Ghosting. Quiet quitting. Not showing up.
All of these things are a privilege.
There's an interesting dichotomy with the work I do. I am seeing the same trends as many in our culture—a lack of resilience. Comfort culture has taught us to give up when things get hard, shy away from things that feel like too much, and go quiet when we just don't feel like we can do it anymore.
Last weekend while on the family beach trip, esp by the sea, I was reminded of the true inspiration of resilience: special needs caregivers.
If you are the parent of a child with autism, there is no room for giving up.
If you are a caregiver of an individual who needs you for toileting, moving their wheelchair, cutting up their food, there is no room for going silent.
If you are a loved one of a child with Down syndrome who needs transportation and companionship, there is no room for not showing up.
And yet, these amazing parents and caregivers are the most beautiful humans. Resilience and grit has produced pearls of wisdom, of perspective, and of love.
For many of us, we have a choice to give up.
But what is the price we will pay if we do?
g r o w t h
You see, we are each stronger than we think we are.
And there is goodness on the other side of grit. But the pearl can only be found in the grit, determination, and coming out on the other side.
A hard relationship.
A challenging child.
A new project or skill.
A make-you-want-to-throw-up workout.
A call from the doctor with challenging news.
Our culture is teaching us to stop at the start line of goodness, and we are missing the medals on the other side. The growth, change, skill, health, and relationship—the good stuff comes on the other side of the grit.
Here's to you, you overcomer. You can do hard things and transform grit into pearls of progress.
Remember—No grit. No pearl.
with big love,
