In Impacted: How to Overcome the Storms of Life, Tom Clarke-an avid surfer and artist-invites readers into a deeply personal journey shaped by hardship, resilience, and faith. From an early age, Tom learned that life does not always unfold gently. Growing up with two alcoholic parents, he experienced instability and emotional uncertainty that left lasting impressions. As a child, he also faced a near-death experience caused by an unexplained illness-an event that forced him to confront fear, vulnerability, and the fragility of life at a young age.
Tom's storms did not end there. As an adult, he endured the devastating loss of a child when she was only three weeks old, a grief that reshaped his understanding of love, sorrow, and hope. He later walked through an emotionally painful divorce and significant business losses, moments that challenged his identity, faith, and sense of purpose.
Throughout Impacted, Tom vulnerably shares these experiences-not to dwell on pain, but to reveal how life's most difficult waves can shape who we become. Drawing meaningful parallels between surfing, weather, nature, and the human experience, Tom shows how Creation speaks to us through moments we often overlook. He offers insight into how storms can refine us rather than destroy us, teaching us not only how to endure hardship but how to emerge with compassion, wisdom, and strength.
More than a story of survival, Impacted is an invitation to see adversity differently and to discover how the things that have impacted you most can become a source of hope-for yourself and for others-as you face the storms of life.
Review :
"This book is a page-turner! Tom's artistic talent, his knowledge and love for nature, his overcoming resilient spirit, and his steadfast faith is the strong foundation of his autobiography. Readers will find courage in their own lives to ride each "wave" and to get back up when knocked down."
"Despite going through a difficult childhood, unexplained illness, and suffering heartbreaking loss in his family, Tom shows you how to have a perspective that will give you new hope that you can overcome even the most heartbreaking difficulties."
