We all know how opposites work: up vs. down, awake vs. asleep, left vs right. We solve simple problems all day, every day by leaning into opposites:

• Opening a closed door to let the air in

• Tidying an untidy room to declutter our space

• Turning a blasting TV off to reduce the noise

But sometimes in life - and in social change - there is incredible power in what I have come to think of as unexpected opposites: a contrasting thing or idea that is unconventional or surprising in some way.

Phew, life can be a rollercoaster, can’t it? Between navigating personal challenges, managing work stress, and just trying to keep it all together, it’s easy to feel like you’re one twist away from throwing your hands up. I heard recently that one of the most vital skills we can develop as we grow older is resilience - and I got kind of obsessed with the idea. For a while, I put pressure on myself to never feel a thing. To let things bounce off me like Teflon.  

But here’s the thing: resilience isn’t about having it all figured out. It’s about finding new ways to move forward, even when the ride gets bumpy.

I wrote and published this blog post when I first became CEO of Javelina in 2017. It is just as personal and relevant today, though I’ve certainly changed a lot since I wrote this. In the coming weeks, I’ll be sharing an update on Catherine the Good Girl, and how I’ve reclaimed the reins of control from her hands. 

I am eight, maybe nine, sitting in the back seat of the car with my younger brother. My nana and my mum are in the front. Alex and I are squabbling about something insignificant. Nana twists in her seat and says sharply: “Catherine, if you fight with your brother, he won’t talk to you when you’re older. Be quiet. Be good.”