Resilience. What a powerful word! What is Resilience? (1) the ability to become strong, healthy, or successful again after something bad happens. (2) the ability of something to return to its original shape after it has been pulled, stretched, pressed, bent, etc. Resilience is similar to another favorite word of mine; Recovery.

All of us are on a journey. A life path that is chosen specifically for us. Some people seem to glide through life without any problems (don’t let ’em fool you) while others; those of us who suffer from depression or anxiety issues have a much harder time staying “resilient” when difficult times come along. I was just reading a magazine that had a two page spread about the actress Kim Basinger entitled “Kim Basinger finds new love at 61.” It wasn’t the fact that she still looks like a movie star with a toned body and timeless beauty that caught my eye. (Nor the fact that her new beau is her hairdresser.) What I noticed was…and I quote “She’s been battling agoraphobia and other anxieties in recent years, but Kim’s feeling better and has gone public again. ‘I wanted to face everything I was afraid of,’ she said. ‘Now I wake up and enjoy life.'” Hummmmm, something other people may have dismissed or glided right over. No, not I. How interesting! Kim Basinger was battling anxieties. What does that little tid bit tell me? It tells me that she chose to be resilient! She’s Back!

What about us? Well, what about me personally? I can fall right back into the pit of darkness if I allow myself to keep thinking negatively but just when it begins to swallow me up and I may feel the drowning waters begin swirling around me I must STOP! Look around. Go outside. Take a deep breath and remember; this life is not about me!!! There is an Orchestrator who rules over the earth. One who has promised me personally to keep me sane and puts me right back into the game. Am I resilient? Absolutely! Jumping back into this “thing” called life after being “pulled, stretched, pressed or bent”. It is NOT something that comes naturally. In fact, for years it was the most unnatural behavior for a person like me. But now, since I have learned to rely on someone much bigger than myself I am confident that I will Remain Resilient. Time is going very quickly. We are 35 then soon 55 and in what seems a short time we are 75! (Okay, how about 61 like Ms. Basinger!) The point is we are like a flower fading (that’s from a song I heard on the radio this morning). Fading on the outside, looking and physically feeling older, but our spirits are growing ever stronger as we feed them the only food spirits can eat. The word of God.

What is the opposite of Resilience? Giving up. Not bouncing back. It is a choice we all have to make at some point in our lives.

May God’s blessings be upon you today and everyday!