Sneaky Adversity, Collective Strength

By Jamie K. Enfield

Guest Blogger for the Overcoming Adversity with Collaboration Series 

Years ago in Castle Rock, Colorado, during the 2009 recession, my husband’s work became unpredictable, and the wellness center I had poured our life savings into began to unravel just as I was pregnant with our third child. I still remember the day my son asked for milk, and I stood in front of an empty refrigerator, realizing I could not afford to buy any. That moment marked a quiet dividing line in my life: before asking for help, and after.

We closed my business, lost our home to a short sale, and made the unplanned decision to move to Temecula, California, with no guarantees and only a small trailer of essentials. The early months were lonely and uncertain. My husband traveled back and forth between the two states for work while I stayed behind with three young children, trying to rebuild stability and purpose for myself.

The turning point in that season was not a paycheck. It was a community. I joined a local Mom’s Club simply to make friends, and what I found was collaboration in its most human form: encouragement, shared resources, emotional support, and eventually connections that helped our family regain stability. At the same time, I began teaching stroller fitness and yoga classes, which helped me rediscover my voice and sense of identity after losing my business.

Looking back now as an author and writing coach, I see that season differently. What felt like survival at the time was actually the foundation of my storytelling. Experiencing shame, resilience, and reinvention firsthand gave me the courage to write my first book and later mentor aspiring authors who feel unqualified to share their own stories.

Attending the WIP Summit last year became another turning point in my journey. Until then, I saw myself primarily as a book author. Being surrounded by writers, mentors, and industry leaders helped me realize my role was bigger than writing alone. I wasn’t just meant to share my own story—I was meant to help others tell theirs. The summit gave me the clarity and confidence to step into coaching, where I am now developing a program to support aspiring authors through storytelling, accountability, and the belief that their story matters because someone, somewhere, is waiting to hear it.

My role in the publishing world today—as an author, speaker, and coach who helps others tell their hard stories—was shaped by both quiet adversity and collaborative communities that encouraged me to grow beyond authorship.

Adversity does not always look like rock bottom. Sometimes it looks like starting over quietly, gathering strength through community, and transforming lived experience into stories that help others feel seen and less alone.