Ms. Resilient
Welcome to Ms. Resilient & Curious Christie! We are your go-to for compassionate, wise, and relatable advice that feels like a heart-to-heart with trusted friends. Whether you’re dealing with tough emotions, tricky relationships, or just need a confidence boost, Ms. Resilient & Curious Christie offers a blend of warmth, humor, and real-world strategies so you can face life’s hurdles with strength and grace. Plus, our advice helps you feel seen and empowered to nurture your relationships. Subscribe now for our biweekly advice column sent to your inbox! You will also get access to our publication archives.
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About Ms. Resilient
Ms. Resilient is my pen name 😊. My official name is Meri McCoy-Thompson and I’m the executive director of Dovetail Learning, a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering resilience and social-emotional intelligence in adults, youth, and children.
In our new book, The Heart of Resilience: Nurturing Your Inner Strength for a Joyful Life, my colleague Chuck and I draw on our extensive experience and research to offer practical strategies and exercises for building emotional strength, managing stress, becoming more adaptable, and cultivating more authentic and fulfilling relationships. Previously, I worked for nonprofits helping empower people through education and health care around the world. Early in my career, I was on faculty at Georgetown University, where I served as Project Director for the first edition of Bright Futures, an essential training resource for pediatrics. A graduate of Stanford University with a master's from Tufts, I’ve authored or edited more than 20 publications. With all this experience, you might think I have figured it all out. Actually, I struggle with my resilience every day. It’s a lifelong journey, filled with mistakes and wrong turns. My major lesson? The struggle is worth it! Life does get better when we’re intentional about using our resilient mindsets and skills. That’s why I took the leap and launched Ms. Resilient. So we can be on the resilience journey together!
I live with my husband, Steve (a consultant for nonprofits), and cat, Buster, in the San Francisco Bay Area. My son and daughter are both married and my son’s first baby is due in July! Who hoo! 😊
My primary Centering Skill is Finding Gratitude: “Every day is a gift, and we are blessed to have life and each other.”
About Curious Christie
Curious Christie is my advice-giving persona 😊. My official name is Kristie Cannady, and I’m the COO of Dovetail Learning, a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering resilience and social-emotional intelligence in adults, youth, and children.
I began my journey at Dovetail Learning as an administrative assistant and worked my way up to running the organization alongside my friend and colleague, Meri. Together with our whole team, we created the We Are Resilient approach, and being a co-author of this approach has been the most meaningful work of my career. I’ve had the privilege of training hundreds of people in education, healthcare, juvenile justice, and even my own family. For me, the most impactful part of this approach is witnessing its transformative power.
I am a certified life coach, and I believe that every day is an opportunity to grow and support those seeking guidance. As a leader on various nonprofit boards, I’ve seen firsthand how giving back to our communities can create meaningful change and inspire collective resilience.
In addition to my professional experience, my perspective is deeply personal—I’ve overcome domestic and sexual violence, struggled with depression and anxiety, and grieved the loss of both parents. These experiences shaped my understanding of what it means to move from surviving to truly thriving, and I’m passionate about helping others do the same.
At home, I live with my husband, Rio, our two teenage sons, Emmit and Everett, two dogs, Bennie and Aurelia, and our cat, Coumo. Life is busy, but I wouldn’t have it any other way!
