Death.

So much death, so much blood. Rusty red littered the Lebanese soil under her feet - tinted the soles of her shoes. War left its stain across her country - houses fallen, bombs ignited, bodies rotting. My mother knew what it was like to contemplate the prospect of tomorrow. Still, she pushed through with faith that one day, she’d find “home” again. When my mom turned 12, her family packed their belongings, kissed their decaying country farewell, and boarded a flight to America. As their plane danced its way across the Atlantic, swaying among stratus, soaring in a foreign sky not littered with smoke or smog, my mom realized that she finally achieved what she was waiting for. There was no war, no danger. Emily Dickinson once said, “Hope is a thing with feathers.” My mom was in the belly of a bird, the seat of a plane, one which carried her beyond strife to the land we today call home. Bird or plane, feather or aluminum, my mother found hope on her winged journey. She stayed strong despite fear. Through resilience, she was able to escape the conflict in Lebanon and discover the peace she still enjoys today. Oftentimes, we too find ourselves facing battles with internal villains, such as fear or hopelessness. By utilizing will power and pushing through these hardships, we can build mental strength and overcome troubles. Together, we’ll explore the importance of resilience by looking into its positive effects. Resilience leads to growth in perspective and newfound motivation.

Primarily, let’s dive into the perspective-change that one can experience through actively working to beat hardships. At 12-years old, when she first arrived in America, my mother was surprised by how simple life could be. Her troubles in Lebanon were far more grand than the feeble issues her new friends spoke of - hair, makeup, clothes - how could that compare to hundreds dead and thousands mourning? After advancing past her own issues, my mom was able to put other problems into perspective. There is wisdom in understanding the weight of one’s experiences — how impactful an event will be towards the future. For example, making it past that job interview that you so dreaded brings both a sense of relief and a realization of how little the stressor truly was. Acts of resilience, whether big or small, allow one to look at life through an altered lense and identify clearly the line between significance and insignificance.

Next, we’ll explore the sense of motivation gained through conquering tribulation. After escaping a period of such violence, such darkness, my mother no longer feared the future. She could conquer anything. This enabled her to take risks and make bold decisions throughout her life. She felt motivated to pursue her desires with a sense of courage obtained from her previous display of resilience. We find pride in our own strength, and the more of it we discover, the more trials we can trounce. Imagine making a risky fashion decision and receiving praise for your unique style. You would feel inspired and powerful enough to continue expressing yourself due to a gained confidence in your skills. Resilience drives us to make grand strides and proceed with newfound self-faith and drive.

Whether it be an eye-opening perspective shift or a surge of empowerment, the choice to never give up, to stand your ground in the face of distress, is one that positively impacts character in the long run. We gain new knowledge on the weight and significance of our actions and feel motivated to conquer anything the future holds. My mom came out of the war with strength that she carries to this day. Resilience fueled both her wisdom and her risk-taker personality.

The experience that she faced has inspired me to never give up, and hopefully today you too can incorporate resilience into your own life.

La Jolie MLN: ”It’s our mission to give young ladies the lessons all of you can share with us. So, let’s share our experiences, strength and stories.

I cordially invite you to join a cohort of empowered women. Please send your stories to Blog@lajolie-mln.com