What are you? Are you a Victim? Are you a Survivor?? Are you a VICTOR??

It's always interesting to me to see how our language can dictate who we are and what decisions we make in life.

You all know my story....Raped at a very young age, 10 years of domestic violence, terribly low self esteem....now you all might at this point be saying...oh you poor dear....but I ask you not to....but to listen and maybe apply this to your own life. But before I begin I will tell you about my patient,....of course....

Beautiful woman....she comes in for her yearly mammogram. She began by praising her surgeon. She says to me ...not only is he good looking, but he did a fantastic job on my breasts. She had had breast cancer a few years back. She looked at me and said, "yes, I am a cancer survivor." What I noticed just then was a glazed look coming over her face. This vibrant woman who three minutes before had boasted about how wonderful her surgeon was is now changing her tune to grief. She told me her story and that how grateful she was for her husband, how he had been by her side to the end...."To the END???" My head was spinning at this point. But I let her continue. She also told me of how she was so grateful for her boss, that her boss had been there for her too. And with that she continued on to tell me how the tables had turned and that her boss had faced cancer some years after her own cancer. Unfortunately, she lost her boss. She told me that she remembered asking her boss when she was dealing with her own cancer why God had given her cancer.

I couldnt take it any more!!!! I looked at my patient....held her shoulders and said...."I know why you had cancer". I also told her of my story...albeit not cancer, its still a story. She looked at me very puzzled and I told her....."I am only telling you this because we all have a story. I have a story, you have a story and your boss had a story. Its what you chose to do with that story that makes a difference."

She still looked perplexed. I asked her, "What are you?" Are you a Victim? Are you a Survivor? or ...are you a Victor.

This is when I saw a huge shift to take place in this beautiful woman. She said to me, "Well, when you put it like that, I am a Victor." How beautiful is that!!!!! But she didnt stop there...she went on to say..."now I realize why God gave me Cancer. I needed to be someone elses gaurdian angel."

With that, she hugged me and went on her way.

So I say to you, think about your language my friends. What you say may dictate your behaviour...I chose a long time ago to be a Victor....no longer am I a victim or a survivor....I am a Victor...

What about you? What are you?