Resilience is not something we have or don't. Resilience is something we can build - at any age. This New York Times article focuses on practical tips for building resilience in middle age. "Scientists who study stress and resilience say it’s important to think of resilience as an emotional muscle that can be strengthened at any time. While it’s useful to build up resilience before a big or small crisis hits, there still are active steps you can take during and after a crisis to speed your emotional recovery....

• Practice Optimism
• Rewrite Your Story
• Don't Personalize It
• Remember Your Comebacks
• Support Others
• Take Stress Breaks
• Go Out of Your Comfort Zone"

Relationships – whether intact, separated, or divorced – call for and test our resilience when navigating life’s challenges, disagreements, and the reshaping of families and parenting roles. We and our relationships are works in progress. Fortunately, resilience is too. When the going gets tough in divorce, custody, and other contested family matters, taking time to care for yourself helps build resilience.