THE INEVITABLE

Change is inevitable in life, and how we react to it is a mark of our resilience.  What helps us to adapt when we need to face change? How often has a crisis happened to you that, in hindsight, you valued for the lessons it taught you? I acknowledge we live in a world where tragedy and misfortune can be milked for the attention it gets. For some, the identity of tragedy is a badge to display and rehash to the newest audience. Psychologists echo the victim-victimiser narrative that has been a feature of our generation. Resilience, though, is one response that is underemphasised. Instead of amplifying the victimhood and drama surrounding the same, perhaps we should emphasise strategies for managing crisis and change. I must admit to getting some satisfaction from teaching this to my teenage daughter. Rule one: Bad things will happen. Rule two: Put it in perspective. Rule three: Have a plan to adapt. Rule four: Each choice has a consequence..
 
Taking ownership of our health in this way, we can apply those rules too. Perhaps we can change rule four to rule one. Let’s say we choose to eat lots of ultra-processed products because they are cheap and convenient. Let's say we get sick from same. Let's say we decide that’s just the way it is, it's inevitable. Then adapt our life to illness. Or lets say we turn it around when the crisis hits and we change diet to real foods, organic, clean etc… we learn to nourish ourselves again and think consciously about health. We find life changes in dramatically positive ways…we find our tribe, and it becomes a fun adventure of opportunity.. each choice has a consequence. Resilience is learned early, but with the right choices becomes easier. Sometimes change is the best catalyst!
 
We look forward to the change coming for The Urban Co-op. Time to adapt and build our resilience. 

Anne Maher