Commonplace Reader presents “Reimagining Resilience”

Commonplace Reader, Yardley's only independent bookstore, is proud to present a free online event featuring local authors and resilience experts, Dr. Lise Deguire, Mary Fran Bontempo and Kristin Smedley on Sunday, March 21st at 7pm – 8pm. The theme of this event is reimagining your personal resilience, discovering how you can harness your superpowers to reset, rise and ultimately reveal your unique purpose. The informal panel discussion will feature inspirational and motivational stories, practical tips and strategies, and a lot of humor. Attendees will leave with concrete steps they can take to overcome life’s challenges – the major ones as well as the day-to-day obstacles we have faced during the pandemic. The moderator of this interactive panel discussion will be local resident and author, Sherry Sadoff Hanck, and attendees are encouraged to come with questions and share their stories.

Elizabeth Young, owner of Commonplace Reader commented, “I am thrilled to be hosting this event featuring such inspirational and empowering women. It seems fitting that we are holding this event in March, the month that celebrates women’s contributions throughout history.”

Dr. Lise Deguire, the author of Flashback Girl: Lessons on Resilience from a Survivor, is a clinical psychologist practicing in Pennington, NJ. At the age of four, she was third-degree burned on 65% of her body as the result of both maternal and corporate negligence. Against the odds, she lived through this injury, beginning decades of excruciating surgeries. She grew up in a highly dysfunctional family, losing four members to suicide. Despite these life challenges, Dr. Deguire has forged a triumphant path towards love, health and life satisfaction. She waited 50 years to write her memoir, until her entire family of origin was gone.

Flashback Girl was released in 2020 and has received over 50 Amazon 5-star reviews and has been a best seller at Commonplace Reader for the last several months. Lise has appeared on NPR’s “The Pulse”, Sirius XM, regional TV, ABC, NBC, FOX and numerous podcasts. She is a regular blogger for Psychology Today and numerous other publications and writes a bi-weekly inspirational blog which can be accessed via her website. She is a national keynote speaker and has also spoken locally at various faith-based groups, women’s conferences, as well as business and health organizations. To learn more, please visit her website: https://www.lisedeguire.com/.

Mary Fran Bontempo and Kristin Smedley founded “Brilliantly Resilient,” an empowering road map to overcoming life’s challenges in 2020, just prior to the pandemic. Brilliantly Resilient grew out of Kristin and Mary Fran individually managing personal "sucker punches." Kristin’s two sons were unexpectedly born blind, and Mary Fran’s son struggled with heroin addiction and substance abuse for many years. Navigating these unanticipated life blows inspired them to create the resource for others that they never had. Brilliantly Resilient is a process of tools and strategies that can help people come through train wrecks and "sucker punches," brilliant, not broken. They outlined their method in their recently released first book, Brilliantly Resilient: Reset, Rise and Reveal Your Brilliance," which is already an Amazon best-seller. They offer many self-help programs including a series of masterclasses on important topics, including divorce and addiction recovery, a 5-day resilience challenge and small group coaching. To learn more about their programs visit: https://brilliantlyresilient.net/.

Mary Fran and Kristin also built an international Facebook community which took off when lockdown restrictions started last year. The Brilliantly Resilient Facebook community quickly evolved into a tribe when they launched their weekly podcast. Brilliantly Resilient podcasts are highly inspirational and motivational, featuring guests who have survived and overcame life traumas and adversities and came out the other side stronger. They encourage anyone who needs uplifting, a few laughs and a sense of community to join their Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/groups/BrilliantlyResilient

Kristin and Mary Fran individually are both award-winning authors and speakers, including giving 3 TEDx talks between them. They have appeared on numerous podcasts, local television, (Fox 29, NBC 10) and on local radio. They have spoken to national audiences and locally at colleges, women’s conferences, corporate settings and faith-based organizations, offering inspiring keynotes and leading motivational workshops.

The unifying thread behind this event is the sincere desire of these accomplished authors and speakers to impart some personal wisdom they have gleaned through their own life stories on building and cultivating resilience and moving beyond it to create the life you want to lead. Their intention is to help others connect with their own inner resilience in an interactive discussion format and strongly encourage attendees to participate in the conversation.

Commonplace Reader, located at 49 S. Main Street in downtown Yardley, is a safe space where people can meet virtually and in-person to talk about books, ideas and the countless things that matter to Yardley in an open and accepting atmosphere. To learn more about Commonplace Reader and for more information on how to access this virtual event visit: https://commonplace-reader.com/.