{"alias":"blogEntry","byline":"Tony Malone, Explorer Scout Leader ","standfirst":"Explorer Scout Leader Tony Malone reflects on the meaning of resilience, and why, when we face setbacks, it\u2019s okay not to feel okay.","content":{"layouts":[{"type":"mediaBlock","areas":[{"items":[]}],"config":null},{"type":"singleColumn","areas":[{"items":[{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Cp class=\u0022p2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022s1\u0022\u003EWe\u2019ve recently been focusing on resilience as a key skills for life \u2013 that ability to try to overcome setbacks and get through tough times. But as part of that, we need to acknowledge that everyone has their own responses to different situations, different tolerances, and indeed, different interpretations of the word \u2018resilience\u2019.\u003C/span\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022s1\u0022\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\u0022p2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022s1\u0022\u003ESome challenges may take a long time to recover from \u2013 and sometimes, we never fully recover. But in Scouts, we\u2019re not afraid to say \u2018that\u2019s okay.\u2019 Two of our great Scouts values are care and integrity: we\u2019re there to support each other. It\u2019s a fundamental part of Scouts. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Ch4 class=\u0022p2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022s1\u0022\u003ELooking at the world through different eyes \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/h4\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\u0022p2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022s1\u0022\u003EOne way I like to explain how we approach things as Scouts, especially to younger members, is through the stories of Winnie the Pooh by A. A. Milne. Of course, these are funny and enjoyable, but they also carry a valuable message. Think about Christopher Robin and his friends \u2013 each has their own quirks, but this doesn\u2019t stop them enjoying their adventures together. Just take a look at this passage, which I\u2019ve paraphrased: \u003C/span\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022s1\u0022\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\u0022p2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022s1\u0022\u003E\u2018Christopher Robin took one of his favourite friends from the shelf, Tigger. They bounced off on an adventure excited about the day ahead. They met Piglet as they went, who was anxious and\u00A0nervous but still brave and eager about the adventure. Eventually they met Pooh and Eeyore, their bouncing adventure pace now slowing to a gentle walk along the path their adventure has taken them. They saw their other friends along this walk, such as the nurturing Kanga and the wise but irritable Owl, waving hello and passing them by.\u2019\u003C/span\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022s1\u0022\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\u0022p2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022s1\u0022\u003EWe use the stories of Winnie the Pooh in our Beaver section to frame how we do things in Scouts. Christopher Robin\u2019s adventures are so much like the great adventures we experience together. But these stories also teach us that within the things we do as Scouts, there\u2019s always a deeper meaning. \u003C/span\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022s1\u0022\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Ch4 class=\u0022p2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022s1\u0022\u003EComing to terms with emotions and life experiences \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/h4\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\u0022p2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022s1\u0022\u003EChristopher Robin\u2019s stories could easily be framed as one of a young person coming to terms with their own mental health and wellbeing. His adventures with Tigger are exciting, active, and sometimes unintentionally insensitive of others. Meanwhile, with Eeyore there is often sadness and loneliness, but still hope and beauty. The stories of Christopher Robin tell us how young people pick up emotions, come to terms with them, frame their adventures or life experiences with them, and then \u2013 in some cases \u2013 place them back on the shelf. In some cases, they might carry certain emotions \u2013 the sadness of Eeyore, or the curiosity of Pooh \u2013 for the rest of their lives.\u003C/span\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022s1\u0022\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\u0022p2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022s1\u0022\u003ELife is never a straight line. It\u2019s never a linear progression back to \u2018good\u2019 well-being. Rather, it\u2019s a winding woodland path, visiting all areas of the human experiences from joy, kindness and happiness, through to crisis, and sadness. \u003C/span\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022s1\u0022\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\u0022p2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022s1\u0022\u003EIn Scouts, we\u2019re all hiking though these woods \u2013 both adults and young people. When we\u2019re hungry or lost, sometimes the adults lead the way, and sometimes the young people lead the way. All people hike these paths but the difference is in Scouts we hike them together, with support and without judgement.\u003C/span\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022s1\u0022\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Ch4 class=\u0022p2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022s1\u0022\u003EShaping how we see each day\u00A0\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/h4\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\u0022p2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022s1\u0022\u003EActivities in Scouts that develop empathy, skills for life, adventure, inclusion and more take many forms: a hike is one, but it could equally be sailing, a camp or a hackathon. It doesn\u2019t matter where our activities take place; we all have one or more of Christopher Robin\u2019s friends with us, that invisible friend who shapes how we see the day. \u003C/span\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022s1\u0022\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\u0022p2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022s1\u0022\u003EWriting this, I have Piglet and Owl here now.\u00A0\u2018Write wisely and be friendly\u2019, they might say. They\u2019d probably also worry, \u2018But what if people don\u2019t like this? What if I fail to make sense?\u2019 I hope by listening to these two friends, and knowing when to reassure them, I can reach a good place. Life is an adventure, and Scouts is a key to enjoying and understanding it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""}]}],"config":null}]},"searchDescription":null,"pageType":null,"location":null,"versionDate":"03 January 2020","reviewDate":null,"furtherReading":[],"relatedLinks":[],"id":76340,"nodeName":"Finding our path through the woods \u2013 reflecting on resilience","title":"Finding our path through the woods \u2013 reflecting on resilience","type":"blogEntry","image":null,"assets":null,"headerOptions":{"headerTitle":"Finding our path through the woods \u2013 reflecting on resilience","headerSubTitle":null,"headerCta":null,"headerCtaText":null,"headerCtaLink":null,"headerBackgroundColour":null,"showSEOImage":false,"headerBackgroundImage":null,"quickLinks":null},"subHeader":"Explorer Scout Leader Tony Malone reflects on the meaning of resilience, and why, when we face setbacks, it\u2019s okay not to feel okay ","browserTitle":null,"silktide":"eyJjbXMiOiJVbWJyYWNvIiwiZWRpdG9yVXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly9wcm9kLWNtcy5zY291dHMub3JnLnVrLy91bWJyYWNvIy9jb250ZW50L2NvbnRlbnQvZWRpdC83NjM0MCJ9","canonicalUrl":"https://www.scouts.org.uk/news/2020/january/finding-our-path-through-the-woods-reflecting-on-resilience/"}