Friday's here. Thank goodness. One more day of work, and that's it. Here's a little inspiration to get you through to Saturday.
For more than a month now, Patch and Grape-Nuts have teamed up to present stories about your neighbors, neighbors who have faced challenges that would seem insurmountable to many of us.
But not to the people we've featured in this series, Journeys.
Not surprisingly, the stories have generated dozens of comments on Patch and on Facebook: "Great story...""Thanks for sharing..." "So wonderfully inspiring..."
And, so, here they are again. Great stories shared to inspire. Take a look at what these people have faced. Then click on the story to see their responses. And feel better about your tough week.
Pit Bull Rescuer Faces a Mountain of Fear and Misunderstanding: Chicago-area woman rises to the challenge of rescuing mistreated pit bulls and changing the image of the maligned breed.
Tattoo Artist Helps Girls Escape Life in the Sex Trade: A Chicago-area tattoo artist and youth pastor helps people find new lives by inking over their tattoos.
Disabled Athlete Scores a Big Win for Handicapped Competitors in Illinois: A Chicago-area swimmer rose to the challenge to fight rules that discriminated against disabled athletes.
A Marine Corps Mom's Love for a Son Lost to Combat: Modie Lavin's journey through life changed when her son was killed in Afghanistan. She now runs a memorial fund and works with veterans in Chicago.
The Long Journey to Change Minds About Marriage Equality: State Rep. Sara Feigenholtz has been a vocal advocate for changing Illinois marriage laws, and she sees change on the horizon.
Man Paralyzed in Prime of Life Never Stops Following His Passion: A Chicago-area man didn't let becoming paralyzed at the age of 21 stop him from coaching football and running for public office.