Resiliency

So they say that we are "bouncing back" from the economic slump we have been in. While the economy may be regaining momentum, how are we doing as a community? Have we fully recovered?

Much like the economy, we can find ourselves in an "economic slump" when it comes to our energetic and mental resources. So how do we recover? How do we bounce back? Resiliency.

Resiliency is ones ability to cope with stress and adversity. Many definitions say that it is ones ability to return to a previous state, however, my experience of resiliency is that we often come out of stressful situations as a changed individual and what was once "normal" for us has been forever changed. I see resiliency in a positive light, we become stronger, more informed and better able to handle less than ideal situations. I have seen this in people who are in recovery from substance abuse, physical illness, PTSD, and those who have lost loved ones through death or divorce.

To borrow a phrase from the recovery community "Recovery is a process, not a destination" as is resiliency. It is a process, and I personally believe a life long process. This is not to say that one will be in a constant state of crisis, but that events will happen as a part of life and that knowing this in advance can help us understand our trials and tribulations.

So as we hold the people of Japan in our hearts and minds, I would also like to wish them resiliency.