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Being in and out of relationships is a natural part of adulthood. We meet people, we spend good times together, we make long-lasting memories, we open up our hearts to them, we fall in love, and most of the time, something or the other occurs and the relationship comes to an end.
And then we go again.
We’re all familiar with this cycle of falling in love with someone only to clutch at straws when we realize that the special connection we had formed with that special someone wasn’t special enough to last. And that’s okay. Sometimes we cope by reliving those memories — social media makes that easier.
We’re constantly surrounded by photos and updates of what our exes are up to, how they go on to live their lives without us, the new people they may or may not be dating. It is actually quite difficult to completely cut them out of our lives.
But writer Lindsay Crouse got the shock of a lifetime when she found her ex’s new girlfriend is Lady Gaga. She’s a ‘normal’ person by all accounts. Her ex-boyfriend too is seemingly a ‘normal person’. But the third person in this triangle? Lady Gaga.
Lady Gaga is one of the most famous stars on this planet, a bonafide A-list celebrity. Whether she’s dancing in pink leotards or wearing a meat dress to award shows or selling out stadium tours all over the world, all eyes are on her. She doesn’t dress normal, she doesn’t hang out with normal people, she doesn’t fly like normal people; Lady Gaga is out-of-this-world.
But Lindsay doesn’t see it that way. At first, she was just as stumped as we might be if we were in her shoes: how do you even begin to compare yourself with Lady Gaga? How can any of us begin to compare ourselves with Lady Gaga?
In this story published in The New York Times, Lindsay recalls being bombarded by texts and alerts when the news first broke. All the big tabloid magazines jumped at the chance to write about Lady Gaga’s new ‘normal’ beau.
Lindsay’s own mother began reading about this new romance after checking out a People magazine issue from her local library. When celebrities begin to date someone new, it’s hot, fresh gossip for most folks.
But the stakes were much, much more significant for Lindsay Crouse. She now had to worry about being upstaged by a legitimate star.
Instead of thinking, 'Why not me?' when I see them together, I think 'That was me.' It pulls the illusion of celebrity down.
Yet, Lindsay saw it as an opportunity to empower herself. Instead of being intimidated by Lady Gaga’s illustrious career, celebrity and fame, she turned the situation on its head to see her in a new light. Lady Gaga is not a goddess walking amongst mere humans; she’s just a woman daring to fall in love with a man.
Something all of us have been through. Something all of us will go through. Lady Gaga’s fame is absolutely an illusion in the sense that she goes through the same barrel of emotions as we all do.
Our culture has made it difficult for women to appreciate, respect and support other women. In this sort of situation, Lindsay could have easily fallen into patterns of jealousy and envy, but instead, she capitalized on this very unusual situation to examine her own life and begin treating herself as though she herself was a celebrity.
Lindsay reveals that comparing herself to Lady Gaga was actually motivational for her. If Lady Gaga dared to live her life in the most exquisite, confident way, then what was stopping Lindsay?
So Lindsay bought an expensive dress, even though it was out of her budget. She chose to get her make-up done by a professional. She did the work presentation she’d been avoiding. She adopted the same confidence and self-love that Lady Gaga has in spades and decided to treat herself to all the best things.
If Lady Gaga can do what she wants, and even expand on what she wants, why not me, too?
Something must be said about her approach to life and love if she is willing to embrace self-love in such a positive way upon discovering her ex is dating Lady Gaga. She didn’t pout around, she didn’t feel ashamed — she chose to take on new challenges, say yes to new experiences and love herself in a way she hadn’t before.
If that isn’t the best way to move on from a former relationship, we don’t know what it is. Most of us are probably not going to end up being celebrities but that shouldn’t stop us from living like one.
More inspiring stories:
Teens React Heroically to Prom Night Situation
No one knows how they might respond in an emergency until they’re actually in one. Stress affects everyone differently, and sometimes, we’re forced into a stressful situation without any preparation. So when a group of teens acted heroically after their friend was in trouble, a community applauded them.
Brock and his friends following the car accident
YouTube/East Idaho News
A senior named Brock had a lot to celebrate as he was driving to his prom at Bonneville High School in Idaho Falls, Idaho. Brock was a great student and had served on his Student Council all throughout his high school career. His date, Macee, was in the front seat, and they had just picked up their friends Jaycee and Anders.
According to the kids, Brock was in the middle of telling a joke when he began having a seizure. “Apparently, when Brock’s seizure started, he floored the gas and aggressively jerked the wheel, causing them to go through several fences and through a canal and hitting other objects along the way,” Brock’s mom wrote to East Idaho News.
The mom explained that when Brock was a toddler and young boy, he had experienced seizures, but at the time of the accident, he had been seizure-free and off of medication for more than a decade. The episode shocked everyone, especially Brock’s friends in the car, who had no idea what was happening.
When the teens realized Brock was no longer joking or in control of the car, they sprang into action.
“I was trying to get his foot off the gas or throw the car into park because he was just stuck,” Macee recalled to the news outlet.
Eventually, she was able to get Brock’s foot off the gas and put the car in neutral. She steered the vehicle away from a pond before it came to a stop. The car was totaled, but it could have been much worse for these kids had they gone into that water.
As soon as the car stopped, Jaycee and Anders helped Brock out and laid him down. He was asleep, so they called 9-1-1, along with Brock’s mom, for help. As for Brock, he couldn’t remember any of it and only recalled waking up in the hospital.
“All of these heroes are seniors at Bonneville. They are my heroes and I know the outcome could have been very different had they not acted quickly,” Brock’s mom wrote. “They are all OK from the wreck with the exception of a few bumps and bruises. I am forever grateful!”
The story touched East Idaho News producers, and a crew showed up to Brock’s house a few weeks later to meet the surprised teens. Each kid received an Amazon gift card and thanks from the community for their quick thinking.
“Keeping a level head and acting on your instincts, go with what you know, would be the biggest takeaway,” Macee said.
Macee also revealed that she and Brock had to miss their prom, but they held a drive-through prom after everyone was safe and home. She still got to wear her dress and take photos for the occasion.
“Everyone just drove through and waved at me and gave me a hug; it was awesome,” Brock said. “We had our own prom.”
“We made it fun,” Macee added. “We were prom king and queen.”
As Brock’s mom pointed out, this situation could have been much worse were it not for the teens’ quick thinking and ability to remain calm during a terrifying situation. It’s a good reminder for all of us that when faced with an emergency, we should try to stay clear-headed.
Take deep breaths, rely on any training you may have had, and remember to call for help as soon as you can. If you’re a parent, be sure to teach your kids how to react in an emergency situation, too, because, as this story proves, you never know when you may need that information in life.
Another great strategy for remaining calm in an emergency situation is to practice calm every day. Whether that’s through breathwork, meditation, or just taking a few minutes to yourself, it can make a world of difference when you’re faced with anything unexpected in life.
Women Become Unexpected Friends, Then One Saves the Other
Life can work in funny ways, especially when you’re least expecting it to. That was certainly the case for two women in Richmond, Virginia, who randomly came into each other’s orbits before realizing they actually had a lot in common. As for the friendship that blossomed? It turned into a life-saving relationship.
Michelle Ingram and Pamela Humphries came into each other's lives for a reason.
YouTube/ 12 On Your Side
One day Michelle Ingram was walking home with her children from the grocery store. She didn’t have a car, the load was heavy, and it was raining. Still, she kept putting one foot in front of the other until she noticed an SUV pull up beside her.
Inside was a woman named Pamela Humphries, who insisted Ingram get it. Humphries had seen Ingram walking with her babies, and it brought back painful memories of her own.
“I was a single mom, I didn’t have a car, with two disabled kids. Nothing. I had nothing,” she explained to 12 On Your Side. “We literally moved out with the clothes on our back.”
At first, Humphries was hesitant to get in. She wasn’t used to taking help from anyone, let alone a stranger in a car. But then she thought about it and changed her mind.
“My feet actually hurt and I did actually need the ride,” she explained to the outlet.
As Humphries drove the family home, she and Ingram realized they lived in the same neighborhood. More than that, they lived directly across the street from each other. They struck up an instant friendship that lasted for years — even after Ingram and her family moved to a new apartment.
Two months later, however, Ingram’s life took an unexpected turn. She realized the apartment she and her family were now living in was covered in mold. The living situation was hurting her kids, too. Her eight-year-old has sickle cell anemia, an inherited blood disorder that affects the protein that carries oxygen through the body. The mold affected him the most, and at one point, he needed a blood transfusion.
Alone and unsure where to go next, Ingram was incredibly grateful when Humphries insisted the whole family move in with hers, despite the tight living space.
“Being a part of her family has truly touched me in more ways than one, and I really want her to know what a blessing she’s been to me,” Ingram said.
Ingram wanted to do something nice for her friend to show her how much her support meant. So she reached out to the news outlet, which reports on stories of kindness like these and rewards unknowing recipients. Ingram wanted everyone to know that her friend, who is a mother to two kids with special needs and is battling cancer, still makes sure that she looks out for others.
“She’s such a giving person,” Ingram added.
In the video, Ingram counted out $300 for her friend and handed her a gift card to a restaurant. “You deserve to have your flowers, and I want to appreciate you,” she said. "You’re blessed, you’re beautiful, you’re inspiring. Keep on being amazing. I love you.”
When the outlet asked Humphries about her kindness, she responded with a universal message.
"Just be kind to each other,” she said. “Instead of all the conflict and hate in this world, you have to throw out good vibes, and then you get them back.”
Humphries' words couldn’t be truer. In life, we don’t always have control over our circumstances, and we certainly don’t have any control over how others behave. But we can control our reactions to certain situations and how we act towards others.
In that sense, the old adage about treating others the way you want to be treated is very true. Lead with kindness and empathy, and eventually, that will come back to you.
We never really know what someone else is going through or why they’re acting a certain way. But by controlling our own actions and behaviors, we can make our corner of the world a better place.
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