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Sunday, 2/1/2026, 8:30am - Like It Is

Togo Dennis West, Jr.
Togo Dennis West, Jr.

Remembering the late, Togo Dennis West Jr., former Secretary of the United States Army.

Mr. West was an attorney and Army officer who served as the third Secretary of Veterans Affairs in the administration of President Bill Clinton from 1998 until his resignation in 2000. West was the second African American to be Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

After completing law school, West entered the United States Army.He was in the Army Field Artillery Corps from 1965 to 1968, then attended JAG School at the University of Virginia and served as an Army lawyer from 1969 to 1973.West earned the Legion of Merit and the Meritorious Service Medal.

Areas of discussion:

*Building Resilience Through Reflection
Healey explained a four-phase process for building resilience: Reflect, where individuals take time daily to reflect on their day with gratitude; Build, which focuses on developing a positive mindset and support system; ACT, where people face challenges, set goals, and act; and Renew, where they learn from adversity, celebrate their achievements, and strive to become better. Terry emphasized that the process is customizable and encourages individuals to choose positivity, set goals, and focus on personal growth.

*Gratitude and Resilience Journey
Terry shared his personal journey with sarcoma cancer, emphasizing how the experience taught him gratitude, provided a new life perspective, and fostered empathy. He discussed his book, "The Resilience Mindset," which was inspired by audience requests for a prescriptive self-development guide based on his experiences and those of others who overcame adversity. Terry explained that the book aims to help readers prepare for challenges by sharing lessons learned from personal struggles.

*Resilience Through Personal Themes
Terry shared his personal experience with resilience, highlighting how a song called "Never Surrender" by Corey Hart helped him cope with a challenging medical situation. He emphasized the importance of finding a personal theme song that inspires hope and resilience during tough times. Terry also discussed his book, "A Pimple Nearly Killed Me and A Resilience Mindset," which aims to provide readers with tools and methods to build resilience and maintain hope, despite life's adversities.

*Perspective and Resilience Discussion
Dr. Franklin and Terry discussed the importance of perspective in their community, emphasizing the need to appreciate the relative safety and comfort they enjoy compared to many others worldwide.