![]() ![]() I had a very physically active childhood – with basketball, long walks, and rabbit shooting with my father. Being 6 foot tall at 12 years old made me stand out, but I was still shy. ![]() Over time, I became a very tall, almost gangly, reserved young man. Me as a premature baby in a humidity crib – May 1979 Becoming Resilient Perhaps an innate resilience? Pure dumb luck. I do not know how or why I survived, but I did. The doctor had told my mother the night before that it was unlikely either of us would survive. We were incredibly tiny, fragile and vulnerable. He was slightly heavier than me at over 1 kg. Tragically, my brother Jeremy died 4 hours after his birth. I was born 3 months premature at 980gms as one of two identical twin boys. Like with diamonds, some instances of enormous pressure result in a shinier outcome. I feel truly tested by tough times and feel somehow stronger for having experienced them. When I look at my life, I think that I was born resilient, I then achieved resilience, and then I had the requirement to be resilient thrust upon me several times. I have wanted to reflect on what I have learned in the event it is of use to those who may be interested. Time off work has allowed me to reflect on what I have been through, and I have considered how my approach to these challenges has affected my recovery. None of this, apart from vision loss, has been permanent however, it has undoubtedly changed my life. This has included paralysis, seizures, and repeated complete vision loss in one eye. In the last 24 months I have battled diabolical medical issues. Me, Wheelchair-bound in Hospital – February 2019 Forged By Fire Throughout my challenges, my mantra has been ‘keep calm and carry on’. It is hopefully illustrative to some, and it has been a good experience to share my thoughts on a word that has arguably never been more pertinent for so many around the world. This article is a story about me, however, it is not about me. Everyone has a limit in some way, shape or form. Everyone has a tipping point when they determine that ‘enough is enough’. Paralysis and seizures were confronting – going blind in one eye three times was simply terrifying. I have been medically discharged from the Australian Army. To analyse Shakespeare’s quote – ‘Some are born great, some achieve greatness and some have greatness thrust upon them’ – does the same approach apply to resilience? Are people born resilient? Do some achieve resilience, or do some have circumstances requiring resilience thrust upon them? Do these situations require them to figure out the measure of their mettle by having resilience forced upon them? These are my views based on my experiences and are very personal. It has been a mantra of mine, which has been refined, tested, and depended upon many times during my adult years – never more than in the last two and a half years. The phrase ‘Keep Calm and Carry on’ came out of the British Government in 1939 to prepare the populace for World War II. ![]()
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