Lindsay Lohan - Victim?

My first reaction to today's news? There are times when I want to beat my head against the wall because that would hurt less than the insanity that surrounds us. This was one of those times. I understand that Lindsay Lohan is an addict, that there is no telling what she would actually say if she was in her right mind, and that she probably wouldn’t claim to be a victim if she was thinking clearly. Okay, that’s about as much grace as I can muster right now.

What makes me want to scream is the fact that this is only the echo of the whining I have heard over and over again throughout my life from people who want to be pitied and saved instead of just growing up. It’s hard work to grow up. It takes a lifetime. But we can shorten that process by simply asking ourselves, “How am I responsible for this mess? What can I control in order to clean up the mess? How can I avoid this quandary in the future?” Sometimes the answer includes getting professional help. Trust me, Just Do It.

Now, the “system” is sending Lohan to jail with a long list of “prescription” drugs to help her ease the pain of this “cruel and unusual punishment” for repeatedly driving under the influence of various substances and quite literally telling the court F U. I don’t have all the answers, for Lohan or anybody else. I just don’t think this is it.

I’m pretty much out of grace for self-appointed “victims” quoting the Geneva Convention instead of doing something to help the people that really can’t help themselves. That’s one of the main areas where I’m still trying to grow up myself – grace. It’s partly because I figured out that if I could take off the “HELLO – My Name is Victim” badge … so can every other person who has been victimized in some way –whether real or perceived.

There is a new name badge waiting for those of us who are willing to let go of the victim identity. It reads: HELLO – My Name is Hope.