This week’s news reinforced something: Don’t be a victim.
The shooter in Virginia, a narcissist if there ever was one, blamed everyone for every problem he had — yet in the end, he was his own downfall. (Unfortunately, he took two souls with him and wounded a third)
The Katrina recovery also reminded me that being a victim only slows down getting back on your feet. I talked to so many people who mourned and then got busy cleaning, rebuilding and recovering. That’s so important to remember. Work cures a lot of ills.
Bad things happen. And when they do, you deal with them how you can. But you learn your lesson and then get to work. I think of all the problems I’ve had — and most of them are my own fault. I didn’t take care of what I had control of. Sure, the bad things still would have happened — but I would have been in a better position when they did.
The people on the Coast truly were victims. But so many people chose not to stay one.
That’s something that sticks with me. It’s the first step to recovery no matter what the disaster is in your life.