She is one of the top economic forecasters in the country, one of the most sought-after economists in the world, a member of the Congressional Budget Office's panel of economic advisers and one of the “most influential women in business in Chicago,” according to the Chicago Sun-Times.

Still, the most memorable thing Diane Swonk said during a recent speech in Dallas had nothing to do with the economy.

Swonk, senior managing director and chief economist for Mesirow Financial, spent much her speech talking about the challenges we face as we claw our way out of the recession.

But she wanted to close on a hopeful note, so she turned the spotlight on some of the personal adversity she has faced over the years. It's a stunning list that includes two divorces, two strokes, a son's near death and her own harrowing escape from the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001.

Her point?

“It's that which we survive that defines us,” Swonk said, “not that which we succeed at.”

Put another way: What doesn't kill us makes us stronger.

We're going through a few of those defining moments now. The recession, the bailouts, foreclosures, unemployment, new laws and regulations, financial hardship — we have our hands full. We'll be defined by how we survive.

And we will survive. Sure, we'll take a few lumps. But if we do the right things, we'll emerge stronger on the other side.

And then we'll have our own stories to tell.