The most amazing women I know have clearly made a commitment to living powerfully and meaningfully despite facing really tough things. (This is not only true for women, of course; women just make up the majority of my readers.)

Whether they know it or not, they are heroes.

They are heroes of their own lives, and many of them are heroes to others.

I’m part of an amazing group of moms of kids who experience mental health and substance use struggles. Those women are heroes because they hold space for each other and help each other realize they are not alone, they aren’t bad moms, and they didn’t cause the problems their kids face. When I joined this group four years ago, it was a lifeline to me and helped me to find my footing in a terrifying world so that I could help my son without completely losing myself.

I have a friend who lives with metastatic breast cancer and is one of the most thoughtful, generous and compassionate people I know. She gives generously of her precious time and energy to her human friends as well as her animal companions. She is a hero.

Another friend has faced many heavy losses in her life in the last several years, yet she perseveres as a leader in spreading compassion for all beings, refusing to allow the losses to derail her efforts.

A former colleague stepped up when a department needed her and works tirelessly to provide students with valuable opportunities to grow academically and professionally, even though she is encumbered with a chronic illness that has eluded diagnosis and clear treatment for years.

January 22, 2026, was the 20th anniversary of my Grandma Margie’s death. She is one of my heroes. She raised my dad and uncle as a single mom and cultivated long, loving relationships with them and with her grandchildren. I wish my son could have known her, but he was only one when she died. She was someone I always knew I could talk to and trust for reasonable, honest advice, without judgment. Life wasn’t easy for her, but she was unwaveringly loving and hopeful, and I’m so grateful that I had her in my life for 36 years. I aspire to mean as much to my grandson as she does to me.

I’m reading The Book of Alchemy, by Suleika Jaouad, whom I also consider a hero and exemplar of resilience. I was touched by her previous book Between Two Kingdoms when I read it a few years ago. If you aren’t familiar with her, she lives with Acute Myeloid Leukemia and has had multiple rounds of extensive treatment and endured numerous relapses since she was diagnosed at age 22 in 2011. She is definitely someone who has decided to own her reality and use her experience to help others who are going through isolating struggles feel less alone. This quote really spoke to me:

“My modus operandi became this: to trust and find ways to delight in the mystery of how things unfold, even if it’s not what you had planned, even if it’s far from ideal, and to believe that facing the thing you fear brings you exactly what you need.”

We often think of “heroism” as a grand, cinematic event. But I’ve learned that heroism is often quieter, it’s the choice to be hopeful when you’re exhausted or the decision to move your body when your mind feels heavy.

I find this idea inspirational, and it brought to mind this question: “What can I create within my current constraints?”

Asking that question sparks excitement in my belly, a sense of possibility and hope and positive challenge.

There’s a reason I named this blog The Resilient Pen.

Writing and shared story have been some of the tools that have helped me through several difficult years. I wrote my JustWind blog for seven years until I had to give it up in order to manage the struggles our family was facing. That didn’t keep me from writing, though. I journaled every night, and I started The Resilient Pen Blog as soon as I could. Sharing story empowers both the storyteller and the reader. I am not able to commit to a regular publication schedule with this blog right now because of family obligations, but I have realized again how important it is to write when I can, even if I don’t meet the recommendations for consistency. I write for myself, and I write for my readers. I want to make a difference with my words. I hope I do.

In addition to writing and shared story, my business name PenPedalPose honors two other tools that have been beacons through my own challenges: rhythmic movement—specifically cycling—and yoga. All three practices are cornerstones of my well-being, and I am committed to sharing them to the best of my ability at a given phase of life.

The question that Jaouad’s quote inspired in me—“What can I create within my current constraints?”—speaks to my visceral need to create, to put ideas, practices and my own art (in the form of writing and yoga) out into the world. Creating the (mostly) weekly yoga classes that I teach in PenPedalPose Live Community Yoga feeds my soul. Designing them feels good, and sharing them and improving someone else’s day feels like important work.

I’ve thought a lot about the idea of being my own hero lately because I decided to put myself through my own THRIVE framework, which I offer with my private coaching and, when my time and bandwidth allow, I will offer as a group program. The second THRIVE module utilizes the Hero’s Journey, first described by Joseph Campbell.

I think that is our first responsibility as humans—to make heroic decisions and take heroic actions (no matter how big or small) that allow us to thrive. When we thrive, we help others thrive. When we thrive, we use the gifts we have been given.

It can be so easy to feel like we are drowning in difficult life circumstances and family and work obligations that we assume we can’t or shouldn’t do anything to take care of our own mental, physical and spiritual needs.

The truth is that we can’t be at our best if we don’t.

Inspired by the question, “What can I create within my current constraints?”, I’ve designed a path for us to walk together.

Embody Your Inner Hero is a 6-week immersion specifically for those of us who are committed to doing our best to thrive, even while navigating daunting circumstances. It is a space to move, write, and remember who you are.

• Master Progressive Asana: Gentle, slow flow with just enough challenge to remind you of your strength.

• Reframe Your Narrative: Weekly prompts to help you author a story of empowerment.

• Harness Movement as Meditation: Learn to use the rhythm of your own stride (walking, cycling, or swimming) to hear your inner voice.

• Identify Your Allies: We aren’t meant to do this alone. We’ll clarify your current "quest" and the community that sustains it.

In the spirit of mutual support—the same kind I found in my moms’ group—I’m offering this series on a pay-what-you-can model (with a suggested contribution of $89) because I want everyone who feels called to grow through the powerful combination of shared story, inspired movement and yoga to be able to join.

Click here to register and get more information.

About the Author

Sheri is a writer, yoga teacher, and mind-body wellness educator coach who believes that sharing our stories is an act of courage. As the creator of The Resilient Pen Blog and PenPedalPose, she integrates rhythmic movement and reflective writing to help others navigate life’s most daunting constraints. Whether she is on her bike, on her mat, or at her desk, Sheri is dedicated to helping people reclaim their narratives and move through the world with purpose, one "heroic action" at a time.