Stories are incredibly powerful – their ability to teach, inspire, and create understanding is why we are so in love with storytelling. Most stories have a defining moment and so we’ve asked some of the most talented, insightful folks across a broad range of industries and markets to tell us about a defining moment in their story.

Heather Perren

It has been three years since my life completely pivoted. Yes, everyone’s life changed that fateful March of 2020, but for me, I had no idea how incredible life was about to become. Leading up to March 13, 2020, I was lost and not sure where I was going with my career in the fitness world teaching the Lagree Method. Read more>>

Michael Overlie

Until the death of my brother in 2017, I wasn’t able to see how I was showing up in the world. After his death and my deep grieving of his passing, I was opened up to new potential and possibilities. We are all capable of being so much more, and not in a manner of just societal success. At our core, we are all amazing and powerful. Read more>>

Faith Koltak

Sometimes in life, we’re asked to put our money where our mouth is. Read more>>

Kendra Blackett-Dibinga

After years of running track and weight training, I developed chronic knee pain, which led to surgery in 2010. Bikram Yoga helped to strengthen and heal my knees. It also helps me manage stress and the demands of a very busy, but rewarding life. Bikram Yoga changed my life. Read more>>

Virginia Tester

I first came to Embrace Refugee Birth Support as a volunteer midwife, to help teach a class on Women’s Health and family planning. This was years ago, maybe 8 years ago now. I sat in a circle with about 6 or 7 women from the community and began teaching the slides and information in English Read more>>

CARI WOODWARD

Different Actions Won’t Always Yield Different Results…but a Different Mindset Will Change Everything! Read more>>

Michelle Fuqua

The day was cold and clear. I drove through Stockbridge, GA rushing to get to my meeting. My days tended to collapse into meetings, problem solving, and discussions about the meetings and problems that needed solving. I loved the work and ministry activities that consumed my days. Read more>>

Tory Saks

When I first got Reiki Certified and completed Level 2 training and certification (this is the level where we are able to actually facilitate healing on others – like on people, plants, animals, basically anything that has and holds energy) I thought I was only going to infuse Reiki (meaning Universal Life Force Energy) energy into the extra virgin olive oil (Aqua et Oleum) that I import from Extremadura, Spain. Read more>>

JaCynthia Bailey

Some of our biggest defining moments have to do with the emotions we feel in some of our lowest points in life. My biggest defining moment was when Covid shut the world down. I had to slow down, be with myself, my family and face all of the ugly things I kept myself too busy to see. Read more>>

Brittany Hannah Bennett

In 1996 I was a kid, and watched the movie ‘Harriet the Spy’ which lead me to decide that very day that I would become a therapist. This movie was my first introduction to the profession of psychology and therapy. Read more>>

Dr. Josephine Harris

One of the most important influences in my life was my mother. She would often say the most powerful thing you can do in life is decide based on what God has for you. Eight years ago, I decided to pursue a Ph.D. at Walden University. I was fraught with fear, mostly because I had completed my master’s degree three prior. Read more>>

Kendra Marsh

A defining moment that changed my career was when I was able to participate in Mayor Pugh (Baltimore City) nursing program at Maryland Center for Adult training. I was able to receive my, Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) and Geriatric Nursing Assistant (GNA) certificate. Read more>>

Brandon Guinn

Entering my freshman year of high school, I met John Bartlett, my baseball coach. He is what I would consider my first mentor, a man who poured into me. He invested in me. He was a follower of Jesus, and a United States Marine. He pushed me to be better, to have integrity, and to work hard. He corrected me and pushed me to be a good man. Read more>>