I’ve got some stuff to say, and I literally can’t shut my mouth.

On 11/25/23 I crashed my mountain bike and my face took the fall. At the moment of impact, I believed I would be permanently disfigured. I vividly remember the terror of not wanting to lift my head off the dirt face my family- my brain reeling, trying to process what felt like my worst fear- my face ripped off- picture the Bat Man bad guy Harvey Dent aka Two-Face.

3 months later, things are far better than I had feared, however, the scars around my mouth currently prevent my lips from closing- yes, it sucks. This blog is to share my healing journey, the ideas and tools I use to foster resilient responses, and the tendency of grit. This blog plans to weave my personal trauma recovery and my professional insight as a Licensed therapist who specializes in trauma.

In case you’re still picturing Harvey Dent, here’s what I look like:

And if I smiled with my head cocked cutesy sideways there’d be little to fuss about…but here’s what I look like resting:

Bring on the Grit…

Some people bounce back faster than others. They not only have the ability to be resilient but they tend towards it. The tendency can be called Grit. Grit becomes part of who they are, their default is resilience. 

What are the processes that are going on in their minds, bodies and hearts that permit this, while others get knocked down and stay there? 

Observed, borrowed, or experienced, I have my take on how to grow the Grit tendency. These past 3 months have been especially enlightening as I heal physically and emotionally from my accident. I have had the opportunity to put into practice in a very acute way, how to get my life back to how it was, or in some ways even better than it was. There are certain practices that I have witnessed and facilitated in my years as a therapist that promote this growth.  When the idea of this blog popped into my mind, I started to list all the key things it would include:

Neuroplasticity

Mindfulness

Cognitive Reappraisal

Connection to purpose and vision, planning and goal setting

Facing

Acknowledging limitations 

Inner and outer resources

Self-love, compassion, inner child healed

Communication

Discipline 

Clear decision-making processes

Adaptability

Inevitably this list will grow. I’m learning every day.  If you read the list, and thought, “Ugh, I don’t know what those are.” or “Crap, I don’t have those” Don’t be discouraged in the least. All of these things can be taught and adopted when you have the right set of tools and the right support to start practicing.  This blog will introduce the tools, and give you a sense of how I or others I know have used resilience tools to grow our grit. 

If you found your way to this little budding blog, I’d love to hear- What was a time you picked yourself up, dusted yourself off, and got going? What was one key thing you did that helped you? How did you get started? What kept you going?