I had the opportunity to see the broadcast of this ceremony while I was waiting for my flight on Tuesday. The stories of each of the recipients was truly inspiring. They included cellist Yo Yo Ma, former President George H.W. Bush, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, author and poet Maya Angelou, financier Warren Buffett, and Boston Celtic great Bill Russell just to name a few.

They all have faced adversity in their lives, but they also overcame that adversity and went on to do great things. Something to keep in mind the next time you are faced with a problem that you think is insurmountable. While we may not all be Presidential Medal of Freedom winners, we can learn a lesson from these 15 people.

The video is 40 minutes long, but well worth watching.