#7: Fed Shutdown: Resilience In Tough Times - Personal/Family & Community

Hi again! I’m back writing blogs to help readers successfully ‘lead from the middle’ and influence constructive change even when faced with difficult challenges. This article is dedicated to those who are experiencing tough times and the many compassionate people who form a supportive community for those in need.

Like many people in our communities and across the nation, I’m currently furloughed from my federal job (teaching leadership) and did not receive my normal scheduled paycheck today – even those federal employees who had to work as ‘excepted employees’ to provide essential services did not receive pay today. This not only impacts 800,000 federal workers, but also their families, federal contract employees and their families, our communities and our nation. Those impacted include a wide variety of federal employees serving the public including TSA security employees ensuring our airports are safe, Customs and Border Patrol personnel on our nation’s borders or ports of entry, FAA air traffic controllers protecting our skies and Coast Guard personnel deployed on cutters, at air stations and in command centers conducting search and rescue, counter-narcotics and pollution response activities. While many of us thought this partial government shutdown would be a temporary event with minimal disruption that would be quickly resolved by our elected officials, it is now resulting in significant hardships for many families and real consequences for people, communities and our nation. 

 So what can we do to get ourselves, our neighbors and our colleagues through this tough time? Resilience refers to our ability to deal with and recover from the difficulties we face in our lives. Below are some thoughts on how we can prepare and practice ‘resilience’ for ourselves, our families, our communities and our nation during this challenging time.

“**it happens”, as Forrest Gump observed, – It’s not fair, it’s not right, but it is REAL and we have to deal with it the best way we can. So, if necessary, have a 15-minute ‘pity party’ and then focus on what you are going to do – proactive steps you can take to reduce the impact of a bad situation (whether it be a government shutdown, a hurricane, wildfires, a serious illness, etc.). Don’t waste time and energy thinking “Why me?” Realize that as difficult as the situation currently is, many have faced far worse…. families lost their homes or even loved ones due to catastrophic rains/flooding, hurricanes and wildfires this year. Be appreciative for what you have. Understand that as bad as it is for you now, others may be facing more serious issues.

 Most difficult situations are not permanent: Loss of a job, pay, or a home, while extraordinarily stressful and challenging, are not permanent and often are resolved over time. Take the positive steps you can to improve your personal resilience – apply for unemployment if needed (Note: This is not charity but a benefit you’ve paid for with every paycheck you earned!); work with insurance companies to expedite medical or home damage claims, etc.

 Decide to have a proactive, problem-solving attitude/mindset. For instance, if you are impacted by the federal shutdown, educate yourself and learn what benefits you are entitled to and where you can get help. Assistance may be available through your work/organization, faith-based organizations, the federal government, local communities or non-profit organizations. Research what is available and how you can provide for your most essential needs. Find out if tuition, mortgages, utility bills, etc. can be deferred or put on a payment plan until you get back on your feet. Then prioritize where you need to focus your limited resources. Think beyond your personal needs to what actions you might take to help others or how you can most productively use your time.

 Two years ago I broke both my ankles during a fall. A friend encouraged me to write leadership blogs during my lengthy recovery (surgery on both ankles, installation of titanium plates and 12 pins/screws, and prolonged physical therapy for months). Instead of feeling sorry for myself, I took advantage of my friend’s advice and this ‘gift of time’ to start writing articles on leading from the middle. Despite this very difficult prolonged time for my family and myself it had a positive outcome (see my postscript at the end of this article!).

 Leverage your community/network for help and to support others with similar challenges. Don’t hesitate to reach out to family, friends and the community for help – people may be willing to help, but won’t know how unless you share your top priority needs. Consider meeting with others facing the same challenge and compare notes, ideas, suggestions, and most importantly support each other. Constructive relationships foster strong resilience in individuals and communities.

 Take care of yourself. In order for you to take good care of your family and help your neighbors or coworkers, it is essential to keep in good physical and mental health. Ensure you get enough sleep and eat right. See a doctor if you are not feeling well and find someone you can talk with if you are feeling overwhelmed and need support or assistance.

Help others who are also in need. Many furloughed federal employees who are not allowed to work are volunteering to assist local food banks, non-profit community support efforts, their churches/synagogues/mosques with helping the homeless, etc. Seeing the needs and assisting others less fortunate than ourselves, can sometimes help us feel a little better about our own situation by recognizing that we are not the only ones suffering some hard times. If you are in a position to assist others financially during their time of need, research and donate to legitimate organizations established to help people such as Coast Guard Mutual Assistance (https://www.cgmahq.org/shutDown/donors.html ) which helps Coast Guard employees and families in need.

 Organize support efforts in your local community, region or even nationally. Consider approaching local grocery stores, restaurants, pharmacies, or clothing stores and requesting discounts for those impacted during difficult times. Regional or national chains, mortgage companies, utility companies, banks, etc. might be agreeable to deferred payment plans and/or postpone late fees to avoid damage to credit scores during chaotic times when people can’t get paid through no fault of their own. One pizza restaurant in our local area is providing 100 free pizzas to families in need as a result of not receiving pay during the government shutdown. Consider whether it might be appropriate to organize and coordinate a ‘go-fund-me’ site on behalf of needy families (think this through carefully – you might consider partnering with an already established charity organization).

Hang in there during this chaotic and bumpy ride. Hopefully the shutdown will be resolved in the near future and those impacted can get back to work and receive relief. In the meantime, consider the above strategies for dealing with the very real challenges of today while reminding yourself this situation will not continue indefinitely.

For those of you furloughed or working without pay, thank you for your sacrifice and keeping us safe. Our nation and our people not only need you, but appreciate your service. For the rest of us, please find an opportunity to support and thank public servants wherever you find them! 

For more information and insight on ways to build resilience, check out the below two links from the American Psychological Association (10 Ways to Build Resilience from “The Road to Resilience”) and the Mayo Clinic:

https://www.appleseeds.org/10-Ways-Build-Resilience_APA.htm

https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/resilience-training/in-depth/resilience/art-20046311

P.S. After recovering from my two broken ankles, we celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary with our two adult sons on an Alaskan cruise last May. In Juneau, we hiked to a glacier and waterfall, then my youngest son, Nick, and I hiked a nature trail and then a good portion up a mountain trail. That evening I asked Nick to check his FitBit to see how far we walked during the day and it was 21,600 steps or nearly 11 miles! I declared victory and final recovery from my broken ankles! The moral of the story is despite how bleak things may look in the darkest hours, over time, things will hopefully improve.

Geoff Abbott: I’m a retired 30-year U.S. Coast Guard officer currently teaching leadership. I hope you enjoyed this blog. Please feel free to join me on LinkedIn and to share my blogs with others. Comments and true stories welcome!

See additional ‘leading from the middle’ blogs by Geoff at:

https://www.dhirubhai.net/in/dr-geoff-abbott-60688a1/recent-activity/posts/