not exactly recent news- but a really inspiring article about Greg Louganis.

Quote: "I almost want to thank all the bullies in my life: the ones who called me "n*gger," "retard," "sissy boy," and "f*ggot"; those who threatened to throw punches at me and took my lunch money at the bus stop; those who actually threw punches at me and rubbed my face in asphalt; my dad, who whipped me with his belt until I did a dive I was too scared to do in my regular practice; the coaches who belittled me and intimidated me into pushing myself beyond what I thought I was capable of; and the man who raped me at knifepoint, whom I then stayed with for another six years. They all helped shape me, and without those experiences I could not be the person I am today. I had to learn to "forgive" myself and then find it in my heart to "forgive" them and even bless the light in them, no matter how dim that light was. But thanking them would be going too far, and it would be inaccurate. In the end it was my inner sense of self, my willpower and determination, that got me through and helped me take those experiences and literally turn them into gold."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/greg-louganis/the-toughest-sissy-in-the-world_b_1569369.html

It is inspiring. I missed it when it was originally published. It resonates with me this morning and I have shared it in several venues...Thank you for posting it...

Yes, thank you.

I've thought about this concept before, the psychic alchemy of turning the effects of the abuse into something positive. So the way he put it: "tak[ing] those experiences and literally turn[ing] them into gold" -- really struck me.

It's a very difficult concept to keep alive when things aren't going well.

Is Louganis an inspiration that we can all strive for, or is he just one of the lucky ones?

Cant

We all have our own struggles, and its hard to call him "lucky," given how much he went through and how hard he worked to overcome it. But we don't all have the kind of talent that causes an otherwise uncaring world to notice us. But maybe that's not the important part. So I don't know.

I do know, Cant, I really like your term "psychic alchemy" to describe the moment when pain moves beyond simply torture (though it is still that too) and becomes something that makes you realize how strong you are. I'm a big fan of Full Metal Alchemist, and one of the things they say in those stories is "Human-kind cannot gain anything without first giving something in return. To obtain, something of equal value must be lost." It also reminds me of some of William Wordsworth's poetry, about how the pain of losing your youth is somewhat recompensed by your ability to understand yourself and the universe more fully. Ok, I am rambling. Anyway, you've given me something to think about.

well said--it reminds me of a quote "as I forgive myself, it becomes easier to forgive others."