Your Greatest Tragedy

[Devan Rollyson]

We are defined in society more or less by what we've been through, and more importantly, how we've overcame. Or how we've chosen not to. We can be comical, tragic, inspiring. It's rare that we see an individual that fits all three, because even in categorization we end up limiting ourselves. What is your greatest tragedy that has happened to you in your life-so far? How has it shaped you? And do you see yourself as an overcomer, or have you fallen short of your possibilities? I want to know, are you comical, tragic, or inspirational- or all three. I'll start: My greatest tragedy hasn't happened yet- minor misfortunes, yes, but no tragedy. Actually, I'd say that I am a bit too serious to be comical- so I suppose I am a bit tragic, a bit of a cynic, and a bit of a dreamer. So- I guess I would fit the mold of inspirational to a degree. Anyone Else? (:

[Heilerin von Doom [Games NM]]

This could get out of hand seriously fast...

Hmmm... I don't know that any of what I've been through is a tragedy, but I've been through just about everything.

Homeless, shot, stabbed, parents split up, dad's an alcoholic/druggie, raised 4 kids that aren't mine, missed out on college because I left that state.... Umm and it continues.
I think all of this builds a persons character though. I would say I can be comedic about the stuff, but other times it can be saddening. All in all though, it's what made me so... Who am I to judge. 

[patch]

thats a bingo.

often "tragedy" isn't a singular event but a series of events.

I don't think one single thing was the ultimate tragedy that defined life, and I think the same goes for many people. But I had my fair share of really-crummy-times. I also had alcoholic and junkie family members, was left alone to care for my younger siblings, we were often hungry and I had to do some shady stuff to find us food, i was often in some kind of trouble in or out of the house, we suffered physical, mental and emotional abuse, I was bullied - in home and in my neighborhood by both kids and adults - and got into fist fights nearly everyday,I lost people I knew/loved to DUIs, overdoses, cancer, heart attacks, aneurisms, war, and so on, I left home when I was barely 19, lived in a car, been held at gunpoint, I was in a pretty intense car accident, blah blah blah blah.

I don't think of any one of these particular instances as "tragic". Tragic is a word, I think, that implies "everything was fine until this ONE thing happened and made everything bad forever."

"Hardship" seems a suitable word. "Everything was hard, I really struggled through a series of bad things for some period of time." But the more I used my brain and learned about the world around me and how it works, the easier and more pleasantly exciting my life became.

I wouldn't even argue that my life has been "bad" - my chidhood was pretty messed up but I still remember having a lot of funtimes with my brothers and cousins. I often reminisce about the games we played and jokes we had together.

And, like you mentioned, you can find humor in some of the crumminess. (Using humor to disassociate from emotional stress has been a blessing and a curse.) Yet there are times I wish I had parents who were prepared for parenthood, supported me, nurtured me and didn't make me parent-by-proxy then punish me when I failed. I think of being a little kid who is scared, confused and hurt with no one to hug or to talk to and a little self-pity weasels its way into my head. (Then, of course, I think of how different I would be without those bad experiences and if I still would have become a compassionate and capable adult without them.)

My life has been pretty great. I wouldn't call it tragic. It was just a bit rough at times. I wouldn't wish such a character-building lifetime onto anyone but, I agree, such experiences make you or break you...I fancy myself "made" and not broken.