Inspirational people that contribute to your resiliency

[Candleflames]

My psychiatrist often points out how resilient I am having come from the background that I am from. His evidence is my enjoyment of people, my ability to bring people together, That I will talk to just about everyone, that I have raised amazing children and support them during their struggles, I've broken the cycle of abuse and I try to be the change I want to see in the world. These are not what I grew up learning.

So how did I adopt these attitudes and characteristics? I buried myself in books, both fiction and nonfiction. While on the road this last time I had lots of time to think on how these might be related. I can tell you all without a doubt that many people have inspired me to be the person I am today.

Here's some people that inspired me to actively take part in my own story and taught me to stand up for myself.

Henry David Thoreau - Taught me to believe in something, to take that stand and accept the backlash with poise and grace.

My adopted mom - Taught me to see the world and the people in it without judgement. Taught me about love and compassion for others and myself. I met here when I was 25ish and she mentored me for years before becoming like a parent to me.

Harriet Tubman - To stand in the face of adversity and protect my fellow humans who have it harder than me. She was one of the first to inspire me to fight back.

Marie Antoinette - She was thrust into a difficult situation and failed miserably before turning herself around. Unfortunately it was to late for her and she lost her head. From her I learned to not wait, do what is right in the now.

Nelson Mandela - Taught me that there is a discrepancy in our global society for people of different ethnicity and it's not right! It's when I noticed I was white and some of my friends weren't. I began to see how much harder they had it in school. I learned to stand for others and use my status to enact change.

I'm curious, who inspired you and how? Real people living or dead, please.

 

[IamJenna]

My psychiatrist often points out how resilient I am having come from the background that I am from...

This is an awesome post!
Mine are :
My Nan -
She really saw me when no1 else really did. She showed me care & that real love is an action of kindness. She taught me u can be gentle & still strong. Before she died when I was 14/15 she told me she would be my gaurdian angel, & this act of love & kindness has helped me to survive some of the darkest traumas in my life. She accepted her fate with grace & made peace with everyone she'd harmed before she passed. She is one of the greatest women I've ever known & an absolute example of a beautiful soul.

2pac - his songs gave me comfort growing up. It was in a language that I could understand. The things he spoke of I saw in my house. & the raw honest emotion he spoke of gave me identification & a feeling of not being alone. He taught me to respect myself no matter what my life experiences are. He taught me to stand up for myself & to speak my truth. He taught me if a person is in power it doesn't mean they are always right. He taught me to be true to myself.

Maya Angelou - she showed me I wasn't alone. She taught me we as humans are powerful. She taught me there is a chance in life after trauma. She taught me vunerability is strength. & humility is beautiful.

Oprah - she showed me u can dare to be great. She taught me u can be a woman & still be strong in urself. She taught me u can know urself & be at peace. She taught me u can be assertive not aggressive. She showed me the world is full of beauty. She showed me that everyone has something going on in their lives & we all have our own individual journey. She gave me hope.

 

[I_Am_Titanium]

Recently when asked who my hero was, I jokingly said I was my own hero. And then I thought about it. Know what? I am my own hero and inspiration... even though that may sound awfully conceited. :)

I have come a very long way in a very short amount of time given my life experiences and all the repeated trauma I went through. I worked very hard on my recovery and healing. I learned from myself that:

* I am stronger than I think I am.
* I am resilient.
* I can overcome pretty much any attacks thrown my way, not always easy.
* I am wonderful just the way that I am.
* I define who I am, no one else can do that.
* I am a great mother despite my ex's attempts to tell everyone otherwise.
* I am a great person despite my ex's smear campaign attempts.
* I deserve to be treated with respect.
* I am not a doormat and do not have to tolerate abusive behavior from anyone.
* There is always hope. Too many times I almost gave up on life, but I persisted and it's paying off now. I've never been happier!
* I do not need anyone else's approval to be me.

 

[Deadman]

My Father - Who rose above the abuse in his childhood. He taught me the value of loyalty, perseverance, and courage.

Tecumseh - His story taught me that it's OK to fight for what you believe in even when the chance of success is small.

Marie Curie - For rising above her humble beginnings and sexism to become one of the preeminent scientists of her time.

Henry David Thoreau - He taught me its OK to be different and seek your own path.

Sam Harris - For opening my mind to the possibility that I can pursue spirituality despite my atheism.

My military brothers and sisters - For showing me the true definitions of service and brotherhood.

Countless humanitarian aid workers, refugees, and victims of war - For teaching me humility.

 

[Candleflames]

I jokingly said I was my own hero. And then I thought about it. Know what? I am my own hero

That is awesome. I am still working on that confidence.

Henry David Thoreau - He taught me its OK to be different and seek your own path.

Yes, this too!

 

[Deleted member 41765]

I love this...

Frida Kahlo--For her unswerving allegiance to herself and her persistence in the face of formidable obstacles.

Jane Goodall--Her journey through becoming a scientist and on into global conservation remind me to maintain a hope for humanity regarding the animals we share the planet with.

Sherman Alexi--For being a writer of the heart, and for laughing through the pain, thus helping me to laugh as well. He's taught me to more closely examine the history of this country (my personal history as well) in terms of the ramifications of generational trauma.

Julia Platt--The first female U.S. marine biologist, who with determination and authority, established the first marine refuge along the California coast, thus preserving Monterey Bay, one of my favorite places on earth.

My fellow Educators--Those who have given me, as an abused child reason to PERSIST, and those with whom I now work as we attempt to make this world somehow a better place.

 

[Teasel]

My Dad taught me to think critically. To love ideas and be inquisitive.

Esther Rantzen - was the first person to raise awareness of child abuse on TV in a big way in the UK in the 80's. She also founded Childline - a national phone line that abused children can call for free. Too late for me but i love knowing things are improving for kids now. I will never forget her.

Books that spoke to me

Charlotte Joko Beck - Everyday Zen
Pema Chodron - When Things Fall Apart
Brené Brown - The Gifts of Imperfection
Henry David Thorough - Walden
Alice Walker - The Colour Purple
Maya Angelou - I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
Sarah Zyskind - Stolen Years
Harper Lee - To Kill a Mockingbird
Felicia Holmann - Slakes's Limbo
Natalie Babbit - Tuck Everlasting
Bruce Courtenay - The Power of Obe
Jostein Gaarder - Sophie's World
Buchi Emecheta - The Second Class Citizen

From film my favourite beloved character is Maud from Harold & Maud :inlove::inlove::inlove:

From Art
Frida Khalo
Leonora Carrington
Paula Rego

 

[Deleted member 41765]

From film my favourite beloved character is Maud from Harold & Maud :inlove::inlove::inlove:

I love her too :)

 

[Changing4Best]

My Nana (Dad's mom) because she was very loving and kind and generous. She went out of her way to make you feel at home when you visited her. She baked cookies and pies from scratch, doughnuts too. She was an artist after she retired from being a school teacher. She painted these beautiful landscapes and she fostered my artistic talent too, even long after she had died. I still have some of her paintings and love to gaze at them. I will pass them on to my niece and nephew, and actually I already have sent them some of them.

 

[Deleted member 37066]

My father Jesus Christ. :)

 

[Ivi]

This is a great thread.
Of real life people I've got:
My brother, he taught me that no matter what happens in your childhood you can push forward and be a fantastic parent.
My partner, who is always telling to me live in the now.
Coheed & Cambria, the band I love so much I have their logo tattooed on my arm. They taught me to embrace the worlds and stories I build in my head and that the fiction will see the real.
Terry Pratchett, who showed me that I can find laughter and the joys of comedy in the worst times in the most unlikely places.
Of fictional characters
Holo, who lets me know that stubbornness and vulnerability can go hand in hand.
Tyrion because as long as you use your weakness as armour it can never be used to hurt you.
Twoflower because you can find joy and amazement in the tiniest of things.

 

[Deleted member 33052]

I'm loving this thread. I have to go with the Dalai Lama, Mahatma (Mohandas) Ghandi, Martin Luther King Jr, Nelson Mandela, Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha), Chief Seattle, Elon Musk. I'm too tired to explain why, though. :( I expect most, if not all, are obvious.