Resilience is often compared to a muscle. Just like any muscle in our body, it needs to be exercised, stretched, and sometimes pushed to its limits to grow stronger. This memory popped up from seven years ago to the day when this muscle was put to the test in ways I never imagined. We were crossing our sixth border early on in our one-year trip around the world. More border crossings were to come.
I thought the timing of this memory was coincidental as I was just asked to speak to 100 executives on building resilience.
The Journey Begins
It all started with a seemingly simple task: obtaining our Bolivian visas after crossing from Peru. My oldest son and I were armed with about 40 pages of paperwork, our passports, and a wad of 100-dollar bills ready to face the border agent. Little did we know, this was just the beginning of our ordeal.
A Series of Unfortunate Events
As we handed over our meticulously prepared documents, chaos erupted around us. My youngest son, dealing with some illness, began throwing up on the side of the road. My wife, in a frantic rush, was trying to get a new copy of a document because the version we had was deemed unacceptable by the officials. To add to the stress, we were running low on perfect $100 bills as the border agent was adamant that the cash had to be in mint condition—no marks, no creases.
The Breaking Point
After what felt like an eternity, we finally secured our visas. But as we stepped out of the office, we watched in dismay as the bus we had arrived on—and were supposed to take to our first city—drove away without us. We were stranded at the border, exhausted and frustrated.
Finding Strength in Adversity
Despite the overwhelming challenges, we didn’t give up. We managed to find a way into town, locate a pharmacist for some much-needed medicine, and eventually get something to eat. It was a day filled with stress and uncertainty, but it also highlighted the strength and resilience of our family.
What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Stronger
This experience was a powerful reminder that resilience is indeed a muscle. It gets stronger each time we face and overcome adversity. While that day at the Bolivian border was tough, it made each of us more resilient. It also brought our small team of four closer together as we managed the chaos together.
In the end, what doesn’t kill you truly makes you stronger. And sometimes, it’s the most challenging days that teach us the most about our own strength and resilience.
Leave a Reply