Resilience

I am selecting "Resilience" as the topic for the month of July. As I watched a baby squirrel that just fell out of its nest crawl with determination across the scalding hot stone in the summer sun last Sunday, I couldn't help to admire this little creature. However, his determination, tenacity and "resilience" wouldn't be enough to get him to the finish line. With the help of a kind loving hand of a fellow being his odds to survive increased a great deal.

We might not have fallen out of our nests, but we all have faced uncertainty and hardship this past year. Despite the mental strain and physical isolation COVID has put on us, life still continued as usual. We have lost loved ones, we have faced illnesses, some have faced financial hardship, basements have flooded and equipment has given up the ghost. Sometimes isolated events feel manageable, other times a series of events manage to break our spirits.

According to Harvard University the meaning of "Resilience" is to cope with stress in a positive way. It's not only an innate quality, it's a skill that can be practised, just like our online exercise. With practise we can get better at it! Resilience is an important skill to maintain as we age for our health can benefit from it. A lack of resilience could harm our well being by raising our blood pressure, increase anxiety, depression, insomnia and by lowering our immunity. Staying positive, laughing regularly and fighting stress by healthy diet, exercise and good sleep will improve our quality of life.

In moments that you feel you have run out of your resilience, don't forget about the loving hands that is prepared to catch you and provide support when life gets overwhelming. I am so proud of our online community. Thank you for being there for each other and for me.