Rooted in Resilience
Photo Credit: Markus Bluthner
“The human capacity for burden is like bamboo- far more flexible than you’d ever believe at first glance.” ― Jodi Picoult, My Sister’s Keeper
re-sel-i-ence:
1. The capacity to withstand or to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness.
2. The ability to spring back into shape; elasticity.
3. The process and outcome of successfully adapting to challenging life experiences.
Resilience is a virtue I’ve had put to the test at many junctures in my life and is a theme that inevitably shows up in my writing. They say to write about what you know, and while I don’t claim to have all the answers, I’ve learned a few things about what contributes to our capacity to recover, adapt, and spring back.
In my experience, our ability to withstand hardships is strengthened when we are raised rooted in love. There is power in knowing, in your heart and without question, that you are loved unconditionally for who you are. Fortunately, resilience is also something that can be learned.
In my novel, The Holding, the unconditional love that Cate, feels from her father is integral to her ability to overcome adversity. When her father passes when she’s only thirty-three, Cate has to find new sources of resilience. Later, in The Healing, she realizes that her spirituality is the foundation of her strength. She discovers that “the healing isn’t a place you arrive at, but a place you discover deep inside.”
My published fiction titles are stories of resilient female protagonists. Cate and Isabella had different backgrounds and life experiences, but both women were rooted in spiritual and family foundations that fostered resilience. They built upon these strengths with practices like writing, sketching, yoga, reading, and mindfulness training.
In the manuscript awaiting publication, The Trials of Alex Anderson, my protagonist is, “the kind of guy you love to hate.” He has a plethora of problems and personality traits that were born from a life dominated by trauma, neglect, and dysfunction. Yet even he proves adaptable and sometimes succeeds, if only for brief moments.
Whatever your history, wherever you are on your journey, take courage. You can develop your resilience with determination and effort. Recover, adapt, and spring back.
COMING UP…
Books & Projects:
· All four of my books are available online at Amazon, Chapters-Indigo, and Barnes & Noble. You can also find them at select Chapters-Indigo and El Hombre de la Mancha bookstores.
· I am pursuing representation from a traditional publisher for my fifth literary fiction, a psychological drama that explores the complexities of mental illness and trauma. Stay in touch by signing up for my blog or following me on social media to find out when it will be published.
Reviews & Interviews:
· You can read, listen, or watch a large selection of reviews and interviews on my website.
Events:
· There are no events currently scheduled in my calendar.
YouTube Channel:
· Watch The Rogue Scorpion trailer.
· Watch The Holding trailer.
· Watch The Healing trailer.