Sharing the road to resilience
Former All Black Norm Hewitt knows what it takes to be resilient.
On and off the rugby field, Hewitt has endured his fair share of ups and downs in life.
From growing up with domestic abuse, his achievements as a rugby player, and overcoming a major drinking problem, Hewitt has plenty of life experience to pass on.
On November 22 Hewitt will be in Nelson to speak at a fundraiser breakfast for the Nelson Tasman Life Education Trust.
The talk will be aimed at addressing some of the Life Education Trusts main goals: building resilience in young people and helping them make good life decisions.
Hewitt said he would be drawing on his own personal story, including the events of the 2017 documentary Making Good Men.
‘‘Certain experiences, whether its trauma or loss, that all helps build resilience.
‘‘I think that’s the journey of life.
‘‘The experience of growing up in the Hawke’s Bay, growing up with a large family, in a violent home, how you become resilient to manage those environments. Playing rugby in the culture that was around back then, all those things had a lot of life lessons in there.’’
Hewitt said while life was different for young people growing up now. The modern world had its own set of challenges.
‘‘There’s a massive change in society.
‘‘I don’t know if it’s just me but I feel we are getting more angry at the world, more despondent – looking for that instant gratification.
‘‘What I’m finding is people have forgotten to really communicate, and talk with each other. We don’t have time, we’ve become too busy, and trying to divide that time up is becoming harder and harder.’’
Hewitt said it was key for adults to give young people the tools they needed to be successful.
‘‘We tend to focus a lot on saying we’ve got a problem with youth – youth suicide, youth pregnancy – but my focus around that is a lot of that comes down to the adults and the examples they set for society.’’
Tickets for the event can be purchased by emailing nelson@lifeed.org.nz, or phone Michelle on 021 782 875.