Resilience… what does it mean for someone to be resilient? Is it a natural character trait? Is it learned and can it be taught? During these eight weeks, what stuck out to me the most is that resilience is like a spider web, sometimes even like tangled earphone cords.
For an individual to demonstrate true resilience, or to adapt to adversity and other significant sources of stress, I believe their community must be resilient and have the capabilities to support its members. You cannot question why an individual does not demonstrate resilience if they belong to a community that does not give them support, hope, or make sure their physical needs are met. People also demonstrate resilience in a variety of ways, like keeping up a routine, asking for or seeking out support or help, breathing exercises from stress, etc. No one can or should be expected to demonstrate resilience the same way.
Tackling the challenge of creating a resilient community that helps, relies and supports each other is one of a kind. You must acknowledge that communities, their members and their personal struggles are unique. It is not a one size fits all solution. One community’s way of demonstrating resilience is probably not another’s. And I think that is what makes resilience so unique. It involves reflection, action, empathy, support, and most importantly, hope. It is not only an individual effort but a group effort. The majority of individuals are a reflection of their community and its values.