Becoming Wonder Woman and Surthriving

“I surthrived the ordeal and came out better on the other side. To thrive despite going through a very trying time.”   

I learned a new word, and I am going to use it often, because to me, it epitomizes figuring out how to be happy in spite of what happens to you.  Imagine having all of these nouns attached to who you are: Rape victim. Widow. Single Mom of 4. Breast cancer survivor. These have been followed by: Passionate advocate. Ballerina. Podcaster. Model. Leader. How many of us could have found our way to the second group of words after experiencing all of the first? 

Valarie Iosue is, or has been, all of the above. She is also the person who introduced the word “surthriving” to me.  She has even become appreciative of her trials because she can clearly see that she would never have become the person she is now without all the tribulations and heartache. 

Valarie also expressed one of my favorite maxims that positive and negative emotions can coexist.  She used an example of her husband passing away several weeks prior to her daughter’s birthday. Wanting to create a “normal” life for her kids, she honored her daughter’s wish to have a big birthday celebration.  While simultaneously bereft that her husband was not there to share the event, she was also able to appreciate her daughter’s joy and exclamation that “this is the best day ever”. A true Wonder Woman who also Dances in the Rain!

Please listen to her story and be inspired at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LOSvRc0W5o&list=PL2mJRFNbd_wgS7_aD-miOsd2A3YNXNXy5&index=9