Thirtyfor30: Be your own hero

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It's been a week since my hospital admission for my Radioactive Iodine Theraphy (I-131), an essential theraphy for my Papillary Thyroid Microcarcinoma (PTMC). In the past weeks, I've focused my energy in ensuring I eat the right food (low iodine diet), catching up with friends before my isolation post-therapy, quality time with my loved ones and setting things up at work to avoid disruption in business operations. Thankfully, my experience hadn't been as bad as I imagined it to be. Today, I'm able to pick up my laptop and write again.

I'm not fond of using the phrase "Be your own hero!" until recently when I put this personal project together and realized that I've been doing it since time immerorial.

Being your own hero can be interpreted in more ways than one could imagine but I've narrowed down my interpretation of it to "fully embracing the idea that no one else is coming to save me".

My first real application of this mantra dates back in 2020 when my Psychiatrist told me "I can't heal you. These meds you're taking can't heal you. Only you can decide to heal yourself!" At the height of the pandemic, I was clinically diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) and had to be on anti-depressants for more than a year and sleeping pills for roughly a quarter. And that's when I know, no one will take charge unless I take charge. Oh! You can imagine all the intentionality I had to put in to stay sane while confined to our then staff house where I stayed for more than 3 months.

Being my own hero reminds me to take accountability of my life. If I set a goal, I have to follow through, make a plan, take the necessary actions, reject excuses and holistically invest in myself. If I falter along the way, I own my choices and not find others to blame for them.

I've seen people stuck in toxic relationships, shitty jobs, unhealthy eating habits, lousy and unacceptable excuses to continue doing what any logical person will not persist on doing and keep on daydreaming that one day things will change for the better on their own. Insanity at its finest as Einstein described it. May the Almighty lead the way so we can find the courage to free ourselves from whatever is stopping us from fully taking charge.

Bottomline, I learned the harsh reality that no one is going to rearrange my life for it to be pleasing enough to live in each waking hour. My best life, the best versions of myself is always a step or two ahead of me.

_{Note: Cover photo from Canva with minor adjustments}

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