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The Long Distance Race: Building Career and Personal Resilience


This past week or two, I have been listening to several interviews with Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook Chief Operating Officer and author of the bestselling "Lean In" book. She has cowritten a new book called "Option B" following the death of her husband, just released this week.  I have the book and I can't wait to read it!  But beyond the book, she is calling for a movement, for all of us to build resilience and help others build theirs.  She and her co-author have created a nonprofit organization called OptionB.org to provide tools to build resilience.  Visitors can share their own personal stories, join online support groups and find information from experts.

Of course we can all use some support if we faced with difficult circumstances or choices, sometimes because of something we have pursued but other times simply because life happens. Life is beautiful in all of its complexities and riches, and sorrow and disappointment as well. They are all learning opportunities for self-reflection and personal growth. We should never stop learning.

So life is a long distance race, not a sprint.  It's about all the small day to day choices we make moving towards our own goals, and in accordance with our own personal values.  That means it is surely not a straight line and there will be disappointment along the way.

Building resilience is a life-long pursuit.  I hope you have people around you to help you through those challenging times in life and that we all vow to support each other.  I can't wait to dive into Option B!  And as Yogi Berra once said, "when you come to a fork in the road, take it".  There are no truly bad options if you are always moving forward.
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Location: DeKalb, IL, USA

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