STRONG

STRONG: Successful Women Share Stories
of Childhood Trauma and Triumph
(illustrated in full color)

STRONG, an Amazon #1 Best-Selling title, was awarded the prestigious Literary Titan Book Award: “This work is celebrated for its originality, innovative themes, and eloquent prose.”

DESCRIPTION

Trauma is not what happens to you. It’s what happens inside you. It is the wound you sustained. That’s the good thing, because the wound can be healed at any time.

~ Dr. Gabor Maté, MD, bestselling author, recipient of the prestigious Order of Canada

Eighty-one successful women from 22 countries share poignant memoirs of early childhood struggle and suffering: trauma, loss, betrayal, bullying, neglect, sexual abuse, and the disconnection of dysfunctional family relationships.

The memoirs read like intimate bits of conversation between best friends, overheard, at times in sordid detail.

These stories are in stark contradiction to the nostalgic ones we like to tell ourselves about the charms of childhood. They paint the picture of early years that are not all sunshine and rainbows. Some will amuse. Some will tear at your heart.

The author writes in a brief, clear, concise style. Original, full-color drawings capture the essence of each memory as seen through the eyes of the innocent child.

Endnotes reveal that through sheer strength and resilience, the women rose above adverse situations to achieve success in their respective fields: medicine, engineering, business, finance, consulting, construction, the C-Suite—despite the odds and gender bias that most women experience.

“STRONG has been honored with the prestigious Literary Titan Gold Book Award, a recognition reserved for books that masterfully deliver original content, explore innovative themes, and exhibit elegant prose.”

Warning: This book contains several true accounts of child abuse that some readers may find disturbing. This book is not for children.

INTRO

I asked over 100 women – friends, clients and colleagues from all beliefs and walks of life, around the world – to share their memories of early childhood struggles which had a significant impact on their life.

This was not intended to be a scientific study and it does not purport to show any cause/effect pattern or support any childhood theories.

My idea was to capture and narrate each woman’s story in her voice and from her point of view as a child, under the age of eight. (No matter how touching a memoir, if it occurred in later childhood, it was subject matter for a different book. This, of course, accounts for the fact that I interviewed many more women than stories in this text.) Her story would read like an intimate conversation between friends, overheard.

Realities of Childhood

We may read statistics about early childhood trauma. But statistics are clinical and sterile. These stories are anything but. They are in stark contradiction to the nostalgic stories we like to tell ourselves about the bliss of childhood.

While some of these memoirs will amuse and some will charm, a number of them will tear at your heart.

Some people will find many of them disturbing. My suggestion is to keep in mind that every one of these stories has a happy ending, as you will read in the final pages of the book.

I think you will marvel at these women’s resilience, determination, and commitment to triumph over early adversities.

Silent No More

From the beginning, I was struck by the women’s honesty and willingness to share their memories, no matter how heart-wrenching. Some reported the process not just interesting, buttherapeutic and cleansing. Many noted they were seeing their life from a new perspective. Some told me they had never before shared the most intimate aspects of their early life.

Many, if not most, had years of therapy to undo damage done in those early years.

I at first assumed they would want their stories kept anonymous. But, as time went on, a majority made it known they were proud of what they had accomplished and would like to be recognized.

In these instances, their brief profiles appear as endnotes. They are a testament to how the women– through sheer strength of will– rose above their circumstances to make something of their lives.

The endnotes are integral to the book. They fast forward to where the women are today in their lives. And, importantly, they balance out stories you might otherwise find depressing.

Why Early Childhood?

First, my favorite thing in life is small children.

Second, I think most of us underestimate the impact of those early years on a person’s sense of worth. As young children, we have no filter and everything goes right to the subconscious.

Unhealed early childhood traumas cause lifelong, recurring patterns of struggle or hardship: poor finances, bad relationships, addictions, unrealized potential.

Third, mywork with high-achieving women supports that thesis.

Too often, she feels like an imposter. She may have the degree, position and income, but something is missing. She does not wake up happy. She’s not satisfied with some area of her life. All due to negative programming which originated at a critical time in her early development, before she had the words, context or perspective, when through interaction with others, she made decisions about her worth and developed core beliefs that do not serve her.

Childhood is Not a Cakewalk

If there is a unifying concept threading through these pages, it’s that for so many of us, childhood is no picnic.

This is the reality for a lot of people. This is the lens through which to read these stories.

Some themes will not surprise, as they contain fears of every description. More than that, though, they display the impact on the child’s psyche of bullying, poverty, sudden change of circumstances, and the lack of connection.

If you came from a happy home, you may find some of these stories disturbing. If you had a difficult childhood and those issues have not been resolved, you may find them triggering.

Every psychologist knows kids are narcissists. The world revolves around them. Children have a way of assuming when bad things happen, it must be their fault. If their parents fight or divorce, for example, they’re at least partly to blame.

I don’t think most of us realize kids have an innate sense of shame. Shame if they are sexually abused, shame if a parent is not happy, shame at family secrets. When things go wrong, they see themselves as fundamentally flawed.

Anything that contributes to a child feeling unsafe, unseenor unloved lives on in the central nervous system. It takes the form of fears, negative life patterns, problems and challenges.

The Harsh Truth

Adults in general don’t show up well in many of these stories. Their own childhood scars may present as parental gender bias, anger, harshness, neglect, absence, emotional distance, alcoholism, mental illness, hospitalization, domesticviolence, or treating kids harshly in private and kindly in public.

In losing connection with their own past, parents too often have an inability to cherish their child as a gift.

As much as children suffer, it’s because the parents have suffered as well. They don’t realize they’re inflicting their own pain on the child.

Unattended to, early childhood traumas continue to affect us adults. We pass them on to the next generation.

Final Thoughts

This book is not intended to be read cover to cover like a novel. The stories are in no particular order. Each stands on its own. They are best consumed randomly, one or two at a time.

You might want to scroll through the manuscript and decide what to read next based on my artist’s delightful drawings!

On that topic, every drawing is an in-depth sketch of an early childhood memory. My artist took pains to assure that every detail was accurate, as seen from the eyes of the child.

It was never the purpose of this book to comment, educate, provide judgment, insights, observation or solutions, or do in-depth analysis about these topics.

(Do you realize how difficult that is in my line of work?😊)

So, if there’s a lesson in these stories, it’s for you to assign the meaning. My hope is these intimate glimpses into the secret world of children will touch your heart and enrich your life.

CHAPTER ONE

You’re Going To Go Somewhere

My father was a jazz piano player. He and my mother met in a jazz piano bar. I was under a year old when he left us.

From a young age, my mother was my heroine. She could do anything. She was the first woman to own a car in Florence in the early 40’s. She smuggled cigarettes between Switzerland and Italy and played professional poker at a time that only men frequented bars.

For these reasons, she was the subject of whispers. A black sheep.

We moved to a small town not far from Milan, where I was left in the care of a veritable stranger so my mother could travel. I like to believe that my mother didn’t know at the time that this woman was a prostitute.

In any case, I was raised in the streets, in a slum.

I wanted only to live with my mother. Between visits, I missed her terribly.

When she would visit, she would take me to a tavern or café. And I felt taken care of, proud to be with my mom.

As a very young child, I would sit quietly on a barstool for hours on end, waiting for her to empty her last glass andplay her last hand.

My mother talked to me as an adult and told me things I would now only tell a girlfriend. The messages were mixed.

She would cry and say

Life is so hard, I want to die. At my age, you’re lucky enough to live through a single day.Don’t ever look back in life, look forward. If you want to achieve anything you have to work for it.

The whole world is your oyster, Topolino (little mouse), no matter, no matter what. Your life will be different. You’re going to go somewhere. You’re going to do bright, beautiful things. Now, tell me, what do you want to be when you grow up?

I was complicit in my mother’s addictions, even if I didn’t know it at the time. I was her accomplice in tattered shoes as I ran down the boulevard to the farmacia for bottles of pills that she took, some days by the handful. Pills that made her ill to her stomach. Pills that made her pull at her hair and take tweezers to her eyebrows. Pills that kept her up at all hours, or gone for days at a time.

Topolino, Topolino, she would say, my little mouse. Tomorrow, I’ll be better. I promise, my Lauretta. I promise.

Years of tomorrows came, went, disappeared in the rearview mirror.

By association, I too became a black sheep. The stigma never went away.

When my mother lost herself completely to alcohol and drugs, I lost myself too. I stopped believing in a bright future for us.

One might say I became obsessed with needing to prove my worth and to defy the fear of being judged and labeled the way my mother had been.

To prove to the world how much better I was than everyone else, I excelled in school, never getting less than an A grade.

Seeking that morsel of recognition I so badly craved since a young age, I would work 14 hours a day to assure that everything was perfect, study hours on end for an exam, rehearse the same presentation hundreds of times.

I became top sales performer for Apple Computer Company, selling business solutions to Fortune 100 companies. My closing rate was an unheard of 100%.

But the voices that told me I wasn’t good enough became the voice I was using to speak to myself. The constant pressure of having to be first in everything and having to show the world how good I was took its toll.

I was drained, exhausted.

I married four times in search of the love and protection of a father figure. But, like my mother, when things got tough and a situation too thorny, I would exit the scene rather than be the one left abandoned.

I went back to school in my 40s and 50s and obtained a BA in Women Studies, a Master in Psychology and a Certification in Coaching, with the intention of utilizing my life andbusiness experience to help other women reach the pinnacle of their potential.

This is my mission today: To help women recognize their own brilliance and ability to succeed. To grow their careers from an empowered place, not a place that’s draining and exhausting, having to prove anything and never fulfilling the promise.

Endnote:
Lauretta Zucchetti has written extensively about her life. Her memoir is in the hands of a New York agent and will be published within the year. Compressing her lyrical prose to under 500 words was a challenge to say the least!

EDITORIAL REVIEWS

“STRONG: Successful Women Share Stories Of Childhood Trauma and Triumph” penned by Mia Doucet is a riveting anthology of over 80 narratives that explore the formidable journeys of women from their childhood adversity to their eventual victory. Each narrative encapsulates distinct experiences of trauma and anguish, as perceived by the girls these women were, yet converges on the shared strength and resilience that fueled their transformation and triumph.

The book serves as a testament to the power of the human spirit, painting vivid portraits of these women’s childhood experiences – filled with fear, rejection, and feelings of unworthiness, and their metamorphosis into empowered adults who embraced their value and worthiness in the face of these adversities.

Doucet’s masterful storytelling transports the reader into the heart of each story, enabling us to experience the world through the eyes of a young girl weathering the storms of abuse, loss, and neglect. In a stunning collaborative effort, Doucet joins forces with the exceptional artist, Galih Winduadi, who encapsulates the essence of each narrative through poignant illustrations that augment the reader’s comprehension of the text.

While the tales relayed in this anthology may trigger discomfort or painful memories for those who have experienced similar circumstances, the author encourages readers to view these narratives as inspiring testaments to human resilience, demonstrating that personal growth and change are sparked by introspection and self-care.

One of the remarkable facets of this collection is its vibrant cultural tapestry. It highlights women from diverse corners of the world, from Croatia to South Korea, imparting fascinating cultural insights, such as the belief in Vietnamese culture that having five daughters signifies luck and prosperity. Besides the riveting narratives, this book also offers an exploration of developmental psychology. It begins with an insightful overview of how childhood experiences shape our adult lives. The stories underscore the critical importance of nurturing and supportive parental figures in facilitating secure attachment and healthy perspectives in later life.

However, these tales also expose the harsh reality that not everyone is born into a safe, loving environment, and unexpected calamities such as war, illness, and other tragedies can dramatically alter one’s world. Despite the diversity in these women’s experiences, it illuminates the universal truth of our shared worthiness of all the good in life, emphasizing that understanding and accepting this truth is a vital step towards healing and growth.

The book pays tribute to the courageous women who found empowerment in sharing their stories, and to the collaborative genius of Mia Doucet and Galih Winduadi in realizing this remarkable project. “STRONG: Successful Women Share Stories Of Childhood Trauma And Triumph” is a must-read for those seeking insights into the resilience of the human spirit, keen to broaden their understanding of global societal challenges, and particularly for those involved in the field of developmental psychology.

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~ Thomas Anderson, Editor In Chief, Literary Titan

As a psychologist for thirty years, I've always known adversity builds character in addition to leaving traumatic scars. Unfortunately, when previous literature has captured this sentiment it's always seemed either too cold and clinical, or too tragic. There was never a book I could point to which provided the emotional 'umph' necessary to motivate without downplaying the tragic nature of what occurred. Thank you, Mia Doucet for a heartfelt, thorough treatment in easy-to-read story form. I can finally send traumatized clients a book in which they can not only find solace but also inspiration.

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~ Glenn Livingston, Ph.D., Psychologist, Best-Selling Author

How do we get from who we were to who we are, and who we might become in the future? Mia Doucet writes: “As young children, we have no filter and everything goes right to the subconscious.” And that’s where so many things can get stuck, often for decades, until something shakes them loose – something like a story. The stories in Mia’s book come from more than 80 successful women – doctors, coaches, advocates, public speakers, writers, professionals of all kinds – women of strength and courage from around the world, with a myriad of backgrounds and careers.

Despite this variety, we encounter the same themes over and over again – experiences of loss, pain, war, abuse, and poverty – illuminating the fragility of a happy upbringing and how the impact of our early childhood memories can potentially last a lifetime. These stories tell us about memories of early trauma, told from a child’s point of view. They are honest, insightful, and often desperately sad – but sometimes funny and uplifting. Each story is simple, short, and powerful. We learn how a child’s early trauma can transform into an adult’s motivation to succeed, overcome, compensate, or prove the world wrong.

We see how intense focus, perfectionism, and anger are often accompanied by the insidious shadow of imposter syndrome and collateral damage in the shape of shattered relationships, exhaustion, and mental ill-health – all too often repeating scenes from early childhood. And yet, in the face of chaos and heartbreak, these strong women have found or rediscovered confidence, balance, self-respect, boundaries, happiness, and success. Stories can bring much-needed closure or they can be the start of a new chapter. After reading this book, my question is: what comes next?

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~ Dr Joanna Puckering, Anthropologist

Mia Doucet, author of STRONG, has spent years working with women to resolve the impact of early childhood struggles on their adult lives. Her book captures snapshots of painful early events that cut through the veneer of culture, economic status, and religion in 22 different countries. Some of the stories are difficult to read. The US Center For Disease Control did a survey of adults across twenty-five states and found that 61% had experienced some form of Adverse Childhood Experience. Statistics of abuse and childhood trauma don’t tell the full story because statistics are clinical. These stories make the statistics come to life. As a man, I took away two things from this book: Childhood trauma is more widespread than I thought. As adults we need to be more vigilant in protecting children.

STRONG is an important non-academic addition to the literature on adverse childhood experiences (ACEs).

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~ John Chancellor, Coach/Mentor/Amazon Reviewer

Women are diamonds; despite life's pressures and traumas, they continue to shine and be resilient, determined, and successful in what they set their minds to.

Strong: Successful Women Share Stories of Childhood Trauma and Triumph by Mia Doucet shares women’s darkest childhood traumas that have impacted their lives. Many of these amazing stories will tear your heart out, and others will amuse you.

The stories revolve around the torture, sexual, physical, and emotional abuse these women have gone through. The numerous life lessons these women share from their experiences, resilience, and perseverance that made them move on from these traumas to be great and successful in society will give readers reasons to push harder to become the best versions of themselves.

Mia Doucet chose specifically to use childhood stories so readers could learn how the early years can immensely impact an individual’s adulthood.

These stories are a wake-up call to parents, especially on how they treat their children, how involved they are in their lives, and how they assure them that they are loved and cared for.

These women’s stories testify that despite life's hurdles, one can live the purposeful, successful, and fulfilling life one desires with perseverance and determination. Additionally, finding a support system to disclose your traumas will help lift some weight and bring you happiness.

Strong: Successful Women Share Stories of Childhood Trauma and Triumph by Mia Doucet will mostly be appreciated by readers who have gone through or are going through any trauma since the book not only gives you strength, courage, and hope to move on but also assures you that you are not alone and that you, too, can find happiness and a purposeful life.

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~ Grace Ruhara, Readers’ Favorite

Strong: Successful Women Share Stories of Childhood Trauma and Triumph by Mia Doucet is a compilation of memoirs by brave women from all around the world recounting their not-so-happy early memories from childhood. The stories relate to the age group under eight years old.

The accounts are short and to the point, highlighting the various forms of trauma and struggles that these women faced. The experiences range from sexual abuse to childhood fears, dysfunctional family dynamics, and many more aspects of a troubled childhood. Through them all, a central theme emerges.

Our childhood does play a dramatic role in our lives, and it can affect us later on in adulthood. Children want to be seen, recognized, and acknowledged. When they feel they are not, many tend to develop coping strategies in their early life to get the validation and love they seek.

Mia Doucet’s series of short stories delivers a powerful message of children’s extreme resilience and strength. Children can survive all manner of traumas but still triumph later in life in their chosen professions and careers.

I especially loved the colorful and expressive illustrations by artist Galih Winduadi that accompanied each narrative. She captured the child’s sadness and isolation as if the child drew the picture.

I especially loved the diverse backgrounds and cultures behind each story. This showcased that childhood trauma can happen in any place in the world and is not restricted to one country. Strong is a book I recommend for everyone out there to show that your past does not have to define you.

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~ Christine Nguyen, Readers’ Favorite

Strong: Successful Women Share Stories of Childhood Trauma and Triumph by Mia Doucet is a collection of memoirs by eighty-one women from around the world, showcasing the trials and tribulations of their childhood and how they eventually overcome the low points in their lives.

This collection covers a wide range of topics and incidents such as heartbreak, sexual abuse, abandonment, and death. This book offers an unfiltered view of life’s challenges from a child’s perspective, showing the reality of the stormy seasons of different women from varying walks of life. An inspiring, empathetic, and engaging read for those that want to be heard and understood.

Strong by Mia Doucet is an unusual collection of memoirs. I have never come across one that consists entirely of childhood recollections. I loved that this book shows how our childhood never truly leaves us as we enter adulthood, and that the remnants of what we were and how we grew up are carried into adult life. I also loved that the end-notes also show where all these women are today. It shows that life moves on and better things are always on the horizon.

The illustrations by Galih Winduadi were also wonderful, capturing the child-like thought process of the impressions perfectly. I cannot recommend this book highly enough. It is nothing short of moving, appealing, and inspirational. All wounds truly do heal with time.

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~ Joanne Ang, Readers' Favorite

Are girls made up of sugar and spice and everything nice? According to author Mia Doucet, a lot of girls grew up experiencing bitter and even traumatic memories that stayed embedded in their minds. Strong: Successful Women Share Stories of Childhood Trauma and Triumph is a collection of short but intimate and often poignant memoirs of 81 women from 22 countries worldwide.

It's a record of their struggles as they were growing up as members of the less privileged female gender. The accounts are accompanied by childlike drawings by Galih Winduadi that illustrate their experiences as seen through the perspective of an innocent child.

More importantly, their essays and accompanying end-notes also tell us stories about being resilient, overcoming their traumas, and succeeding in life despite the hurt, bias, and barriers that arose from the negative impact of their not-so-ideal childhood.

Together with the colorful illustrations, each account in Mia Doucet's book carries with it weighty themes that are interwoven with the diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds of each writer. This gives the material its dynamic content and an added dimension to give the reader a more insightful understanding of each particular story. Nevertheless, the language used is fairly simple, much like listening to a friend. Doing some soul-searching and acknowledging unpleasant and even traumatic memories is certainly an act of courage and healing.

The book is meant to encourage, support, and empower women who feel disconnected and have trouble loving themselves and emerging from the mental and emotional wounds sustained while growing up. For those on the path to recovery, such stories are meant to inspire and motivate others to continue with the strength, drive, and self-confidence they have developed while overcoming roadblocks from a broken past.

Strong is a highly recommended source of inspiration that celebrates women, diversity, and the strength of the human spirit.

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~ Carmen Tenorio, Readers’ Favorite

Strong: Women Share Stories of Childhood Trauma and Triumph by Mia Doucet presents multiple truth-telling interviews with women who tell us their intimate and sometimes shocking traumatic childhood experiences. Surprisingly, they overcame these to shape their rewarding futures as adults. These are short stories with explicit heartbreaking comments by each woman interviewed. The theme confirms how so many women are subjected to horrific childhoods that so many of us will never be able to understand. We learn the incredible strength of women from this book as the author outlines the inconceivable turn-around the women have achieved with success in their lives and careers.

Reading this book was a moving experience for me. A few of the stories brought tears to my eyes. As I read Strong, I reflected on my childhood and wondered how I might have described my early years for author Mia Doucet. The stories helped me to realize that abuse can come in many forms and is not only sexual but can be extreme neglect. The book might benefit women who find themselves victims of abusive childhoods. It’s beneficial to see how these women have grown and were able to heal their wounded souls. The endnotes were a remarkable read of the successes of these tenacious women. The sharing of these stories from around the world shows us that the time has come for women to come forward to share their adversity in life if they are to overcome it. Strong shows us they can and they will.

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~ Nancy Tobin, Readers' Favorite

This book is so heartfelt and real. It is a testament to the power, raw strength, and true beauty of women—all of which have been overlooked for so long.

What I think is the most touching is that it is a collection of women who had stories that could have been completely catastrophic but in some way, all survived and lived to find something meaningful and share their stories. It has taken me a while to read through the collection, mostly because each story was so profound—-I felt at first sad for each woman's situation but then so proud that each woman was a survivor and her own hero.

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~ Dr. Nisha Dave, DO, Cardiovascular and Thoracic Anesthesiologist

A compelling compilation of childhood survivor stories that weaves a tapestry of healing.

Stories can heal, and whether it's in sharing our personal narratives or in the realization that we are not alone, stories provide a lantern for life, illuminating the path for ourselves and others. I enjoyed this intimate and emotive compilation of stories centered around the effects of early childhood trauma and the resulting resilience. The author weaves together 81 personal narratives to create a rich tapestry of experiences, creating a healing touchstone that benefits us all. The author interviewed over 100 women for the book and asked them to share a memory of early childhood adversity. The resulting stories are told from a child's point of view, making it engaging and poignant to read. Why early childhood? According to the author, "Anything that contributes to a child feeling unsafe, unseen or unloved lives on in the central nervous system." Some of these stories are difficult to read and could be trigger-inducing for certain unhealed aspects of the psyche. But where there are challenging situations and stories, there is healing, which makes the triumphs even more sublime. One element that worked well was the unique illustrations that headed each section, drawn from a child's perspective, allowing the reader to immerse themselves in the experience. I enjoyed these sketches immensely and the poignant power they added to each story. The title, "STRONG Successful Women Share Stories of Childhood Trauma and Triumph," lends itself to an intimate perspective on early childhood adversity and a glimmering glimpse into the transformative power of stories and how when we change the fabric of one experience, it has lasting ripple effects for us all. Overall, "Strong" is an impactful confirmation that our early experiences do not define us, nor do our experiences as a whole, and it is never too late to rise above circumstances and create what you wish to see in the world.

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~ Aurora Eliam, Reedsy Discovery

READER REVIEWS

Courageous stories that inspire

I am loving the book... niceties aside! I found perspective and healing in reading other women's stories that might have been similar. The strength and courage of these women is phenomenal! You have beautifully brought together what can be and are painful moments and created a sense of healing for us and for future generations and readers. You are breaking cycles by publishing these meaningful conversations and stories that you've shared with each woman along the way Mia!

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~ Camilla Bignell

Enigmatic and Captivating Stories

I found all the stories to be captivating. You have truly captured the essence of each story. While reading, I couldn't help but feel a strong connection to them. Thank you for putting the incredible hard work of finding and writing these stories. They needed to be told! Also, the attention to details in the cartoons is phenomenal and enhances the experience of reading the stories. One term that immediately comes to mind is "Sisu," a Finnish cultural concept that embodies grit, extraordinary perseverance, and a never-give-up attitude. Thank you for telling these stories.

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~ Ayesha Kureshi

Lessons of resilience and hope

What an inspiring collection of stories this is. These strong women from all around the planet remind us that we too must be capable of triumphing over even the most devastating experiences.

As painful as these women's experiences were, author Mia Doucet makes it possible for readers to absorb them through her skilled storytelling. Each story is told in the first person, sharing the salient particulars of trauma with empathy for the young girl's suffering. The author then shows how the grown woman transmuted her pain, revealing a larger narrative of resilience and hope. In prose so limpid the lessons slide in like a balm.

Though the stories are utterly unique, their common triumphant humanity will make them resonant for a wide spectrum of readers, men included. Any reader, in fact, is unlikely to remain unmoved after reading even a few.

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~ Trevor Zelman

Successful Women Share Stories of Childhood Trauma and Triumph

Mia's writing is succinct and impactful, allowing readers to immerse themselves in a diverse group of women's harrowing childhood experiences. The inclusion of original, full-color illustrations adds a poignant touch, capturing the raw emotions of the innocent children at the center of these tales. While some stories evoke tears, others inspire admiration for the resilience and strength these women displayed. The endnotes are particularly enlightening, highlighting the remarkable achievements of these women in fields like medicine, finance, and business, often in the face of gender bias and overwhelming odds.

I highly recommend it!

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~ Ana Melikian, PhD

A must read for every man!

This is an amazing and insightful look at life from the perspective strong women who effectively deal with and overcome the challenges they each faced. I found it valuable as man, to better understand how we, through our words, behaviours and deeds, can create a healthy environment where those women we interact with in our lives, can navigate, survive and thrive as vital members of society. Or, we can create an unhealthy environment where women are prevented from reaching their potential. This should be required reading for every young, middle aged, and older male. Thank you Mia for gathering together these wonderful ladies and capturing their stories.

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~ James M. Heidema

STRONG is a must read

I had a strong, visceral reaction to these impactful and emotionally engaging stories.

They stayed with me, sometimes into my dreams. And even though some of them were hard to read, I read the book twice.

The strength of the stories is that the women fully engaged and came through their adversities stronger than they would have without the struggles. They transformed their challenges into their power.

Living through their triumphs with them raises us all up energetically.

Don't miss the last few powerful stories. The final memoir, "I See What I See" is a testament to the healing power of being acknowledged for the person we are and the gifts each of us brings into the world.

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~ Paula Brooks-Lounsbury

Truly Inspirational!

It is amazing what we can overcome.

Dozens of Inspirational Stories

Inspiring and motivating!

This collection of stories will inspire and empower!

Inspiring book!!

You don’t have to be a woman to heal and be inspired by the stories in this book.

This book is a wonderful, easy read and will make a great gift for any woman you know in your life who may or may not yet know their inner power.

But frankly I think anyone male or female with childhood trauma can benefit from reading this book.

My only real criticism is I wish some of the stories were little longer as it seemed like there was more to say, especially about how that woman overcame her personal childhood trauma or what they are doing now as adults.

But regardless every story was a great pick for the book and the illustrations are terrific. Actually, it’s a hard book to stop reading.

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~ Steve

Amazing number of perspectives

Strong

Inspiring and Empowering How to recreate your self through challenges

Stories of childhood hidden memories of 81 successful women

Early Childhood Experiences Don't Determine Our Destiny

STRONG: Successful Women Share Stories of Childhood Trauma and Triumph is a collection of testimonies showing that even when our early childhood experiences may have been fraught with trauma, it doesn't mean we're destined for a life of misery and despair. We have within us the seed of strength and courage to live happy, successful, and fulfilled lives.

These stories, with their delightful illustrations, offer hope and inspiration for those who may be experiencing difficulties as adults due to the memories of childhood.

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~ Kathleen Sparrow

It’s inspiring!

Captivating and Honest

Inspiring stories from strong women

Absolutely Fascinating!

Brave women share their stories

Powerfully humbling.

Heartwarming

A powerful book to help rewrite our stories

"STRONG" is an inspiring anthology featuring my own story and those of eighty other remarkable women from around the world.

In this collection, we open up about our childhood struggles, including trauma, loss, betrayal, bullying, neglect, sexual abuse, and the complexities of dysfunctional family relationships.

These aren't your typical childhood stories; they're the conversations you'd have with a close friend, sometimes in raw and vivid detail.

The author's writing style is clear and concise, letting our voices shine through authentically. What makes this book unique are the original, full-color drawings that accompany each memory, providing a visual window into our childhood experiences. These drawings add an emotional depth that draws you further into our stories.

But what truly sets "STRONG" apart is the endnotes. They reveal the incredible strength and resilience that allowed us to rise above our challenging pasts and succeed in fields like medicine, finance, and business, despite the odds and gender bias we faced. This book is a testament to the human spirit's unwavering capacity for growth and triumph in the face of adversity.

"STRONG" is a powerful reminder that behind every successful woman lies a story of perseverance and determination. It's a deeply personal and inspiring read for anyone seeking strength and inspiration from the real-life stories of resilient women.

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~Eugina Jordan

These stories touch your heart and soul

Some of these stories get you right in the throat.

This book will inspire people because it mirrors back to the reader that, no matterwhat they have been through, they can make it as well.

The first stories were really hard to hear the pain and anguish of women who wentthrough different things. It’s not so much that these true stories were overwhelmingbut it was, my life is really pretty good and has been compared to what other womenhave experienced.

I was truly impressed that these are stories of women from around the world.Different cultures, different types of being in the world. I can be very empathetic.

Your heart just went out to some of these little kids. I’m so sorry that this was achildhood that you had to endure.

The one thing I always wanted to know at the end of the story was, where are theynow? What are they doing in life now?

The illustrations are an added bonus because, again, you’re feeling that child’semotion, the anguish of what that child had to go through, through the eyes of thechild. That’s very powerful when it’s through the eyes of the child. The illustrationsare a very important part of the book. Very artistically done.

You tapped into a memory that is not so easy to back to. When you couple that withthe illustration, that’s a powerful emotion that comes up , to be able to face and verbalize that.

The one thing that comes through, getting a child’s perspective of what happened.You’ve got a lot of raw emotions in that.

We needed the balance of the lighter stories, such as “Freedom in a Can of Coke.”

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~ Lesley P. Nase

STRONG is a tribute to resiliency and triumph

This book is fabulous!

Genuine kudos to the author on an amazing accomplishment.

At first glance the book looked absolutely phenomenal. I read it cover to cover enroute to London, England. it is an amazing collection of life stories and a formidable piece of literature!

I was struck by the incredible resilience and fortitude that is a theme throughout the book—nicely encapsulated into a concise package.

The power of the book to give hope to those who have suffered painful childhoods. My question to the author is: what will this work become? It is an amazing body of work, and I feel it could become a springboard for a movement or foundation or collective of fabulous women helping each other and changing the world together.

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~ Carol Dekkers

Beautifully told stories of strife in early childhood

Short, succinct stories that are easy for the ADD mind to digest

The stories in this book are succinctly written, and easy for the ADD mind to digest. You can read one or more at a time and pick up the book at a later date, not having to wonder where you left off. The colorful, childlike drawings embody the message of each story, and enhance the text of each writer, revisiting their youth. These women used their childhood struggles to propel themselves forward instead of viewing their experiences as obstacles to hold them back. This would be a great book to offer to teenagers as they try to figure out their life. To realize that one can reach their full potential, despite not having had the easiest childhood.

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~ Steven

Profound lessons in resilience

Mia's book is a deeply moving exploration of the lasting impact of childhood trauma and the enduring power of triumph. Through her poignant storytelling, I had the privilege of getting to know these remarkable women, each sharing a unique narrative that left a profound imprint on my heart. Some stories resonated with me on a personal level, while others were heart-wrenching in their vulnerability and still others served as a wellspring of inspiration. In a world where we hold a deep longing for connection, particularly with our family and roots, these narratives offer profound lessons in resilience.

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~ Lucy Chen

Thoughtfully inspiring!

Fantastic compilation of powerful stories!

Triumph over childhood adversity

Inspiring!

Every girl has within strength to meet challenges

I appreciated the diversity of stories from powerful women who were once struggling with different forms of abuse as children. I felt inspired by the candor and courage of each author who shared from the heart how they suffered and how they overcame and surpassed the tough times to become strong women. As a retired classroom teacher of young children, I can see this book being used by educators, childcare workers in every profession and by girls and women who will thrive when seeing possibilities to keep growing stronger.

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~ Pauline Duncan-Thrasher

Great stories.

The underlying theme of empowerment and growth shines through

Mia Doucet’s STRONG is a profoundly moving collection. Through concise yet impactful narratives and charming illustrations, this book delves deep into childhood trauma, illuminating the extraordinary strength and resilience that can emerge from adversity.

I did not expect this book to resonate so deeply with me. It stands as a testament to individual courage and fortitude. With raw emotions and honesty it provokes introspection and reflection, leaving me with a lasting impression of the power of human resilience and perseverance.
Despite the poignant weight of these stories, they are both inspiring and thought-provoking. The skillful storytelling captures the depth and emotion behind these stories, enabling readers to empathize deeply with the individual contributors. The underlying theme of empowerment and growth shines through, inspiring hope and new perspectives for healing and self-discovery.

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~ Dr Z

Each story encapsulates the diversity, resiliency, tenacity, and strength that each woman has acquired and utilized to overcome the barriers that were presented to them in their life. They are amazing and humble role models for their families and future generations of both men and women!

I trust that this book and its messages are being purchased, gifted and read by many women and their respective organizations/business environments as well as shared with many men's organizations and businesses.

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~ M. Cooper

A thoughtfully inspiring collection of short accounts of traumas that successful women experienced in childhood. The delightful childlike illustrations add levity to the testaments of true strength, power and resilience that women are capable of. These moving and reflective accounts are presented in bite size format, whether you read front to back, back to front, or at random, if you have 5 minutes or an hour, the book is to be read however you wish for easy consumption. Highly recommended and many thanks to the author Mia Doucet and the 80 women for sharing their triumphs with us all!

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~ Karen Neath

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