When we are faced with tragedy whether it be loss or illness our ability to bounce back hinges upon resilience. Some of us are highly resilient and some don’t recover so quickly from a setback. Those that are highly resilient exhibit the following:
Strong social networks that have been nurtured in the spirit of selflessness
The belief that difficulty has been placed before us for a reason
The belief that the setback or obstacle will make us stronger
An attitude that the setback is temporary and it will be overcome
These are all variables that effect our ability to cope and move forward, but I strongly believe that we don’t know how we will respond until we are in the midst of the setback. I have witnessed some awe inspiring resilience over the past several years. My sister’s house burned to the ground. Her resilience and the community that showed up for her was heart warming. I remember saying to her: “Miranda, it is crazy (in a good way) how we don’t realize what a wonderful community this is until tragedy strikes.” When someone is the victim of a tragedy a supportive and collaborative community kicks into full fledged support mode.
I witnessed our Colleen Brighton receive a diagnosis of an Anaplastic Astrocytoma, a rare cancer that is treatable, but not curable. In addition, the statistics of survival rate are grim. It was a very scary time for all of us. Because of who Colleen is in the world the community rallied around her as she went through a brutal treatment regime. She had two craniotomies, radiation, several rounds of chemotherapy and through it all she remained positive and hopeful. She drew upon the strength of the community that showed up for her. We all showed up because she is one of those people that cultivates friendships by rooting them in her acts of generosity. Relationships, to her, are an act of selfless pursuit. She is kind, generous and embodies those qualities that make you want to be there for her. To date Colleen has had stable MRI scans for 5 years!
In a world where we feel overwhelmed by countless tragedies, the only thing we can do that makes us feel like we have some semblance of control is show up and be a good person. Be kind, be attentive, be generous and cultivate those important and meaningful relationships.
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