Victorious Woman! Shaping Life's Challenges into Personal Victories

Welcome!

The Victorious Woman of the Month Award is our response to your requests for more victorious stories. Each month we choose to honor a woman who has stretched and grown in a victorious way. We hope each month's story of a Victorious Woman challenges and inspires you to seek your own victories. No matter what has happened in your life, you can BE more of the person you want to be, DO more of what is important to you and HAVE more of your dreams become your realities.

Enjoy!

Victorious Woman 2009

Essay Contest Winners

1st Prize: Amy Sherman

2nd Prize: Amalia Starr

3rd Prize: Donna M. Johnson

Read Amy Sherman's winning essay below. Look for Amalia Starr's and Donna M. Johnson's essay in this space over the summer.

Amy Sherman

Victorious Woman Essay Contest 2009

First Prize Winner

Who better to talk about adversity than Christopher Reeve? He said, “When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked “What is a hero?” My answer was that a hero is someone who commits a courageous action without considering the consequences…Now my definition is completely different. I think a hero is an ordinary individual who finds strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.”

Wouldn’t it be nice if we can all approach life like that and be able to bring back balance and harmony to our lives? Because we are all being stretched to the limit, it’s even more important to know how to handle adversity when it comes knocking at our door.

For me, it wasn’t until I experienced the greatest challenge of my life that I realized how unprepared I was to cope. That time became a dramatic awakening that ultimately led to personal growth and an ongoing spiritual journey of exploration and fulfillment.

It started in the early part of 1978 when I became pregnant. Unfortunately, from the moment I conceived, I had morning, afternoon and evening sickness. I couldn’t wait for the first three months of pregnancy to end, because I believed I would feel better. I didn’t.

Finally, my OB/GYN advised me to see a gastroenterologist for tests. The results came as a shock during this, my introduction to the miracle of motherhood. I had Crohn’s Disease, an inflammation of the intestines, which was considered incurable, highly debilitating, painful and chronic. My fear of the unknown was my greatest enemy. I didn’t know what to expect or how my lifestyle would be changed.

I became depressed and wallowed in my misfortune for hours on end. I felt I’d been doomed to a lifetime of misery and hopelessness. Fear seemed to rule my life.

Fortunately for me, I was introduced to the Law of Attraction, the concept that we attract into our lives what we put the most attention on. The book explained that we are the creators of our own reality and that by harnessing this knowledge, we can make powerful changes that even create what we most desire. This was a new notion for me. Could I, at this crisis point in my life, take charge and turn my life around?

In desperation, I started meditating to find some answers. In quiet introspective moments I realized that somehow there was a lesson for me to learn from this frightening, challenging experience. I began to feel more in control, less like a helpless victim. I started believing I was an important factor in my own healing process. I felt I made a major shift in my perception of the situation and I was able to finally feel hope and even experience inner peace. With this renewed motivation, I decided to explore alternative treatments and see where it took me. If this didn’t work, I would most certainly do the medical route. Fortunately, for me, I didn’t have to go there.

Meditation and visualizations became a big part of my healing process, along with healthy eating and positive attitude. It comforted me. I kept my faith through setbacks and discouraging times, because I always knew I was on a perfect path towards my success. It just felt right!

It’s been 30 years and I haven’t had any recurring symptoms. I consider this illness a wonderful blessing, because it changed my life and spiritual focus. From this crisis, I learned perseverance, faith, love, discipline and commitment. I especially learned to keep my mind steadfast on the positive and to focus on the end result with determination and conviction.

The principles I followed 30 years ago, I still use today. I am now confidently experiencing a new career and I am more enthused and excited about life than ever. I firmly believe that anything is possible with the right direction and the right support.

Someone once told me that the difference between “try” and “triumph” is a little “umph” and I believe that in order to triumph over adversity, that little push from within is the difference between being a victim or being a victor.

Congratulations Amy!

You victory shows us that we can learn from our challenges and

through what we learn, open new doors to an ever-better life.

To learn more about Amy Sherman, see her website at

http://www.bummedoutboomer.com

Do you have feedback on a particular story? Do you know someone who has a Victorious Woman story you think we should hear? Send us an email with your comments or the name and short summary of the woman you want to submit for consideration for a future Victorious Woman of the Month Award to info@victoriouswoman.com.

If you are interested in more stories of everyday women who became victorious, read Victorious Woman! Shaping Life’s Challenges into Personal Victories. Order now

Victorious Woman Contest Winner 2009 - Amy Sherman

May 2009 - "Pop the Cork and Take a Sip of the Bubbly!"

April 2009 - Jean Shipos "Cancer: Five Years and Counting"

March 2009 - Kay Presto "Women’s Heritage Month Honoree"

February 2009 - Rosemarie Rossetti "Resilience Triumphs Tragedy"

January 2009 - Connie Harryman "Poverty to Prosperity"

October 2008 - Kathleen Fountain "Thriver....Not Survivor"

September 2008 - Barbara McIlvaine Smith "Be Here Now"

August 2008 - Karen Muranko "Surviving Panic Disorder"

July 2008 - Rosalind Sedacca "Telling My Son About the Divorce"

May 2008 - Robbie Motter "It's All About Showing Up"

February 2008 - S. Renee Smith "There's More Inside"