What does it mean to be resilient?

Resilience is the capacity to adapt well in the face of adversity, trauma or stressful situations, it is basically the ability to “bounce back” from difficult experiences.

Strength/Toughness 💪 (both physically and mentally).

I’ve always believed that bush walking helps build resilience in children (and in myself), but on a recent hike with the kids, I really saw it, like “light bulb moment” 💡.

It was an overnighter with decent 6 hour (including stops) days and it was a first for a couple of the kids. We knew we were going to need plenty of distractions up our sleeves. But even so, all the kids at some point complained about the long walk, especially after the breaks, they just didn’t want to get started again. But here’s what they learnt – sometimes you just have to keep going – putting one foot in front of the other (and also that once your muscles are warm again it gets easier 😜).

That’s the thing about hiking especially multi-days …. there really is only one way to get out – walk 🚶.

It actually forces you to be resilient. It’s hard and tiring, you can take many breaks but eventually you have to just keep going. To push through boundaries you didn’t know were there. To know that when things seem so hard and tiresome after however many hours of walking 😫🥵 – you can do it! I believe the younger children experience this, the better – what a tool to already have going into adolescence.

Children and adults alike – we all need to learn that hard work pays off, especially emotionally – how we feel about ourselves. When you have completed a hike – no one has done it but you. You did this, the achievement is all yours and no one can take it from you. Be proud of yourself 😁🥰😎.

Persistence and resilience only come from having been given the chance to work through difficult problems – Gever Tully

Anita ✌️🥜🌿

(NB to keep on walking is not always the answer – not applicable to being lost or in a survival situation, where staying put could mean your survival).