The Newfoundland Cod Fishery was shut down in 1992. This was a death stake, driven into the heart, for the inshore fishing economics of rural Newfoundland and Labrador. Fishermen and thier family enterprises reacted in pain, and expressed their feelings of being abandoned by the Canadian Government. Fishermen marched and expressed their anger to Canada Fisheries Minister John Crosby.  

While government-sponsored re-training programs helped out a little, the cod fishery was virtually destroyed by international overfishing. Almost 35 years later the economy has restructured into tourism, other small income streams that also sell Newfoundland culture and history. The fishing industry morphed from small family enterprises into the crab fishery. Less boats, less folks employed. Many Newfoundlanders have left for better economic zones. Other have found industrial work on the mainland and fly back and forth. In most fishing village we don’t see many children these days. 

Newfoundlanders, to survive this economic disater, embarked on the Hero’s Journey, which has required a lot of economic structuring, retraining and more importantly, a shift in mindset. The Hero’s Journey requires picking up yerslf by yer bootstraps. But Newfoundlanders are good at this. We life on a Rock in the middle of the Atlantic, and survivsl is what we do. The Hero’s Journey is an example of what individuals and families go through in order to survive very difficult circumstands as well as to benefot others. 

The Hero’s Journey can also be about seeking new possibilities. Newfoundland was discovered by John Cabot’s own Hero’s Journey, inspired by previous explorer Christopher Columbus. The Hero’s Journey can also be about finding oneself, figuring out one’s identity, finding the right career, finding the right life partner, or becoming less addicted.

Once we set out on the Hero’s Journey, like setting out on the high seas, we can encounter rough challenges. We are tested. Sometimes we accomplish our goals, which often include discovering new things, and maybe bringing back the desired treasure. John Cabot bright back codfish. Cartier brought back beaver fur for hats. Columbus discovery of North America and the Caribbean ended the medieval social depression, as excitement of good fortunes and trade. 

On the Hero’s Journey, whether or not we get the treasure, we often become stronger. These strengths often help us become stronger in life, for our families and others, and for ourselves. This is the essential teaching in solution-focused and strengths-based counselling and therapy. We can build our lives on the strengths we have developed. It only takes a little reflection, and discovering what strenghts we have developed. It’s often like a treasure, under the rocks in our back yard. Once we start turning over the rocks we find something.