There are days when the saying Toughen Up Princess is almost the only thing that keeps me going! My friends Jacinta and Craig taught me to say it, and now it has become a permanent part of my daily routine. Not in a bad way, but as a way of telling myself to remember there are heaps of people much worse off than me, and a way of helping me to continue to see the glass half full. I am visiting my parents for Christmas for a few days, and this morning visited a very dear family friend, who I nicknamed Mrs Teacup when I was a child because she and my mother they drank copious cups of tea whenever we visited their farm.
Even though I’m old enough to call her by her christian name, my upbringing was strict and we were NEVER to call someone older than us by anything other than their surname, titled with Mr, Mrs or Miss! Old habits die hard, and this to me is still an important sign of respect, although I probably only still use it for people over 70. Mrs Teacup is over 80, and has recently had to endure surgery for cancer, and on Christmas day has to return to the city to have further treatment as the nodes have already returned. This is awful news for her, for her family, and for those others of us who love her. It has also helped me to Toughen up Princess again today when I felt like the symptoms of dementia were getting me down. Looking on the bright side is made easier if you look beyond yourself, and love.
oops meant sir name, and parents friends.
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In New Zealand at school, we have to call teachers by there sir name, but i call my parents/grandparents friends by there first name. You lived in a very strict family, Kate! However, my dad told me, he used to call adults by there name. E.G Mrs…, Miss…, Ms…, Mr…etc. I love the name “Mrs Teacup”-very creative and cunning!
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Strict indeed! But, very sifferent times back then Sam. I still find it difficult to call someone older than me by their first name!
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Agree whole-heartedly that considering the well-being of other people is vital which is not to say we should disregard our own wb. I’ve taken on your mantra of Toughen up Princess and it is strangely comforting; no, I am not suffering more than others, for longer or more unjustly — shit happens to us all — but nothing worthwhile is achieved by being taken captive by our woes and nurturing them into mountains of misery. I have never seen the slightest self-pity in you Kate; you “fight, fight against the dying of the light.”
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