 What doesn't kill us makes us stronger? Well, maybe, but it doesn't actually really work that way. It's not automatic. We don't have adverse experiences. We don't experience traumatic events and somehow magically and automatically come out stronger as a result. So I do kind of understand why there's a bit of a narrative developing in the trauma space that wants to throw away that old saying, burn it down with like a flamethrower of outrage. Nobody wants to be minimized or invalidated. But if we are to completely throw that statement away, then we are totally ignoring the actual ability of human beings to learn, to grow, to overcome, to adapt, and yes, to get stronger over time. So maybe we don't wanna hang on to an oversimplified version because it's true that your trauma didn't automatically make you stronger, but maybe we can reframe that. What doesn't kill me hurts a whole hell of a lot, may teach me reactions and behaviors that aren't helpful in my life and I don't like. It may take me a long time to get over it, but what doesn't kill me may in fact offer me an opportunity to grow, to learn about myself, to adapt, and yes, to get stronger over time.