A Community of One: Building Social Resilience

What motivates you? What passions move you into action? What external motivators push you? Resiliency skills are defined as goal setting, mental and physical fitness, relaxation, perspective, building beliefs, thriving, showing empathy, and building social support. Skills presented in this book represent evidence-based research that supports both resilience and practices of effective learning. Workplace suicide is higher among police, firefighters and medical providers. To be a survivor demands an internal commitment to learn the life lessons hidden within the heartbreaks we will encounter in our lives. Humans are herd animals, and only together have we been able to survive as a species. The lone wolf is a Hollywood myth. A healthy support system is one in which we both give and receive support. This book is about learning how to develop these crucial networks. Who is a hero? A hero is the parent who rises in the middle of the night to care for a sick child A hero is the teacher who inspires students to achieve their dreams A hero is the nurse who holds the hand of a dying patient A hero is the child who intervenes when another kid is being bullied Heroes come in all shapes and sizes. Most times heroes don’t like being called heroes. We are all heroes in our own stories, even more so for those of us called to be first responders. As heroes, each of us must undertake our own personal hero’s journey. This course will be such an adventure. Let us begin, together. Social support is foundational to resilience. First responders – cops, firefighters, nurses, EMTs – collectively hold our society together. They deal with the emergencies and stresses of society. They help us cope physically and mentally. They are our social support system and provide the connection individuals need to feel part of the community.