There’s nothing easy about letting people “in.”  If we let them in, they might see our pain and that could leave us vulnerable, or worse, very angry because we don’t know how to deal with it.  Lately, I can’t help but feel I’ve been drug through the mud and I’m guessing some of you feel the exact same way.

I watched a movie with my daughter this week called “A Warrior’s Heart.”  It has an invaluable message not only for teenagers, but for adults as well.  The story centers around a troubled teen who has anger issues due to what happened to him in life.  A Native American takes him under his wing and shows him the harsh realities of life and what is expected of him in life, by understanding that a warrior would handle it differently.

“What do you mean by a warrior?”, the troubled teen asked.  The Native American answered in a way that moved me to share it with you.  He simply said,

“The Native Americans believe a warrior is someone who has had his blood spilled on the battleground.  A warrior doesn’t run away from the pain.  A warrior just gets it done.”

I instantly saw the parallel here.  Suddenly my spirit soared because I always knew I was a warrior, because I tried to deal with things head-on.  We have all had our blood spilled on the battleground; figuratively or literally, and so, we have much more in common than we know.

Some people run away and some don’t.  It’s how we deal with the mess that can either ruin us or elevate us.  With a teen daughter watching my every move, I am determined to show her that women are strong and that her mother is indeed a warrior.

It’s true what they say; it’s not what actually happens to you, but how you react to it and deal with it.  I can say this with conviction from my own painful, personal experiences, and hindsight does offer clarity and 20/20 vision.

Go forth today knowing you are a warrior … a very empowering and enlightening thought!

© 2012 Julie Hall