Dec 5, 2020
"Resilience" means both grit & determination, as
well as the ability to bounce back after loss, setbacks &
disasters. Mexicans have a lot to teach the world with their
concept of "Zozobra" as described by Mexican
philosophers Emilio Uranga & Jorge Portilla. "Zozobra" in this
COVID-19 pandemic, for example, is the suffering, the anxiety, the
pain we all feel, the sense that our ship is about to capsize, the
alienation & limbo. Facing this anxiety together, as the residents
of Sante Fe, New Mexico, USA when they burn a huge monster effigy
every year, can bring relief.
The other nation we look to, Finland, has the concept of "Sisu", a second wind after suffering for a time, a discovery of inner strength to face our battles & challenges. "Sisu" is what we all need to face 2021 & an ongoing pandemic where death & destruction are everywhere. Forsaking superstition & conspiracy theories, we must unite against a common enemy, COVID-19, as well as other challenges like climate change, social unrest, authoritarianism, etc. Let us use these Mexican & Finnish concepts of resilience to fight the good fight and win!
LINKS:
"I Got You" lyrics, James Brown: https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/jamesbrown/igotyouifeelgood.html
"A Little Bit Off" lyrics, Five Finger Death Punch: https://genius.com/Five-finger-death-punch-a-little-bit-off-lyrics
"Zozobra":
Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA "Zozobra" event: https://burnzozobra.com/all-about-zozobra/
Feeling disoriented by the election, pandemic and everything else? It’s called ‘zozobra,’ and Mexican philosophers have some advice, Dr Francisco Gallegos, Assistant Professor of Philosophy, Wake Forest University, Dr Carlos Alberto Sánchez, Professor of Philosophy, San José State University, November 2, 2020: https://theconversation.com/feeling-disoriented-by-the-election-pandemic-and-everything-else-its-called-zozobra-and-mexican-philosophers-have-some-advice-148576
"Sisu":
"The Sisu Within You: The Finnish Key To Life, Love and Success": https://finland.fi/arts-culture/sisu-within-finnish-key-life-love-success/
"What Sisu Can Teach Us About Well-Being" by Dr. Marianna Pogosyan, Psychology Today, Aug 27, 2018: https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/between-cultures/201808/what-sisu-can-teach-us-about-well-being
Joanna Nylund, Sisu: The Finnish Art of Courage (2018, UK: Gaia; USA: Running Press): https://www.runningpress.com/titles/joanna-nylund/sisu/9780762493371/
------------
Photo:
robert-collins-tvc5imO5pXk-unsplash: https://unsplash.com/photos/tvc5imO5pXk