Brian Babington

What is the key message of your book?

The key message of Bouncing Back is that everyone is faced with setbacks, but, with some effort, these can be overcome or at least ameliorated. They can also offer us hard-won insights and lead to new and positive directions in our lives. 

What inspires you to write?

I am inspired by the many people whom I have met over the years, or who I have heard about, who have achieved a great deal in their lives despite the problems they faced. One of the most impressive people I have heard about is Viktor Frankl, the author of Man’s Search for Meaning in which he describes how he survived Nazi concentration camps. The triumph of the human spirit he demonstrated is truly magnificent.

What advice would you offer readers of your book?

My advice is this: whatever your problem, take heart and hold firm in the belief that you will overcome it! It may take a while, and there may be many false turnings, but with persistence, you can do it. 

What are you passionate about?

Besides almost anything Italian (I love that Bouncing Back has been translated into Italian!), I am passionate about the capacity and creativity of the human spirit. I love it that we have an amazing ability to go beyond the routine of our daily lives and to be transformed into something far richer and deeper. Sometimes it is a setback or crisis that makes us take stock and find better ways of living.

What interests you most about overcoming setbacks?

It never ceases to amaze me how small kindnesses can help a lot. Sometimes all it takes to change the way you feel is for someone to smile or say a kind and supportive word. For years now, I have written on the top of each page of my diary the words a friend once advised: “have a warm heart, cool head and open ears.” These simple thoughts have been very important in keeping me focused and steady, even if I don’t always stick to them!

What are you looking forward to?

I look forward to the time when every child grows up feeling loved and safe and when we listen more attentively to each other. I look forward to a time of greater kindness and forgiveness toward one another. It was once said: “write injuries in the sand, but kindnesses in marble.”