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4  April 2021  spotlight  http://www.luke.af.mil  Thunderbolt             news                                               Facebook.com/LukeThunderbolt  5
                                                                                                                                              April 2021
 Thunderbolt
               http://www.luke.af.mil
 www.aerotechnews.com/lukeafb
 56th Fighter Wing Airman grants 56 wishes for children  Recovery, resilience can transform pain into power




 by Senior Airman    her assignment to Luke in 2016.  get through the door they’re like
 CAiTLin DiAz-goRSi  “I felt like I needed to get out   ‘I want to go to Disneyland and   by    Second only to love, resilience is life’s most impor-  that they carry around with them like a big bucket of
 and do more,” said Kim. “There’s   meet Mickey Mouse’ (so) we   ShARon KozAK  tant principle. Resilience enables you to deal with the   extra parts. Positive emotions — feelings you get from
 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
 nothing like being able to see a   make that part of their itiner-  day-to-day grind — the pain and challenges of life. It   being loved, being heard, feeling gratitude, experienc-
 Community involvement and   smile on a kid’s face, knowing   ary,” said Kim. “And then we   Community Support Coordinator  will give you the tools to cope and be normal. But, we   ing two-way communication and connection — can
 selfless service are common   that you’ve granted their one   have wishes where they don’t   Like many new years, 2020 started on a hopeful   still don’t know what the “new normal” will look like   generate fuel. Negative emotions are equally powerful,
 attributes of service members.   true wish.”  know what they want and you   note. The number itself was inspiring — suggested   in 2021. In many ways, the new normal will have us   and potential fuel exits from feelings that accompany
 One Airman at Luke Air Force   The process of granting wish-  talk about it with them.”  optimal clarity and sharpness of vision. However,   mourning for lives, moments and opportunities lost.   depression, anxiety, disappointment, anger, being dis-
 Base set the bar high in grant-  es can take a few days to several   In December 2020, Kim com-  since the COVID-19 pandemic is still with us (and   Hopefully, in other ways, the new normal will bring   respected, and other painful emotions. When you have
 ing children’s wishes through   weeks. To help grant a wish, Kim   bined her work life and passion of   civil unrest has changed daily life) 2021 is really test-  with it a new appreciation for connection, the freedom   your resilience breakthrough, you realize that the fuel
 the Make-A-Wish foundation.  first meets with families to dis-  working with children by helping a   ing our resilience. Becoming resilient starts with the   to do things we enjoy, human touch and even a better   is there. You learn how to access the fuel and are able
 Staff Sgt. Janet Kim, 61st   cuss the child’s wish before she   young boy to be a pilot for the day.  realization that the adversity you experience — any   understanding of technology. We hope that the new   to access it quickly. Once you can do that, you are fly-
 Aircraft Maintenance Unit   begins the logistics of bringing   “I have seen how unique some of   pain, discrimination, or challenge — can be converted   normal will be filled with hope for equality, empathy   ing high and on the road to a long-term resilient life.
 F-35 avionics craftsman, has   their dream to life.  the wishes are across the nation,”   into powerful fuel that can actually bring opportunity.   and dialogue about what connects us to overcome that   When I look at the principles highlighted, they are
 granted 56 wishes for children   “We have wishes where it’s   said Kim. “It was awesome to in-  According to the Christian Moore dictionary, there are   which divides us. While we cannot always prevent or   undoubtedly interconnected — hope drives resiliency
 with critical illnesses following   super simple and before we even   See wiShES, Page 10  two definitions of adversity. First:  “A state or instance   remove suffering and pain, we can practice empathy   and recovery, and resiliency and recovery build hope.
            of distress, calamity, hardship, or affliction.” Second:     by listening for understanding rather than agreement.   Let us remind one another that, although hope can be
 Staff Sgt. Janet Kim,   “Fuel; energy; your best friend.” That second definition   We can seek to have uncomfortable conversations that   hard work, believing in recovery and fostering resil-
 61st Aircraft Mainte-  may seem odd, but I’m about to reframe the way you   lead to understanding and love. We can work to find   ience in the face of serious challenges has the ability to
 nance Unit F-35 avionics   see your problems and hopefully bring tremendous   our own voice and then use our voice to cultivate and   bring about lasting positive change. So, let me offer an
 craftsman, poses for a   light into your life.             celebrate the resilient people in our communities.      opportunity for anyone to do just that, by lifting each
 photo, Feb. 25, at Luke   Resilience … this process of using adversity as   Resilience showed me how my problems — even   other up and providing inspiration by becoming a Resil-
 Air Force Base. Kim has   fuel, has fundamentally changed my life. I truly feel   my very worst problems — could become my greatest   ience Trainer Assistant (RTA). Let us work together in
 helped grant 56 wishes   hope is always alive, because absolutely everyone can   resource. If we are able to reframe our challenges and   a way that unites individuals by attending a three-day
 to children with critical   benefit from resilience. But, before we get ahead of   recognize them as fuel, we can operate like a refinery   training called Comprehensive Airmen Fitness (CAF).
 illnesses as a volunteer   ourselves, let’s also define resilience. “Resilience is the   — channeling the emotion generated out of something   During this training, you’ll learn skills that transform
 supporting the Make-A-  ability to bounce back when you have every reason to   negative like pain or even something positive like love   pain into powerful and resilient sources, recognize that
 Wish Foundation. Kim   shut down — but you fight on! Resilient people have   — and turning it into fuel that can be used to propel   the path forward for those struggling with life stress,
 volunteers in the com-  both tapped and untapped reserves, enabling them   us forward.                      and can spark conversations and increase awareness.
 munity to stay rresilient,   to overcome and thrive as they face the setbacks,   Once you see how resilience works, your problems   If you are interested in attending CAF training and
 while developing several   Courtesy graphic  challenges, and fears of daily life,” according to the   can become a never-ending source of fuel. Pain can   becoming an RTA, please email Sharon Kozak at sha-
 skills that have helped   Kim reveals to Colin, a Make-A-Wish child, and his family, that Colin’s   Christian Moore dictionary.  equal power. Everyone has emotions — good and bad —   ron.kozak@us.af.mil.
 her grow professionally   wish to go to Disney World was granted. Kim created an itinerary and
 Senior Airman Caitlin Diaz-gorsi   and personally.   resolved the logistics to enable Colin’s dream to come true.


















































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