Building Strength and Resilience!

In an age when we sometimes spend too much time sitting down compared with times when walking, lifting and carrying was part of the natural part of every day we are encouraged to take exercises and do workouts! Personally, I love to walk for relaxation at the beginning or end of every day and I enjoy workouts too. I don't work to get a Popeye body, just one that is strong enough for everything that I need to do in life currently and to retain physical resilience going forward.

When working with weights, we start with what is comfortable and gradually build up resistance and weights so that we become stronger though action that it neither overly repetitious or under-demanding. With each kilo added in any action, it feels like the extra work it is meant to be and with consistency and practice, another kilo will be popped on in a few weeks again and used in a variety of ways!

What is true for the building and strengthening of the physical body is also true for our mind and spirit if we are to have the resilience to deal with the challenges, opportunities and obstacles of life. Consistency in dealing with real life problems and taking on a little more each time keeps us mentally alert and able for whatever life will throw at us. There might be a little anxiety or stress at the thought of a new challenge, but it is that very stress that gives us the momentum to get into the challenge and figure out how we can deal with it.

I disliked the 'problems' that presented in Maths books as a child as they never related to the real problems which we dealt with naturally when shopping or calculating for a race, etc. It is important that children and young people are given the opportunity to face their own challenges. They need to feel the weight of challenges so that they may grow to believe that they have what it takes to work most of life out for themselves. The load will build up as life unfolds, but if they have the practice of making and taking decisions for themselves so that they can really own the can-do moments of life.

When we do for someone rather than enable them or upskill them for ability, we take away their power of ownership of their work or lives. I fall into the trap myself as I might be quicker doing whatever it might be, myself. If we are to build strong bodies, minds and spirits it is better that we all do it, so that any challenge can be grabbed by many and add to the creativity of the responses. Otherwise, a small few will get worn out and everyone else get flabby in body, mind or spirit not knowing their great potential!

Cathy Burke,
Catechist in the Lucan Partnership of Parishes