Rob Clark - Everyday Resilience for Everyday Heroes

Everyday Resilience for Everyday Heroes

by Rob Clark

Copyright 2020 Rob Clark

ISBN 978-1-64663-026-4

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any otherexcept for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior written permission of the author.

REVIEW COPY: This is an advanced printing subject to corrections and revisions.

Published by

3705 Shore Drive

Virginia Beach, VA 23455

8004354811

www.koehlerbooks.com

This book is dedicated to Reed and Phyllis Clark (aka Mom and Dad). Thank you for all the sacrifices you made for your five children. Resilience starts at the top.

EVERYDAY RESILIENCE

In three words, I can sum up everything I know about life: it goes on!

Robert Frost

W ebsters Dictionary defines resilience as the ability to become strong, healthy, or successful again after something bad happens. Typically, we are exposed to this concept of resilience in the superlative. We hear incredible stories of individuals overcoming major obstacles to accomplish the impossible.

The blind man who climbed Mount Everest. The scrawny little kid who blossomed into a heroic Super Bowl quarterback. The uneducated man or woman who rose up to write the Great American Novel . All these stories are motivational and remarkable. But what about the rest of us? Our stories, our struggles, our ability to persevere in the face of adversity, might not make headlines or win awards. But they require the same amount of courage and determination.

There are everyday displays of resilience taking place in classrooms, athletic fields, cubicles, corner offices, small towns, and big cities across the world. The stakes may not be as high, and the stories may not be as sensational. But summoning the courage to come back from any setback, no matter how large or small, is something to celebrate. Resilience in any form is a minor miracle!

This book shines light on the everyday resilience we all need to muster in our own personal and professional lives.

The ability to return from a setback stronger, healthier, and more resilient than ever is the key to our success and happiness. Resilient individuals do not seek out failure, disappointments, and tragedy. But they understand that these setbacks are a natural part of life and, to some degree, inevitable. Instead of retreating into a shell, resilient individuals recover and respond with action . Oftentimes, that action is a bold step forward to conquer new mountains!

While an upbeat outlook on life is important, there is more to resilience than simply maintaining a positive attitude. Resilient individuals need to adapt to several different types of setbacks, ranging from the difficult to the devastating. The retraction of a business. A demotion or dismissal. A damaged relationship. A failed test. A stinging defeat. A financial meltdown. The list goes on and on. But before we get too depressed, remember, we all have the ability to overcome these challenges and move forward with our lives!

At some point, every one of us faces some type of battle. And all of us can bounce back stronger than ever. This everyday resilience is perhaps the most remarkable, yet simple, power of all.

But just because it is simple does not mean that it is easy. Before we can begin, we need to recognize that resilience is a choice. We must choose to engage in battle. And in order to choose resilience, we first must believe . We must believe that we are capable, at some point, of achieving success and happiness. We must believe that our actions in the face of adversity will deliver better times in the future. We must believe that we can overcome our most difficult moments.

In the following pages, we will explore the four major facets of everyday resilience: Adversity, Perspective, Passion and Appreciation .

We all face adversity at some point in our lives. Our journey will not be a linear skyrocket to the top. There will be moments that stop us in our tracks. There will be moments that shake us to the core. But it is the ability to act and move forward despite the turbulent moments that defines our future success.

And during these adverse times, we need to put our setbacks in perspective . We are not the only ones going through a struggle. We are never alone. Focusing on the things that really matter in life (e.g., the health of our children or parents, the strength of our family, the depth of our relationships) can provide perspective and allow us to accept our smaller failures and move forward.

But nothing will happen without passion . And passion starts with effort. We have to fight to move forward. We have to hustle to maintain our edge. And we have to actively battle our fears to overcome any setback in our lives.

Finally, we need to maintain an appreciation for the people who helped us on our journey. We cant take anything for granted. Who are the people who inspire us? Who are the people who made us successful? Who are the people who protect in times of strife? Stepping away from a setback and taking the time to appreciate all our blessings will give us the strength to move forward. And appreciation will stoke the fire of our resilience.

Everyday resilience is not complex. We just need a few simple reminders to keep us on a positive track. This book serves as a handy guide to prepare us for the next challenge in our personal or professional lives. Through vignettes, quotes, and simple stories, we will cover all aspects of everyday resilience. We will lay out a game plan for everyday resilience to blossom. We will provide a blueprint for all of us to be everyday heroes!

With that kernel of optimism in mind, I invite you to take this resilient journey. I invite you to stay positive, stay strong and constantly move forward. I invite you to explore the incredible power of everyday resilience . Together, we will overcome adversity, maintain a proper perspective, attack our lives with passion and achieve a blissful level of appreciation.

Once we understand this, achieving everyday resilience is within reach. Anyone can do it. And it starts right now!

THE WIND IS ALWAYS AT OUR BACK

May the wind always be at your back. May the sun shine warmly upon your face.

Old Irish Blessing

S ummer is a glorious time of year, full of unique traditions and fun trips. One of my favorite getaways is to Fenwick Island, Delaware, for a weekend with a group of longtime friends. Per tradition, we always take a pontoon boat out on the water for a midday cruise around the bay. One year, as we headed north toward Bethany Beach, DE, the boat cruised effortlessly through the channel and we seemed to levitate above the water. The temperature was perfect, the sky was a brilliant azure blue, and the sun melted away all our worries. It seemed the good times would never end.

But as we turned south toward home, there was a remarkable change in conditions. The boat was fighting against the choppy waves, the temperature dropped by 20 degrees, and spray kicked up from the increasingly hostile surf. A simple reversal against the bay wind had turned a relaxing trip into a monumental struggle. As we labored toward the shore, all I wanted to do was recapture the feeling of comfort and relaxation we enjoyed just seconds ago.