A Humble Tribute

(This entry is dedicated to a friend who is dealing with a family problem, and how they have decided to handle it.)

From the pages of the New York Times (thanks to Ms Welborn over at In Between Naps) comes this piece about a curious alternative to the "talking-it-out" approach to trauma. An excerpt follows:

"George Bonanno [associate professor of psychology at Columbia University] works in New York City, while Richard Gist [psychologist and trauma researcher at the University of Missouri] works in Kansas City; the doctors have never spoken, but they should. They share a lot. Gist told me: 'The problem with the trauma industry is this: People who successfully repress do not turn up sitting across from a shrink, so we know very little about these folks, but they probably have a lot to teach us. For all we know, the repressors are actually the normal ones who effectively cope with the many tragedies life presents. Why are we not more fascinated with these displays of resilience and grace? Why are we only fascinated with frailty? The trauma industry knows they can make money off of frailty; there are all these psychologists out there turning six figures with their pablum and hubris.'"

Reading this account reminded me of a book I read in high school, The Plague by Albert Camus. There are times when the only relief for a crisis is to say little if anything, roll up your sleeves, and get busy with the task at hand.

Then go dancing.