FROM THE EDITOR

Molly Backes, Communications Coordinator

celebrate the resilience of communities and cultures who have managed to find joy in the midst of oppression, I would argue that we should also acknowledge what has been lost along the way. Resilience can be beautiful, yes, but imagine what joy might have come if people didn’t have to put so much of their energy into surviving.

Nevertheless, there can be great value in resilience. According to a study in the Journal of Global Pediatric Health, teenagers with higher levels of resilience suffer fewer negative outcomes after experiencing stressful or traumatic situations in childhood. What helps to foster these higher levels of resilience? Significant factors include “a stable relationship with a caring adult, belief in one’s own capability, [...] and faith or cultural traditions.”

In other words, what builds resilience is relationships. Family, friends, community, and faith traditions. It is us, together.

This month offers us all a chance to interrogate the concept of resilience. In what ways does it feel helpful to you? What are its limitations? Are there situations where resilience isn’t the best response? How can we work to build resilience in our community, both here at FUS and in the broader world? Can we strengthen resilience— our own and others’—by creating time and space to fall apart? Is it possible to celebrate our resilience without also honoring the struggles and acknowledging the grief we experienced along the way? How do we transform our resilience into joy?

Enjoy the month, everyone. We have a lot of good work to do! ◊