Voices of Western Colorado: Resilience
We Asked These Western Slope Locals to Weigh in on This Topic.
PAT JACQUES
Retired pro motocross racer Pat uses her 50-plus years of experience riding and coaching off-road motorcycles to empower women.
Resilience goes hand-in-hand with tenacity, grit and confidence. I developed resilience early as a young girl racing motocross against men. All athletes experience failure and success. As I developed confidence in myself, I quit trying to “ride like a guy.” Embracing my unique abilities, I rode with poise and finesse, experiencing many successes.
Personal, professional and athletic challenges all fired the mettle of my resiliency. Mentors guided me to release limiting beliefs, doubt and comparison. I now stand in the truth of my own brilliance, ability and light. In doing so, we give others permission to stand in their own power.
CHRISTOPHER BLACKBURN
Christopher is the founder of TMS Solutions, a brand that helps treat depression with TMS therapy.
This wonderful life doesn’t hand us a road map. Every day we have to shift to adapt to adversity, drama and threats. Discovering the ability to dissolve stress in the situations we can’t control helps us navigate each day without additional, unnecessary worry or pressure. Making the best of each situation, no matter how debilitating — it’s my choice. Relationships change. Money comes and goes. Life changes. These lessons, integrity and determination create resilience.
Smiles (or kind words during these odd pandemic times) bring smiles or kind words in return. So, even on my hard days, a smile sent, a kind word or gesture shared, means one received. Sometimes that’s just what I need to keep moving forward with my head up, my heart strong and my soul intact.
TINA OOLEY
Tina lives in Fruita. She is the founder of EveryPedal MTB and the Mesa County program manager for The Cycle Effect.
I have really come to appreciate over the past several years the value of resilience in our daily lives and in our communities. Building our capacity to recover from hardships and boldly adapt to our ever-changing circumstances is such a great way to cultivate self-confidence. My bicycle and the people it has introduced me to have taught me so much about resilience and grit. Today, as a mountain bike coach and youth mentor, I am able to practice and share with others the skills that have helped me navigate challenges both on and off the trail.
Originally published in the Winter 2020-21 issue of Spoke+Blossom.