiring, Re­thinking Possible is a story about the power of love over loss and the choices we all make that shape our lives–especially when forced to confront the unimaginable. You will be inspired by Becky's interview.  Her warmth, her attitude towards life and her encouraging words for all of us as listeners are compelling.  When asked if she ever felt hopeless, here is her response: I don’t think I’ve ever felt hopeless. I have felt limited, separated from others and the world of mobility that they enjoy. I’ve felt sorry for myself that all of these losses have happened to me. I’ve felt angry that I cannot live the life I’ve planned. But despite the pity and anger, I’ve never lost hope. Sometimes I think it hides from me behind a dark cloud of doubt, perhaps. But it’s never gone entirely. In fact, it keeps me going to find what I can hope for. Sometimes that takes a lot of creativity, and trial and error, and reaching out and asking for help, something that is not (was not) natural for me given my independent nature. I’ve had to learn that others LIKE to help. That it’s ok to ask for it.  Here is her interview.  You will be encouraged:  

Kelsey Matheson is an international entrepreneur who co-owns a number of socially and environmentally responsible companies.  She is a dancer and an actor who also dabbled in producing in the film industry. One of her companies BE Outfitter produces backpacks and outdoor gear that helps put children though school around the world -- this has become her passion along with her coaching business. While many new and exciting ventures were happening, Kelsey had her daughter and subsequently suffered through severe depression.  Much discovery led to recovery and the realization that Kelsey could help others. The call to coach was heard and kelseymatheson.com now serves as a hub for those seeking to benefit from either her business prowess, through private 1:1 training sessions, or achieve optimal health through her brand new e-course The Optimal Health & Conscious Living Academy.   The Academy is an 8-week online course that allows women to take charge of their health and vitality. It’s an intensive program that covers hormonal balance, food sensitivities, fitness, sleep deprivation, meditation and mindfulness, as well as sex drive and body image. Both Kelsey and her various projects have received coveted media attention via Elle, Conde Nast Traveler, Huffington Post, Forbes and In Style, to name a few.   Kelsey firmly believes that everything that happened to her was for good reason and as a result she can empathize and help others who may be going through something similar. You will enjoy her upbeat and informative interview with lots of tips to start you on the road to optimal health

Simone Pond is an award-winning USA Today bestselling author of dystopian fiction and urban fantasy. As a young girl, she loved writing in her journal and making up stories, though it took several years before she published her first novel. Since then she hasn’t looked back. Pond currently lives in Los Angeles with her husband and their Boston Terrier.  As a young girl, Simone felt overwhelmed with hopelessness, starting from the age of twelve when she realized her father was a drug addict and was selling drugs from our house. Her severely depressed mother locked herself in her room for about a year, while Simone muddled her way through puberty. She wanted to disappear. The shame was too heavy. She lived in the constant fear of her family being arrested.  She watched her father fading away before her eyes and at one point wished him dead.   In rebellion she became an alcoholic who was severely depressed and manic. Simone went through two divorces which left her suicidal. This devastating event was the pivot point in her life when she made the decision to take control, get help and she turned her entire life around.  Now, she has a passion to help other young women who may be going through similar circumstances.  Simone spent eight years working on her memoir, got numerous rejections, but still did not give up.  Most of her life, she did what she thought she was supposed to be doing instead of what she wanted to be doing.  Fear had kept her from following her dream but after 23 years working in advertising, she left the industry to pursue her dream and became a great success as an author who has written 16 novels. In 2013, she published her first novel, The City Center, which became a gold-medal winner in dystopian fiction.  The major theme in her books is the battle between good and evil.     Get lost in one of Simone Pond's novels -- suspense, intrigue, and super heroines

Madhura is a passionate coach, speaker and author who has made it her mission to help people identify their natural talents, ignite their inner potential and start living the life they were destined to live.   Madhura overcame severe depression, being abused as a young girl, and being kicked out of university.  At 25 years old, Madhura was told she would never walk again without the use of a cane and pain medications.   She was able to pick herself up and turn her life towards a positive direction with a passion to help others who have to overcome trauma and major obstacles.     As a coach, Madhura utilizes a holistic, growth centered approach to life, her business and with her clients. She maximizes the capacity for individual transformation, by teaching solopreneurs how to expand their mindset, breakthrough limiting beliefs, and overcome fears in order to create success in all aspects of their lives. If you have been struggling with any of the following, Madhura can help you:   Working to grow your business or looking for that breakthrough to help you take your business to new heights Struggling with your marketing strategy or online presence Struggling with your success mindset       Her book was written with the soul purpose of showing that no matter what obstacles you encounter, it is easier than you think to live the live of your dreams.  It will give you the tools to move yourself away from the sidelines and be the star player in your AMAZING life!

Awilda Rivera is a result oriented Success Coach who has dedicated her life to helping others succeed.  Whether you are an Entrepreneur, Career Professional, or Small Business Owner  - Awilda has the tools to assist you in making the progress you desire. The Success Conversion coaching method is centered on creating measurable results. As a Certified Success Conversion Coach, Awilda uses a step by step process to help clients realize their intentions & efficiently accomplish their objectives. This is a goal oriented coaching style where the primary focus is on helping the client develop workable strategies that will enable them to take the action necessary to achieve their desired outcome. As well as the adversity and common pitfalls that many business owners and entrepreneurs face. I have learned that career professionals also encounter many of the same obstacles as they work to excel in their chosen fields; i.e. self-doubt, trouble with strategic planning, motivation, & execution. AwildaRivera.com is a full-service site dedicated to helping individuals find the assistance they need to achieve their fullest potential. As a resource site, Awilda offers a knowledge share page and free downloadable worksheets & checklists. The Success Suite for Entrepreneurs & Career Professionals to come together to receive the support, empowerment and help you need to succeed! Learn tips and tools to make your journey to success easier, while in the company of like minded people who can relate to your struggles. Listen to her interview to hear about the tools, helps, and inspiration she offers for you to become successful.

Qiana Hicks is a mother, a college graduate, a career professional, and an author. Her parents were drug and alcohol addicts, and her father spent most of Qiana's youth in prison.  She has an MBA with a specialization in finance and is now managing a team of IT resources for a pharmaceutical management company in Minneapolis. Although her life can be categorized as that of a disadvantaged childhood, due to her mother’s substance abuse problems, her biological father’s absence, and her stepfather’s alcohol and drug addictions, she survived a tumultuous youth. Qiana and her siblings suffered from many forms of abuse, neglect, and poverty and had to raise themselves. At age 15, Qiana became an adolescent-parent.  But she worked tirelessly to overcome the challenges of her past and positioned herself to face the obstacles of the future. She finished high school on time, then enrolled in college immediately after graduation, and raised her son while pursuing a college degree and building a career.  Qiana REFUSED to allow her past to determine who and what she would become.  She used her experiences as opportunities and lessons for her future, making her wiser and stronger. "We don’t get to totally choose what happens to us in life, but we can choose whether we allow such circumstances to make or break us.”–Qiana HicksOur experiences are opportunities to learn from and to create a better future for ourselves. I know first-hand how to create something out of nothing.”–Qiana Hicks, MBA This is one challenging, compelling, and often heart-wrenching interview you do NOT want to miss.  Her mission is to share how anyone can use their past to build a strong future.

Beverly Walthour, the owner of BCW Business Ventures, is a Business Strategist for women who work full-time and have an online business - or want to start one.  She has inspired hundreds of passionate women to confidently build their online business.  Beverly is a co-author of the book, Tying the Knot Between Ministry and the Marketplace, and is an award-winning educator.   During her interview, Beverly shares the fears and obstacles we often face when we want to venture out of our comfort zone and start our own business. Beverly can help you overcome each of these hurdles and become the success you want to be. She shares how visualization can help you program your day - and then watch yourself fulfill it. Every day she asks herself two questions that guarantee she will accomplish her goals for the day. They are: "Who can I serve today?" "Where can I make a positive impact today?"   Beverly Walthour is inspiring, challenging and motivating in her interview.  There are tips you will want to implement into your new online career.  Beverly's excitement is contagious: