COURAGE MONTH: DAY 9: “Above all, be the heroine of your life, not the victim.” ― Nora Ephron
So, the word “heroine” jumped out at me this morning. I spent some time looking at the origin of the word “heroin”, because I was curious about the connection between the two.
Seems that the drug was named that because of the “confidence” and “good feelings” one has about oneself when using it.
Well, okay, now. Then, I say that “cocaine” should have been named “I AM THE F…..ING HERO OF THE UNIVERSE AND ALL I SEE.” Hahahaha!
Anyway, this is what happens to me with words. I want to know why they are what they are, what roots do they come from, etc., etc., etc. It is fun to learn about words.
So, I love this quote; not because of “heroin”, but because I was the victim of my life for so many years, and today I AM THE HEROINE. And a really good one. (Insert applause here!) Hahahaha.
A popular word in Psychological circles these days is “reframe.” This means to view events from a different perspective and find the benefits instead of the downside of things that happen. It means to see where tragedy and drama can be reframed to become strength and courage.
The world is pretty darn sick of drama and victims. Why? Because ALL of US are going to have events that are painful to deal with. EVERYONE will get sick and EVERYONE will die.
Staying stuck in “what happened” keeps us laying down our lives, back of hand to forehead and stuck in victim and self-pity. That is not a formula for a good life.
We have all lost someone. Some of us have lost an entire family. Loss is the consistent part of life that is never going to change. How we deal with this speaks to our recovery.
Being stuck in the old story is not recovery. Learning to work these steps In all our affairs is the key to finding new ways to view these stories.
Life is traumatic. No doubt about it. What MY book promised me is the ability to “match calamity with serenity.” Now, that I can use! That is what I am looking for.
Truth is, I have not had to walk through a single “Calamity” since I got here. I have had to deal with every aspect of life and death and loss and happiness. Every aspect. And I have been given this amazing gift of “reframing” everything into LIFE, not once Calamity.
Okay! This is good stuff. No calamity, just serenity. That means I have come to accept life, on its own terms. Without sniveling (mostly), without whining in meetings that it “isn’t fair”, without feeling like the Universe is picking on me. (Which, oddly, I NEVER feel when things are going MY way. Haha!)
So, I am absolutely the heroine of this thing. Having a great time, wish you were here. Some of you are, and we trudge this road of HAPPY Destiny. And Happy it is! It is very, very happy! And free! And we are all capable of tremendous courage or tremendous fear. Which one is yours today?
Dolphin Hug 