Rebuilding
Today is Dec 26 2006, a full year after the Asian Tsunami tragedy. If time heals all wounds, then it is obvious that for many survivors, 365 days is not enough. Not even with the largest reconstruction aid budget in the history of Man. Not even with the world's leaders weighing in with their immense influence to make sure that things happen. Whilst the rebuilding process of habitation and settlements began in earnest in the days right after the disaster, it is the rebuilding of hearts and lives that is this post's focus.
The process of rebuilding lives and relationships, destroyed and displaced abruptly, is especially traumatising, where entire villages taken with the exception of 1 or 2 individuals. It is about pressing on without the people who were the anchors and hope of one's endeavours: parents, spouses, children and neighbours. It is about continuing on without the laughter of travelling companions, who were once there. It is tough because of the grief and the heavy hearts that are left to deal with the loss.
It is especially because of the trauma, that we stand humbled at the fortitude and quiet determination of those thousands of survivors along the Indian Ocean coastlines to move on and rebuild. There are many lessons we can learn from their rebuilding experiences, of which 3 are as follows:
1. Re-focusing
The rebuilding process involves activity, but activity without focus is not action. Survivors tell of how they chose to look at their circumstances and decided that they remained on earth for a purpose. Essentially, they saw that their life was half-full, rather than half-empty.
And they focused their energies to discovering and fulfilling that purpose.
2. Re-energising
We read about the amazing story of an Indian couple who lost all their 3 children to the tsunami. As they re-focused, they discovered that their purpose was to help other families who had lost children to rebuild their lives through a counselling programme. Along the way, they also adopted children who were left orphaned. By helping others regain their focus, we too will be re-energised to face those challenges.
3. Remembering
Through the many stories heard from those who have rebuilt their lives more successfully, we see that they have not chosen to block out the event fully. Instead, they chose to remember the pre-tsunami phase of their lives spent with those they had lost: Parents remembering cuddling their children, lovers walking on beaches, wives helping with the catch once the fishermen husbands returned etc. Of course, there would be moments of grief and regret when one remembers. But, it is certainly easier on the mind to deal with trauma in this way, rather than to block the event from memory, ignoring the natural emotion of sadness and preventing the healing passage of time from taking its course.
As we stand at the threshold of 2006, we owe the survivors of the Asian tsunami heartfelt thanks for being teachers even in their loss. Our constant prayers should go to God, to be with them in the days ahead.
Noel Tan
Resident Philosopher
The process of rebuilding lives and relationships, destroyed and displaced abruptly, is especially traumatising, where entire villages taken with the exception of 1 or 2 individuals. It is about pressing on without the people who were the anchors and hope of one's endeavours: parents, spouses, children and neighbours. It is about continuing on without the laughter of travelling companions, who were once there. It is tough because of the grief and the heavy hearts that are left to deal with the loss.
It is especially because of the trauma, that we stand humbled at the fortitude and quiet determination of those thousands of survivors along the Indian Ocean coastlines to move on and rebuild. There are many lessons we can learn from their rebuilding experiences, of which 3 are as follows:
1. Re-focusing
The rebuilding process involves activity, but activity without focus is not action. Survivors tell of how they chose to look at their circumstances and decided that they remained on earth for a purpose. Essentially, they saw that their life was half-full, rather than half-empty.
And they focused their energies to discovering and fulfilling that purpose.
2. Re-energising
We read about the amazing story of an Indian couple who lost all their 3 children to the tsunami. As they re-focused, they discovered that their purpose was to help other families who had lost children to rebuild their lives through a counselling programme. Along the way, they also adopted children who were left orphaned. By helping others regain their focus, we too will be re-energised to face those challenges.
3. Remembering
Through the many stories heard from those who have rebuilt their lives more successfully, we see that they have not chosen to block out the event fully. Instead, they chose to remember the pre-tsunami phase of their lives spent with those they had lost: Parents remembering cuddling their children, lovers walking on beaches, wives helping with the catch once the fishermen husbands returned etc. Of course, there would be moments of grief and regret when one remembers. But, it is certainly easier on the mind to deal with trauma in this way, rather than to block the event from memory, ignoring the natural emotion of sadness and preventing the healing passage of time from taking its course.
As we stand at the threshold of 2006, we owe the survivors of the Asian tsunami heartfelt thanks for being teachers even in their loss. Our constant prayers should go to God, to be with them in the days ahead.
Noel Tan
Resident Philosopher
posted by Trailblazer Trainers @ 8:04 pm
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