The Strength of Silk: Living a Life of Grace & Gratitude

by Lakysha Laing

Overview

Are you allowing the experiences of your childhood trauma hold you hostage to living a life free of that trauma as an adult? Have life's circumstances have you questioning your purpose? Have you ever questioned why God would allow you to go through the things you are going through? Have you ever wondered how someone going through unbelievable & unimaginable experiences can display an armor of faith and perseverance? These questions are the same questions Lakysha had to ask herself over and over as her life unfolded before her eyes. When presented with many life-changing experiences, she tells her story of triumphs and strong faith. Lakysha will share with you a glimpse into a life that almost wasn't, a life that started with tragedy, that progressed to a life of intentionality, and continues with a life of ups & downs, yet she remained positive, faithful, and grateful for a life where she continuously gives herself the grace to continue. If you are looking for a book that shares a story of someone who didn't let how her life started dictate how her life turned out, this is the book for you.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781667819037
Publisher:	BookBaby
Publication date:	11/25/2021
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	146
File size:	4 MB

About the Author

Lakysha Laing is a director in the telecommunications industry and has held leadership positions in technical support for over 25 years. She is known for leading high performing teams, being the first to greet you at the door with a smile and operating at a higher frequency than most with her contagious positive energy.

She holds a bachelor's degree in Information Systems Management, an MBA in Business Administration and a certificate from Cornell for Diversity & Inclusion. Lakysha holds board positions focused on foster care and diversity & inclusion as she knows what it feels like to be in foster care and not feel like she belonged. Through her involvement, she is using her voice to be in support of causes near and dear to her heart. Her passion for leading, mentoring and elevating the voices of others affords her the opportunity to be an informal and formal mentor to many.

As Lakysha navigated her professional and personal life, the hard work and determination didn't come easy. Lakysha was born & raised in Brooklyn, NY, in her neighborhood of Bed Stuy Do or Die! As people always say, "if you can make it in NY, you can make it anywhere." Within the pages of this book, you will read how her New York roots prepared her for the grit and perseverance needed to go about life with all of its ups and downs.

Lakysha is foster care alumna and adopted daughter of her amazing parents (now deceased). They instilled in her the importance of never giving up, helping those in need and being grateful for what you have. Read her story of that fateful day in 2018, when she was diagnosed with breast cancer and learn about her journey through chemo, radiation, and a few health scares along the way. Her relationship with God has been at the center of her life, and she models the way of his teachings by giving back to the community, treating people with kindness and being kind to herself as she gives herself grace.

Through it all, Lakysha lives a life full of positive energy, a hopeful outlook on life and unbelievable displays of vulnerability as she shares her story with others. Lakysha lives in Chesapeake, VA, where she enjoys whale watching, spending time with her husband Cliff, their children Alysha and Khalil, and her fur baby Lhasa Apso, Cassius.

Table of Contents

Dedication iii

The Significance of Silk 3

Who Am I? 6

I Had a Twin But Never Knew Her 6

My Early Years as an Adopted Child 10

I Lost My Mother …Again 27

Reunited With My Older Sister 31

My Life & Work Experiences 34

The $500 That Changed My Life 34

Working in a Male-Dominated Industry 38

I Left & Didn't Tell Anyone 43

Reuniting With My Bestie 53

I Was Three Hours Late For An Interview 56

Moving Back Home Unexpectedly 60

The Career I Prayed For 63

My Father 69

My Husband 78

My Breast Cancer Journey 87

I Continue to Fight & Never Give Up 123

Realizing My Worth 130

Grace & Gratitude 135

The Strength of Silk 137

Writer's Note 140