Lessons From The Struggles of Others
Intro to Stories of Resilience Monthly Series
Where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy… A verse from the Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi (Prayer of Peace)
During the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, I found comfort and solace in the Prayer of St. Francis. As a wayward Catholic and a product of the “Me” generation, this prayer helped me rise above self-centeredness and embrace a deeper sense of purpose. It brought clarity and a renewed sense of hope for the future. Even now, it serves as a profound reminder of resilience in the face of adversity, while grounding me in the perspective that my own struggles often pale in comparison to the many people I coach and encounter each day.
I’m especially inspired by my Rock Steady Boxing (RSB) participants, who show up week after week, giving their all despite the debilitating symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. Then there are the retirees and others in my classes or personal training sessions, many of who endure chronic pain or conditions that limit their mobility and quality of life. (Click on the image below to view a short video of our Woodland Rock Steady Boxing class)
Despite our setbacks, we humans still carry the DNA of our early ancestors who struggled daily just to survive. As one of the most adaptable, longest living species on earth, we wouldn’t be here otherwise! I’m reminded of this every time I look at the black-and-white photo below of my grandparents from Oklahoma. They were poor, subsistence farmers who endured countless physical and societal hardships, including the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl—one of the most challenging periods of the last century. Despite their struggles, they raised nine children (one of them being my mom) and lived into their 90s.
The examples above, both past and present, highlight acts of resilience that are often overlooked or even avoided. This is understandable, as many of us are consumed by the challenges of our own busy, tech-dependent lives. Today, empathy seems harder to come by, largely due to increased social isolation stemming from digital communication. Online negativity further exacerbates this, as people are often exposed only to perspectives that align with their own ideology or beliefs.
Meanwhile, the relentless pressure to prioritize individual success or our own well-being makes it even more difficult to truly consider and appreciate the experiences and emotions of others. Research has also shown that being overly focused on personal anxieties or adopting a “woe is me” mindset not only harms our own health but also diminishes our capacity for empathy toward others.
By observing and understanding other people's struggles, I believe we can gain valuable insights that can help with our own challenges in life. Learning about other people’s hardship can increase empathy, allowing us to support those going through similar situations. Furthermore, seeing challenges from another person's viewpoint can broaden our own perspective and give us a deeper appreciation for our own lives and possibly taking better care of our health.
To start off the New Year, I’ll be sharing a monthly series in our newsletter titled Stories of Resilience. Many of the people I’ll be profiling are members of the Be Resilient Project, but occasionally I cross paths with people that exemplify certain characteristics of resilience. Together, they share a remarkable determination to keep striving no matter how difficult life becomes. They are unafraid to step outside their comfort zones when faced with challenges, embodying the true essence of resilience: moving forward in the face of obstacles, adversity, and uncertainty.
I hope their stories inspire you as much as they’ve inspired me. They serve as a powerful reminder that life is precious and should never be taken for granted. We have a responsibility to care for our health—not only to improve our own quality of life as we age but also to better support and uplift those who need us most.