The first email reached my inbox on Sunday. A campus administrator sent a notice for a tropical storm watch. I scanned the message and proceeded to do something else.
Since moving to the island in 2018, we have received multiple weather warnings. Some storms produced strong winds and heavy rain, but none possessed enough power to become hurricanes in Antigua. Unfortunately, hurricanes have landed on our sister island, Barbuda.
Sunday’s email message about Hurricane Ernesto was different.
The Chairperson of the weather committee included the usual recommendation to prepare storm kits with canned goods, flashlights, and batteries. However, something in the tone caused consideration of the unknown variables in every storm.
On Monday afternoon, the Director of Facilities announced campus closure until further notice. The curriculum coordinator moved my lecture, "Grit and Resilience: Transition to and through Medical School," from in-person to online. I left the campus with one unanswered question on my mind.
Do I run tonight? I had concerns about the weather interfering with the next day's route.
After I reached home, I decided to spend time with my family, eat, and get to bed early. The next morning, I awoke to wind and rain. My mind skipped ahead to the 8:00 AM lecture about resilience and grit.
Resilience is the ability to push through one major challenge to achieve a goal.
Grit is the skill to transform multiple obstacles into opportunities.
I observed the storm while journaling. The absence of lightning or thunder between sentences convinced me it was safe to run. I laced up my shoes, warmed up with capoeira, and started to jog.
Raindrops morphed from drizzles to downpours while I ran on the dark, wet, empty roads. The water drenched my clothes, filled my shoes, and tested my endurance. Each of the ten miles offered me material to include during the morning’s online lecture and more.
Resilience, rinse, repeat is grit. The statement became a mantra and a title for this post.
Did you know you can build resilience and grit by doing hard things? Avoid procrastination, do your most difficult task first, and observe the results. You will gain better control of your mind and body.
The online class went well, thanks to help from colleagues. Although I lost electricity twice, other faculty members continued the conversation until I returned. On Wednesday, the campus reopened.
When you encounter the next challenge, evaluate your history of completing difficult tasks. Acknowledging prior successes will convince you of your abilities to manage the stress and anxiety that accompany any worthwhile venture.
Self-awareness allows you to come through during the storms of your life. Do you need some help?
Subscribe to this blog, purchase a book, or register for coaching services. These resources can help you take one step toward your potential.
Check out this month's vlog episode to see how my family celebrated the grit my dad gained during 50 years of ministry. He endured multiple moments of pain with Jesus on his back and the love of his family beside him! The video shows snippets of our Atlanta adventures and his last sermon at the church’s national convention.
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