Resilient

This blog is dedicated to everyone who has been knocked down by life. You may still be on the ground; maybe you have made it to your hands and knees but are still on the ground. Perhaps you are able to sit up, or maybe you have made it to your feet but are leaning against the wall. You may be taking your first few tentative steps. Or perhaps you have regained your stride and have courageously stepped back into life—wiser, stronger, braver, and more resilient.

The reality is that life will throw you curveballs. There is no such thing as a perfectly curated life. Life is a beautiful adventure that will test you and teach you, nurture you and challenge you, fill you and deplete you. That’s life.

I have found that what matters most is not the “what” or “when”; it’s the “how.” Regardless of what happens and when it happens, how you respond is truly the key. Viktor Frankl said in his book Man’s Search for Meaning,

“Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.”

Resilience and strength do not come from a life of ease and leisure. We build our character and create a meaningful life by how we respond to the realities we face day to day, especially the unexpected ones that are hard, painful, debilitating, and require sacrifice and grit to overcome.

 Think of someone you admire. I can guarantee that this person has faced some really tough challenges—and survived. A year ago, my adult daughter was playing recreational volleyball.  She has played volleyball competitively since she was 10. During a rally she stepped backwards, preparing to receive a volley when she felt a pop.  She had ruptured her Achilles tendon.  Her friends rushed her to the emergency room, she was bandaged up but not properly diagnosed.  She suffered for over a week before she got the proper care and diagnosis and another week later had surgery. Nearly 2 weeks of suffering before she got the care that she needed.  She has been in recovery for over a year.  She was on the ground, literally, and has been on a journey to full functionality. Yet, she remained optimistic and without knowing it, became a role model of reliance.  As you make your way back to your feet from your “Achilles injury”, you can be that beacon for someone else.

As you face each day, stay open to what life will teach you and resolve that you will meet each lesson with courage. No matter what, you have survived 100% of your worst days, you win. Remember that: You win. Whether you are still on the floor or walking into the day with confidence, lift your head. You win.