The Mirror - Growing Through Resilience

According to the Oxford Online Dictionary (2024), resilience is the capacity to withstand or recover quickly from difficulties, toughness, and the ability of a substance or object to spring back into shape. Recently, I was reading a book, and the author compared resilient individuals to dandelions because dandelions are considered a hardy plant and always find a way to grow; that is why some consider them a nuisance. He suggested that the dandelion is resourceful and does not rely on others to water and maintain its growth. On the alternate side, he suggested that other individuals are like orchids and sensitive to environmental changes. He stated that orchids are not resilient. Orchids are hard to maintain and are very temperamental, while dandelions are capable and adaptable.

Growth through resilience with dandelions comes in the form of the evolution of their life. The dandelion flowers may all look the same, but Dandelions are diverse, as there are differing variations and hues of yellow and orange. Once the dandelion opens and receives the gifts of the world, it will then close, change colors, shed its covering, and reemerge with a new look where it can scatter its seeds for future generations. The dandelion is competitive for light but can capture moisture and nutrients in its complex root system. Therefore the dandelion overcomes most obstacles to grow and prosper…..resilience.

Each of us has a story. That story is highly personal to us. We have unique experiences that lead us to become who we are today. The story creates experiences we have forever, like scars on our bodies. It is our journey and not up to anyone else. We are the only ones rooting for ourselves, and we must understand that we wake up and go to bed with ourselves at the end of the day. That is the only person we need to worry about disappointing. Like our dandelion plant friends we must learn to grow through the moments that build our resilience, face diversity and thrive!