I’m still spending most of my days in bed trying to heal a pressure sore, occasionally getting up for two hours at a time every few days. Other than that, I’m resigned to remain flat on my back.
Fortunately, the window in my bedroom provides an incredible vista into my backyard, which allows me to watch the wildlife go about their days. In the mornings, mother deer leave their fawns behind and go off for the day to do whatever it is they do. I often watch the tiny fawns curled up and sleeping at the top of my hill, occasionally getting up to nibble on some foliage, and then go back to camouflaging themselves beneath the tree canopies waiting for mom to return.
The baby deer provide a great lesson in resiliency. They are so small and fragile, yet seemingly resilient. Resilient enough to be trusted by their mothers to survive the day on their own. Although innocent and naïve to the ways of the world, they are adaptive at being as resilient as the situation calls for.
Human life is fragile, yet so strong and resilient at the same time. I believe resiliency is in our nature, even if we don’t recognize it, and often when called upon, it naturally rises to the surface.
A few other lessons in resiliency:
My father will turn 82 on Labor Day. Just two years ago we celebrated what doctors thought might have been his last birthday after he had open-heart surgery and encountered unpredictable complications. It was touch and go for a long time, and although he still works towards regaining his strength back, his resiliency is nothing short of amazing and inspires me. Happy Birthday Dad!
This Saturday is the Kentucky Derby, which will be run in September for the first time since 1945, and one of only a few times in its storied existence. However, it will be run, allowing it to continue as the longest continually held sporting event in America. Although it might be different this year, it’s still the same race. I have no idea how to even handicap the race this year, as there has not been a lot to draw from. However, my sentimental longshot is Mr. Big News.
September is SCI Awareness Month. There are an estimated 291,000 people living in this country with a spinal cord and almost 17,000 new injuries each year. It is a resilient group, but they still need help. Please consider a donation to Getting Back Up in honor of SCI Awareness Month and know that you are directly impacting and improving the life of someone with a spinal cord injury.
And finally, all of you are lessons in resiliency. We have all survived what has been an incredibly challenging, confusing, and at times scary year thus far. But we are not alone. Like the mama deer who returns to gather her offspring every evening, so too does God. He is with us in every battle we face and always has our back.
Stay resilient!
Stand Strong!
Scott
Our Browns are back soon!
Scott>Hoping that sore heals soon for you. Enjoy this Labor Day maybe with a friend, Give a Happy Birthday wish to the ole man! Glad he is doing OK! Hi to mom too frm.Carol. When I read your blogs,which are always inspiring,I think to myself,my life is not so awful,
so I have a few problems>Get Over It! I just lost my friend Kris, to cancer last Wed.,so reading this Blog has helped. Thank You!
In my Prayers>Better Soon+
Happy birthday to dad and happy Memorial Day to you my friend. Always in my thoughts and missing you so much🤗 Can’t wait to see you and healed one hundred percent very very soon🙏🏼🤞🏼
Love you Scott 😘
Scott, your posts always stimulate thought, reflection and a yearning for meaningful research. I started searching ‘fragile but resilient’ online and I found you brought me just the nugget of satisfaction I needed today.
Sometimes fragile things just break. But sometimes they are strengthened by onerous pressure, heat and time. Like clay in a kiln that goes from a soft, totally fragile substance to something that’s rock hard; impervious to water, wind and time.
My son Sam is 32, he’s an avid potter and kiln master… and he was recently diagnosed with metastatic cholangiocarcinoma cancer of all things. How do you even pronounce that let alone grasp that it’s already spread from his liver and bile ducts to his brain and lymph nodes? Yet he is not in a state of fragile collapse. He makes the people around him laugh and celebrate their time with him. A few days ago he donned a motorcycle jacket over the chemotherapy port in his chest and has plans to ride cross country with his Dad.
Thanks for the post and inspiration today, as always, Scott.
Scott, You never cease to amaze me on how you endure these setbacks and keep a positive attitude. I miss our visits. I think of you often. Tell you dad I wish him a Happy Birthday. Let me know if there is anything I can do for you.
Thanks for the reflection. Happy Labor Day, Scott !
Happy Labor Day, Scott! And many happy returns on celebrating your Dad’s 82nd birthday. I can see where you get your fighting spirit:) Also, I really enjoy your commentary on the Mama Deer & fawns. Throw a camera with a long range lens in and you may have yourself a nature documentary!
Stay well and enjoy the Derby!
Thanks for continuing to demonstrate vulnerability which can be such a powerful teacher to so many.
Enjoy your mint juleps!
great message this month, Scott. Happy Labor Day.