I was privileged to be asked to work yesterday with a group who had been directly involved in the recent terrorist attack in Borough Market. With one of my specialities being that of a Trauma Therapist, I am continuously reminded of the resilience of the human spirit and how, sometimes it is out of the most horrific situations the most profound lessons are learnt. What I also know is that we all respond differently and need to be mindful that there is no right or wrong way when dealing with traumatic situations. When you don’t know if you are going to live or die or whether those around you will survive your own survival instinct kicks in …. for some it is to fight, others flight and some freeze. What shone through above all else yesterday was the bond and love that is created when witness to life or death situations. The love, courage and care that these individuals had shown each other both during the attack and after has reminded me of a quote by Walter Anderson who said:-
‘Bad things do happen; how I respond to them defines my character and the quality of my life. I can choose to sit in perpetual sadness, immobilized by the gravity of my loss, or I can choose to rise from the pain and treasure the most precious gift I have – life itself.’