Six years ago today, Naseem Rochette was crossing the street in her suburban hometown in New Jersey. Her husband was waiting for her on the other side, and watched in horror as she was struck by a car and then run over multiple times. The extreme accident, which left her with several injuries, though no broken bones or internal bleeding, was something Rochette intended to find purpose in.
Rochette considered herself lucky. In the time since the accident, Rochette, a Google alum and a sales leader at Microsoft, has shared her story. Turning the lemons life had handed her into lemonade, Rochette wrote out now. In the book, Rochette recounts the accident, sharing her life as it led up to that faithful day—she grew up with Indian parents in New Jersey in the 1970s and is now raising three children of her own in her home state. A busy life as a full-time working mom zig-zagging in and out of Manhattan came to a halt when Rochette was forced to slow down and focus on healing.
With an unshakable optimism (the book’s title says it all), Rochette’s book ends with a chapter she calls “The Sermon”—a neat list of 10 takeaways she hopes to impart to readers.
Since the accident, Rochette has reclaimed the day of May 21 in what she calls “Unbreakable Day.” On this Unbreakable Day, a Q&A with Rochette:
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Why did you decide to write a memoir?
To be honest, writing a memoir was not something I wanted to do—I didn’t think my life was very remarkable—and I would have preferred to just publish the 10 things I learned from being run over—the “my sermon” section. However, I realized that I needed to share the details of my life and the background of my transformation to make my lessons meaningful and authentic. It’s hard to appreciate milestones and victories without knowing where the journey started.
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What was the hardest part about writing the book?
The hardest part was the contextual details that took almost two years—because they were very personal, and I had to be emotionally ready to delve into my life—my past and even my present. Deciding what was interesting and relevant to the story required a lot of introspection (writing and revising!), especially because I wanted my words to express that I am sharing what I learned–not pretending to be “enlightened”—just hoping to help others.
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What has been the most rewarding part of sharing your story?
I never expected my book to reach anyone beyond my close friends and family, so the book’s success was a huge surprise. Moreover, the diversity of people who have contacted me—who have even made changes in their lives because they felt encouraged and motivated by my story—was beyond my wildest dreams. I have heard from 80-year-old grandmothers in Florida, teenagers with social anxiety, and executives in their 40s-50s who have never spoken about their challenges. I am amazed and delighted by how much sharing my difficulties, achievements, and insights has helped others.
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What are your hopes for the future?
I want to keep helping people feel stronger, more confident in who they are and in shaping their story. So right now, that means continuing to give talks and keynotes, run workshops, and do more life coaching.
Rochette’s story is one of resilience, triumph, and the power of human connection. Her journey serves as an inspiration to all who face challenges in their own lives. Unbreakable Day is a reminder that even in the face of adversity, we have the power to choose our own path and create our own story.
