@bethvogt
The subject of resilience came up last weekend during a text conversation with my friend Bernadette. We were discussing how a year has passed since COVID upended our lives. One whole year. Also, like so many others, Bernadette and I are walking through grief because family members died during the pandemic.
“I don’t know about you, but I feel like I used to be more resilient,” Bernadette told me during our text conversation. “I know I used to be more resilient.”
I don’t consider myself a naturally resilient person. Everything I know about resiliency I learned watching my daughter Christa on the volleyball court.
Christa is a fierce competitor. She hates when her team loses a match, but she can shake off her disappointment and step back on the court, ready to take on the next competitor.
I could talk about why some people seem more naturally resilient than others. Or what wears down our resilience. Maybe do some research on resilience and include some information, such as how resilient people can process both positive and negative emotions, even in difficult situations.
But this is more of a conversation than an analysis. Some people are just more naturally resilient than other people – just like how some of us have a natural bent toward spelling and some of us don’t.
Maybe the first step to being more resilient – whether our resilience is worn out or we’ve never been all that resilient – is acknowledging life hasn’t changed as much as we hoped it would when we were ringing in the new year.
We’re dealing with everything our lives encompass in 2021 while still processing what our lives were like in 2020.
- Maybe you’re recovering from COVID.
- Or schooling your children – juggling the whole in-person and at-home schedule.
- Caring for aging parents – or grieving distance from them or the loss of them.
- Struggling with financial upheaval caused by job changes – in person to remote – or unemployment.
- Or maybe you’re trying to handle the emotional burden of all of the above.
Consider the quote my friend shared with me during our conversation:
“Little by little, one travels far.” Spanish Proverb
“[The quote is] short, sweet, and doable. And I can remember it,” Bernadette said. “And it reminds me that little by little is legit.”
I love when texting with a friend becomes a life lesson loaded with encouragement.
Little by little is legit.
The best way we can do all that is demanded of us in 2021? One small step at a time.
Choosing to Conquer Our Challenges One Small Step at a Time https://bit.ly/2P11g9r #encouragement #hope Click To Tweet 'One may walk over the highest mountain one step at a time.' Quote by John Wanamaker https://bit.ly/2P11g9r #challenges #perseverance Click To TweetNOTE: The quote “Little by little, one travels far,” is often attributed to C.S. Lewis. However, I did some research and found it was, in fact, not said by him. You can read about this here.
Comments 14
Unbelievably as I read today, I’m also noticing captions, well-placed pictures. Have no idea why I didn’t before. I guess I just devour content. These are great, I love the Spanish proverb most. Thanks for these powerful vitamin pill encouraging words and images.
Author
Good morning, Dee: I included an extra graphic today because I loved the quote Bernadette shared and felt it deserved to be highlighted. 🙂 So glad to hear you were encouraged today, my friend!
In the night ’twas hard to breathe,
and I longed for morning’s light;
this I pray, let me receive
more strength for this, my final fight.
I know it won’t be ending well,
I see the writing on the wall,
but, my Lord, hey, what the hell,
please let me rise each time I fall
and rock the world with my resolve,
spit venom in the devil’s eye,
in fury’s heat make fear dissolve
and as life’s coda, as I die,
standing here at Heaven’s door,
turn to the melee once more.
Author
Andrew: If anyone possesses resilience, my friend, it’s you. If anyone understands one small step at a time — it’s you.
Praying for you today and every day.
I love “little by little is legit,” some days that’s all I can do. Other days I’m taking large leaps. But I’ve learned to accept the “legit” days and be at peace with them and even thankful for them.
Author
Fran: It’s true. Sometimes I feel like life is playing out as a game of “Mother, may I?” I get baby steps and giant steps … and they all count as progress.
And some days are two steps forward and three back! Blessings, my friend.
Author
So true, Pat! But even on those days there was progress, right? 😉
I’m trying to channel positivity to conquer the challenges. Doing my best to give it over to God.
Author
Denise: I see you always choosing the positive. Always wanting to live by faith and hope.
Off-topic – I finished book 2 and 3 of the Thatcher sisters trilogy today, and just wanted to say how I appreciated it. So many wisdoms hidden in a story, so many lessons to learn about seemingly dysfunctional families.
I sped through it, as I am so Kindle-illiterate it’s not even funny, and once I get the thing open to page 1 I need to continue to the end, there’s no navigating or cross-referencing for me yet – so I’d really like to read it again, slowly!
Author
Hi, Tel: I appreciate this off-topic comment. 🙂 So glad to hear you’re enjoying your time with the Thatcher Sisters. Family dynamics are so intriguing.
I remain encouraged by our conversation, Beth. 💛
As I’ve pondered all we talked about, and your reflections here, for the past few days, a hopeful thought took shape. Perhaps the fact that we keep getting up everyday and pressing forward, a little or a lot, is a proof of a resiliency we’re not seeing. Maybe that’s legit, too.
Author
Bernadette: How fun to continue our conversation here, my friend. And yes, I believe we are more resilient than we realize.