Introduction
Resilience is the capacity to bear and overcome difficulties in one’s life. Every individual is faced with challenges on their path, be it the loss of their loved ones, interpersonal struggles, or an inability to function within their society.
Discussion
Resilience is a quality and an ability that helps individuals to grow into better people and adapt to their circumstances. It can manifest through different means, including a strong support network, personal qualities, and even specialized exercise. In order to better understand resilience, the short story “Legends Are Made, Not Born” will be analyzed. The main character of the story experiences the loss of his mother. He is shaken up by the occurrence, and it affects him deeply. However, he is able to take a step towards a brighter future and develop ways of approaching the world that support him. First, the main character’s resilience is built up by his support network. The young boy has a grandmother and an absentee father, both of whom play a considerably smaller figure than his guardian, Auntie Dave. Dave is highly supportive of the main character, showing him love and protection when he is vulnerable. The young boy is given time to recover and process his feelings, which helps him come to terms with the loss of his mother at his own pace. In addition, Dave introduces him to simple tasks around the house, slowly allowing the kid to emerge from his isolation. Work introduces a much-needed distraction and also helps the two bond as a newfound family. According to Dave himself, “Can’t wait for things to change. You need to move them along yourself. Sometimes the best way is with work” (Cossar et al., 2016).
Conclusion
With this attitude, Dave also introduces the kid to another essential tool of his resilience – a newfound place in the world and a sense of purpose. The migration story is told on the boy’s 7th birthday and the work of protecting White Buffalos acts as a fill-in for the absence of the protagonist’s mother.
Reference
Cossar, E., Nicholson, H., & Beiko, S. M. (2016). Love beyond body, space, and time: An Indigenous LGBT sci-fi anthology.