Resilience is the ability to adapt to change, cope with challenges, and bounce back from setbacks. It is a key skill that can help us to navigate the ups and downs of life with grace and strength. However, it’s not something that we are born with. It’s a skill that can be developed and strengthened over time.

Do not let it harden you.

Do not let their words, their stares, their judgment, their whispers, be bricks to create an impenetrable wall around your heart.

Stay soft. Stay flexible. Stay open. Stay vulnerable.

It will be hard at times. You may feel many stings. You will hesitate to trust again. You may open yourself to others, slowly, and find that they were not safe to share your beautiful heart.

Left, right.

Black, white.

They tell us we live in the land of either/or.

If you’re against this, you’re for that

If you say yes to them, you say no to us.

I don’t really watch the news.

I wonder how many other people feel the heaviness of being attached to traumatic events of the world. Maybe we think we don’t have permission to look away. Maybe we think we’re being irresponsible if we don’t know what’s happening around the globe.

For many years, I didn’t realize I was feeling sorry for myself. Externally I touted positivity, surrender, and looking at the bright side, but didn’t really understand that in a deep part of me, I still viewed myself as a victim of many of my circumstances.