Be the Hero, Not the Victim

 This world wants us to identify as victims and labels that help us control the narrative of why we stay down - it never has to be like that unless you buy into it yourself.

Saying “oh but I could never do _____ no matter how much I might want to” is the exact thing anyone else is hoping for. The less you try the more room for them to relax.

Go hustle!

1924us

I read that quote today from one of my favorite Instagrammers, 1924us.  I spent a lot of time on my walk in this pale September sunshine contemplating those words.  I wish more people would read them and heed them.  In particular I have this person in my life, this lovely, beautiful being whom I have watched grow up all their life.  This person in unique and kind wonderful, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with this dear sweet young person.  (Let's call this person Rylee)  And that's the trouble for Rylee.  Turns out, life is hard and nothing gets handed to you.  If you want anything you have to work for it.  And working for things, delaying gratification, putting in the time, paying the dues, those things are all really hard.  

Over the past three years of Rylee's adult life, I've watched Ry latch on to a number of labels which all enable Rylee to say, "All my excuses are valid because I have_____, _____, and ____.  Nothing that's wrong in my life is my fault."  It's strange to watch this person who as a child was a force to be reckoned with become a timid little shell and all because of this disorder and that disorder that no one ever noticed before because Rylee doesn't really have any of them.  They're excuses for Rylee to be the victim in life instead of a hero.

I won't say Rylee's had it easy in life, but show me someone who has.  You can't choose whether you'll be the victim of something awful, but you can choose whether or not you'll stay the victim.  Rylee and so many others that I see are choosing as many victim labels as they can find.  The truth of the matter is that never before have we seen a time in history where anyone can do whatever they want if they're willing to work hard and fight harder.  And never before have we seen such a multitude of bogus excuses as to why more people haven't achieved anything.

No more excuses.  There is no such thing as a level playing field.  Some people are born with talents, others are born with ambition, and some of us are born with nothing at all.  But having an advantage is not a guarantee of success.   If you want to fail, come up with a bunch of labels and excuses to wrap yourself up in and comfort you.  If you want to succeed, give it all you've got and never stop trying.  Stop being the victim and become the hero of your own life.

These aren't just words I wish I could say to Rylee, they're words I've said to others in the same situation and they're words I say to myself nearly everyday to remind me to keep fighting for the life I want, because it's out there, it's possible, and there really is no good reason not to go for it.

Shopping Info:  Dress from Miss Patina