Christmas Letter … “Resilience”

Resilience

The art of the comeback

Resilience… the word this year. Good one, don’t you think? Well, YEAH! Of course.

My coach always told me, “There are no sufferings … only challenges”

I won’t name them all. But we’ve really had our challenges this year haven’t we.

There is much I could share with you here. But even as the word resilience is

mentioned, it brings back vivid memories and deep feelings.

Take my friend Charlie. He was inflicted with a neurological, death threatening disease.

West Nile virus …two years ago. Went into the hospital, slowly drifted into a coma that

lasted a month and half. Charlie’s family was told he would not recover. Miraculously

Charlie did. Just as his family was preparing to say goodbye. He

awakened but could not move his legs or arms and he could not speak. Through

intense therapy and a lotta guts, Charlie slowly moved to recovery.

Before his illness Charlie had been very shy, lacked confidence. Usually had little to say.

There were severe side effects (chest pain, lack of coordination) he would live with for the rest of his life. I saw him recently. The shyness and the lack of confidence were gone. Last February Charlie sent me a video of him skiing in Steamboat Springs. He even bought a house there. To me Charlie was the perfect example of one who lived through his challenge and came back. Used his “resilience” to overcome. he was stronger and wiser. Prepared to take on whatever challenges he would face in the future.

The Brickleys, the Shockeys, the Schweizers have had more of our share of

challenges … especially this year. Had another family gone through what we’ve been

through? They might not be still standing. But here we are … Still Standing!!

The support and love we shared was wonderful. The resilience we have displayed is

remarkable. These were the cards we were dealt. Consider a warship. Its bow cutting

through the water moving ever forward. Now turn around. Look at the wake. All that is

left behind. Its turbulence eventually disappears. Like us. Our “turbulence“ eventually

subsides. Allowing us to move forward, resiliently, and take on the challenges ahead.

We are truly a resilient bunch. Never victims of circumstance. I am so proud of all of us.

Yes, I’m proud of me too. 🤓 Merry Christmas with love… PopPop❤️