There are few moments in life as (or more) meaningful than achieving personal victories over one’s adversaries. Whether it’s a playground bully, a test, a debt, an illness, or anything else that pushes us to our breaking point; when we fight back instead of breaking, something happens inside of us that vindicates our value whatever the cost and sacrifice we made to overcome. Then we feel like we can overcome anything!
UNBREAKABLE
That’s what this illustration inspires in my mind’s eye. While we don’t know who this young woman warrior fought, we know from her black eye that it was a battle. While we don’t know if she was the outright winner, her smile says she was. No, it’s not a smile belonging to a bully, or one of meanness, but it’s one of validation, vindication and victory. Even though her eye and knee are bruised and scraped, her spirit is unbroken. Having dealt with a few bullies of my own, I would suggest that her battle was with a bully, not just some random rogue. Perhaps it’s one that has tormented her (and others) for a while and she finally stood up to her/him.
You will have your moments of courage that makes all the other moments of fear and “failure” in your life worth it.
BEAT-UP BUT NOT BEATEN
Her wry smile is not because she’s being prideful, but proud for (finally) standing up for herself. Even though she took a beating, she obviously also sent a message that she wasn’t going to be bullied anymore. And while we don’t know who started the skirmish, or even if the other combatant also got in trouble and is waiting their turn with the Principal, but the look on her face says it was worth it.
Your moments of courage may not include shiners and showdowns with belittling bullies. They may come when your fighting against discouragement, depression, addiction, fear, loneliness, sadness, or a thousand other “bullies”, but you’ve got to keep fighting!
PRINCIPALS AND PRINCIPLES
Her smile also says that whoever she walloped was worth the price of a trip to the Principal’s office and perhaps even being grounded before that nice ice-pack is placed on her fleshy “badge of courage.” No, she may not know what fate awaits her in that office, or when she gets home, but for the moment it’s all worth it because she told the world and her bullies that…
“If I’m going down, I’m going down fighting! I may make mistakes, fall down, get pushed down but one thing I will no longer do is stay down!”
TAKING A STAND
It’s interesting that Rockwell left the door to the Principal’s office open. Is the principal disappointed, or proud, but remaining professional? If you look closely at the mother’s face, I’m sure she feels inconvenienced in having to come down to the school and attempt without contempt to convince the Principal that “It won’t happen again.” However, there’s hint that her heart says she’s still proud of her daughter. Not for fighting, but trusting that she was standing up for what was right. Perhaps she got the black eye by defending someone else from the bully?
When we have the courage to take stand in life, it will not always be just for ourselves. Some of our wounds will come from defending others in their own battles.
BATTLING BELITTLING BULLIES
If you feel like going to battle with belittling bullies in your life, but need some reinforcements, find and tell a parent, adult, or other trusted leader and friend to help you. Hopefully, they can help you win the battle without getting hurt, or taking a trip to the Principal’s Office, hospital, or worse places.
If you need a friend and some encouragement, I’ll sit on that bench with you, be beside your bedside, or right at the ringside with you!
In our daily lives, we will be ambushed by all kinds of “bullies.” Nevertheless, the confidence that comes from facing them, fighting for what is right and standing up to what is wrong, is worth our fate. Black eyes, bruises and breaks will heal and our characters will not just be modified, but solidified because we chose to stand up for ourselves (and others) and to stop living in fear and to start living in love.