I come from a place that no longer exists—ex-Yugoslavia, a vibrant country with a spirit that lives on. Growing up there instilled in me a deep sense of inat, a concept that originated in Turkish as “persistence,” but in Serbian culture, it means so much more. Inat embodies resilience, defiance, pride, and the courage to stand tall, even when life pushes back.
The Essence of Persistence
To truly understand inat, you have to see it in action. When my homeland faced extreme challenges, our people chose to live fully instead of yielding to fear. Whether it was holding rooftop gatherings during uncertain times or boldly walking across open bridges when the world felt like it was crumbling, we didn’t back down. This wasn’t recklessness; it was inat—a refusal to be silenced or broken.
A Universal Force
This spirit of resilience is universal. It drives individuals to stand up and push back against adversity, much like Winston Churchill’s resolve to fight on, John F. Kennedy’s commitment to pursue the moon “not because it is easy, but because it is hard,” or a 90-year-old confronting life’s challenges head-on. It’s the same force that inspires athletes like Novak Djokovic to triumph against seemingly impossible odds. This is inat: doing your best in the moment, pushing against the weight of challenges, and shining like a STAR with a spirit that refuses to be dimmed.
The Power of Authenticity
Inat is about doing the best you can, being true to yourself, and never allowing anything or anyone to take away your authentic self. It’s about standing strong no matter the storm and becoming a STAR—a powerhouse of resilience and determination. That’s why I’m so proud to be a part of the STAR Network as a co-founder. STAR Network is unique in its mission, teaching compassion and providing critical resources to those on their healing journey.
STAR Network Foundation is a 501(c)(3) dedicated to bringing worldwide awareness, transformation, and self-love to STARs—Survivors of Toxic Abusive Relationships. Our foundation addresses this issue through safe, neuro-regulated peer-to-peer support via TAR Anon™—dedicated spaces for women, parents, families, and anyone navigating the complexities of toxic abusive relationships, hardships, and mental health struggles.
Empowering Healing Journeys
These free support meetings empower individuals to become their own source of healing. While they complement traditional therapy, they also create a nurturing environment to reclaim self-care and inner strength.
Be a STAR!
