"Resilience is individual and relational. It is like a web and each strand is a “strength-to-strength bond” that extends to each family member and significant person in our lives. The web extends out further to our extended families and relationships and even into the communities we live and work within."
Recovery starts with me but it doesn’t stop with me. It’s not enough for me to believe that recovery is possible and it not further extend in every direction.
Recovery should be extended to my family. My wife and all three of my children (who experience mental health challenges) are resilient. Recovery is possible for all of the members of my family (as well as yours). My recovery is vitally connected to their recovery, and vice versa.
Recovery has long been demonstrated as an "individual project" but also needs to be shown as a "relational enterprise". Resilience is found in what we can do together as well as what I can do. Strength is found within me and beyond me. Strength and resilience are shared virtues and shared responsibilities to cultivate in all of our relationships.
We are interdependent. Resilience is individual and relational. It is like a web and each strand is a “strength-to-strength bond” that extends to each family member and significant person in our lives. The web extends out further to our extended families and relationships and even into the communities we live and work within.
Resilience and strength even extends over time and is intergenerational. Resilience can be found at the community level. It’s about building stronger families, stronger communities and more resilient and recovery-oriented systems of care.
Recovery (for me) is not enough. I am not satisfied until reaches my family and your family. My community and your community. I want to see communities and our systems of care become recovery-oriented. We all are resilient. We all can recover.
Recovery and wellness is for all.
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