I am reminded today of Peace. I try to seek Peace in my actions, my meditations and my thoughts. It’s the same way I seek Balance, physically, spiritually and emotionally. For me the best way I find Peace through acceptance. I treat people the way I want to be treated – with acceptance.

Tougher

“…And baby, when you’ve lived the kind of life little Mimi has – there ain’t NOBODY tougher!” - Songbird*

Melissa Joan Gold, ran away from home and her alcoholic abusive father. Melissa was living on the street and referring to herself as Mimi. She met up with some wrestlers – the Grapplers. Their showy antics made them renowned and popular. The wrestlers became a covert team for Roxxon Oil Company; they each got special apparatuses to make them stronger. Melissa got a carapace that gave her supersonic screams. She called herself “Screaming Mimi”. She eventually joined other villain groups and each group used her as a scapegoat. The evil Baron Zemo devised a plan to take Villains and dress them as heroes and perform heroic acts to trick the public. Melissa was one of these villains. She found she liked being a hero. People loved her, they were not afraid of her. Other heroes respected her. Her carapace was strengthened and she took the name Songbird. She is a supersonic siren superhero fighting the good fight.

How often do we have issues with other people? Once a week? Twice a week? Every day? Did you ever meet a bully in school? Honestly have you ever taken the time to ask yourself what is wrong with these people? The “Tao Te Ching” by Lao Tzu says “Compassion: Attack with it and win. Defend with it and stand firm” (translation by Addis & Lombardo). This means take a moment and be compassionate toward the issuing person. What about your life? How do you react to situations that remind you of those long ago issues? Be compassionate toward yourself and try not to react selfishly, or with anger. Showing compassion, striking with compassion and defending yourself with compassion will win the battle. Remember treating ourselves like precious objects will make us strong.

Songbird
First Appearance: (as Screaming Mimi) Marvel Two-in-One #54, August 1979

First Appearance: (as Songbird) The Incredible Hulk #449, February 1997

Creators: (Screaming Mimi) Mark Gruenwald, Ralph Macchio (plot) and John Byrne (art)

Creators: (Songbird) Kurt Busiek (writer) & Mark Bagley (artist)

* “Thunderbolts” (Decisions part 1: Turning Point) #20, 1998