Every person God has placed upon this earth is special: everyone boasts a unique talent or skill to share with humanity; every individual has a goal to accomplish and a dream to fulfill; and thus every person on God's earth smiles - or so we would like to believe.

But as members of the human race, we so often do not live up to our potential. We are not good enough, smart enough, fast enough, or strong enough to succeed. We hide from challenges and shy away from both turmoil and ecstasy. Why? Because we do not believe we are capable of achieving our expectations. Stand and Be Counted, the debut collection of strong and moving verse by Elissa Gabrielle, counters these long-held beliefs, assuring us we are strong enough to succeed; we do have the power to reclaim our happiness. Through insightful visions and strong declarations, Gabrielle instills confidence in readers as she illuminates the path to a more self-rewarding and gratifying life.