Learning to Rise Again
Strength is often described as something people discover within themselves, a hidden reserve that reveals itself in moments of crisis. But in reality, strength is rarely found all at once. It is built. Slowly, quietly, and often without recognition. It forms through repeated experiences, through setbacks, and through the decision to continue even when clarity is absent. In everyday life, resilience does not usually arrive with certainty or confidence. It emerges in the middle of uncertainty, shaped by how individuals respond to what they cannot control. It is less about dramatic breakthroughs and more about persistence… the ability to keep going, even when progress feels invisible. This understanding of strength is what makes Speaking of Dinners so compelling. It does not present resilience as something immediate or extraordinary. Instead, it portrays it as something deeply human, something that develops over time through lived experience. At the center of the novel is Annie, a ...