Adversity Series

Is there Really Beauty in Pain? with Venessa Cunningham D.| Adversity Series| Ep. 5

DISCLAIMER: We were facing some audio issues, so the audio is not as clear as it can be.  
 
|Brewing Resilience and Sipping Strength, One Cup at a Time  
 
Guest: Venessa Cunningham D.
Host: Tamra Douglas-Atkinson  
 
In this episode, Venessa takes us on a train ride to the USA. A place that looked promising at first, but proved to be much more trying than what she bargained for. Venessa will be explaining to us how someone can 'lose' their resilience and lose themselves.
We learn about different precursors to suicide, and the fact that when someone attempts suicide, they don't always want to die - but they just need a break from the pain.
 
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: "It gets better, but it also gets worse." - Venessa Cunningham D.

The Power of a Strong Spiritual Foundation with Welton Bartley| Adversity Series| Eps. 6

|Brewing Resilience and Sipping Strength, One Cup at a Time  
 
Guest: Welton Bartley
Hosts: Tamra Douglas-Atkinson and Sherona McKenzie 
 
Rev. Welton Bartley takes us on a journey like many of us have never seen before - the journey of a spiritually formidable young man. Today, Mr. Welton Bartley stands as a Minister of Religion, Community Service Chaplain, and Theology Lecturer; who also provides pastoral/psychological counselling. 
In the past, he was one who trodded the road of Christianity from the age of 9. He went on to face spiritual adversities, emotional adversities, and financial adversities. However, no matter the difficulties that came his way - no matter the self-doubt, the bullying, and fear that he had to face, he stood tall because he had a strong spiritual foundation to stand on. 
 
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: "If you are faithful to God, God will take care of you." - Welton Bartley

Growing Through What You Go Through with Aaliyah McKenzie| Adversity Series| Eps. 7

|Brewing Resilience and Sipping Strength, One Cup at a Time  
 
Guest: Aaliyah McKenzie
Hosts: Tamra Douglas-Atkinson and Sherona McKenzie 
 
"Education was my main plan, my backup plan, and my backup backup's plan" - Aaliyah. Have you ever been stuck at a place where you feel like you've just lost your only chance at a successful future? How about being crippled by pain (literally), lost in depression, and had your whole life take a 360 by a pregnancy?
Journey with us as 18 year old Aaliyah Mckenzie shows us how she overcame depressive episodes, dropping out of university, faced loneliness and lost her sense of worth due to unemployment, but found purpose once again when she found out she was pregnant in the midst of that all. 
 
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: "You can grow through anything you go through" - Aaliyah McKenzie

The Power of Grace with Scharlee Thompson| Adversity Series| Eps. 8

|Brewing Resilience and Sipping Strength, One Cup at a Time  
 
Guest: Scharlee Thompson
Hosts: Tamra Douglas-Atkinson
 
In this episode, Scharlee shares with us what it's like to me a Caribbean in a foreign country. Though she was more accustomed to friendly smiles and welcoming faces, she had to learn to adjust to a new world for her new journey.
While adjusting to the culture shock she experienced, she also had to battle negative self-talk and self-doubt as she navigated failure. Though she overcame it all, it would not had been possible without the power of grace. 
 
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: "Give yourself grace." - Scharlee Thompson

I am the 'victor' and not the 'victim' with Zhara-Marie Mohansingh| Eps. 9| Adversity Series

|Brewing Resilience and Sipping Strength, One Cup at a Time  
 
Guest: Zhara-Marie Mohansingh
Hosts: Tamra Douglas-Atkinson
 
In this episode, Zhara navigated loss and financial adversities. She went through her early part of high school navigating the different forms that the loss of her dad would've brought - or what she titled, 'daddy issues'. The mistrust, the searching for a male figure, the wondering if someone else will die soon - she navigated it all. But through it all, she learnt to adapt and overcome - with the help of God and her friends.
Zhara was determined to be the victor of her story and not the victim. With that, even in the face of financial difficulties, Zhara was determined to not let her present situation be her final destination. Zhara knew that the outcome of her life was in her hands. 
 
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: "Think of yourself as the victor and not the victim" -Zhara-Marie Mohansingh