The Power of Grit and Resilience

by Maureen Steele

Maureen Steele kicks off the new year with a brilliant essay on the power of grit and resilience. Inspired by reuniting with old friends, she crafts a story that touches the soul, using vivid language and masterful brevity to connect us all to the shared human experience.

Once again, she proves her ability to paint with words, offering a moving reflection on resilience that speaks to every heart. I’m proud to present this to you.

The Grit We Lost: A Reflection on Rod Collins and the America We Once Knew

There are some friendships in life that remain etched in the heart, no matter the passage of time. For me, Jay Collins and his older brother, Rod, have always held a special place.

We first met in seventh grade—just kids finding our way in the world, with dreams as big as the sky and no inkling of the roads that lay ahead. Rod was always the older, wiser one, and Jay, my peer, shared the kind of camaraderie that comes from growing up side by side. Time, as it does, wove its web, carrying us in and out of each other’s lives. But recently, when I reconnected with Rod and Jay, I discovered something extraordinary—something more than nostalgia, more than the joy of rekindled friendship. I found a story of grit, determination, and triumph that embodies what we, as a nation, seem to have forgotten.

Rod Collins should not be here. A couple of years ago, a stroke brought his life to the edge of a precipice. His wife, Cara—also a friend from childhood—was told by doctors to prepare for the worst. Doctors were certain of his fate: if he survived, (and they were fairly certain he would not) Rod would never speak again. Or walk. The stroke had ravaged a part of his brain that, by all medical accounts, controlled his ability to form words. But Rod and his wife Cara, in the face of insurmountable odds, refused to accept that narrative. His brother Jay and Jay’s wife Lindsey also refused to accept that narrative, and collectively they fought. Together, the four of them created a fortress of love and determination that didn’t just survive Rod’s stroke; it thrived because of their collective will to fight. Their children—an extension of that bond—have witnessed firsthand what it means to be family, in the truest, grittiest sense of the word

Rod began to talk—not coherently, not fluently, but persistently. Even as his body betrayed him, his spirit refused to yield. That relentless drive, that stubborn belief in the impossible, became his lifeline. It wasn’t just Rod who refused to give up. Cara didn’t give up. Jay didn’t give up. Lindsay didn’t give up. They pulled together, rallied around him, and refused to let despair take hold. It reminded me of something we used to see all the time in this country: communities, families, neighbors coming together in times of crisis. Everyone doing what they could, not because they had to, but because that’s just what you did.

Today, Rod speaks with clarity and conviction. He walks, and though he still battles to regain full use of his arm, he is a living testament to the power of determination. Sitting across from him in September, after years apart, I marveled at his optimism, his strength, and his refusal to quit. It was as if time had rewound, and we were back in the halls of West High, where hope was boundless and possibilities endless.

Rod’s story is more than a personal triumph and a family pulling together; it is a mirror held up to our culture—a reminder of the grit and resolve we once revered as a nation. There was a time when Americans embodied the very spirit Rod and his family have shown. Americans didn’t take no for an answer. We didn’t fold at the first sign of adversity. We didn’t let someone else’s verdict—be it a doctor, a critic, or an adversary—define our destiny. We were a nation of fighters, innovators, and problem solvers. We believed that through hard work, faith, and determination, we could overcome anything. And we did.

But somewhere along the way, we lost that “fight”. The generations that followed us—the children born in the 80s, 90s, and beyond—seem to have never learned the value of resilience. They too often surrender to circumstance; seeking comfort over challenge, consensus over conviction. They lean on experts and algorithms, rather than their own critical thinking. The grit that built this country, that carried us through wars, depressions, and countless personal trials, is going extinct.

Rod's story is a reminder that we can find our way back to that place. His refusal to give up, his choice to defy the odds, and his willingness to fight for his own recovery stands as a beacon of hope for all of us. It is not easy to overcome adversity. It takes sweat, tears, and a relentless belief in the impossible. But it is possible—and it is worth it.

America needs that spirit now more than ever. We are at a crossroads as a nation, and our challenges may not come in the form of a stroke, but they are no less daunting. Will we rise to meet them with the courage and conviction of a Rod Collins and the Collins family, or will we succumb to the complacency that has crept into our national identity? The choice is ours.

As I sat with Rod, Cara, Jay and his wonderful wife Lindsey that evening, sharing memories and marveling at their journey, I was reminded of what it means to fight. Rod fought for his life, his voice, and his independence—and in doing so, he reminded me of the America I grew up in. An America that didn’t quit. An America that believed in the power of grit.

America has always been at its best when we’ve pulled together, when we’ve rallied for each other, and when we’ve refused to give up. We can be that country again. We can rebuild our American Family. But first, we have to remember how to fight—not just for ourselves, but for each other. And in doing so, we’ll rediscover the strength that’s been there all along.

Perhaps it’s time we take a page from Rod’s book.

Perhaps it’s time we start talking again, no matter how hard it seems at first.

Perhaps it’s time we believe, as Rod did, that the impossible is simply the starting point of something extraordinary.

Maureen’s work is also featured in Boston Broadside, and Pete Santilli frequently showcases her pieces. You’ll also find her essays on American Made Substack and soon on the American Made Foundation website. She’ll be compiling her essays from the year into a book—stay tuned for that, as it promises to be a masterclass in the art of the written word.

Maureen Steele’s passion for the written word is matched by her love of the country she roams. Her descriptive style has promoted and chronicled national movements, including The People’s Convoy where she also journeyed long miles in the cab of a big rig. Contact Maureen Steele of AMERICAN MADE on X @MaureenSteele_
or msteelepa@gmail.com

Third in a series of personal essays on hardworking Americans who proudly live and breathe freedom in their lives and their work.

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Contact Maureen Steele: maureensteelepa@gmail.com

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American Made Foundation Essay #4 "The Power of Grit and Resilience"