After hearing the word "Survivor" most people think of a reality show presenting scantily clad vixens and hairy hairy men on some remote island, competing in asinine "challenges". Unfortunately, reality shows, vague titles, and million dollar prizes barely scratch the surface (nay, they rape the meaning of) what it means to be a true Survivor of difficult or impossible-seeming circumstances.
Only think of the word holocaust and something frightening and terrible is brought to mind. This dark chapter of human history showed us what hatred and brutality could do, but it also showed us what we as humans can survive and live to talk about. Take, for example, Elie Wiesel, a holocaust victim and survivor. He not only lived through the frightening horrors of concentration camp life, he grew stronger for it, and showed us what can happen if hatred goes too far. Wiesel survived his journey into death, but resurrected himself and came to terms enough with his ordeal to grow from it and help others. That is what a survivor truly is.
Without hope survival is impossible. Even people who don’t have much to fight in their lives struggle with suicide because they feel "hopeless". Almost anything that can be survived (and some thing science had proved can’t be) are survived by people with strong hope. This hope is what separates us from animals, this is what has enabled humans to be the ultimate survivors. Humans have survived the deadly variety of and have conquered the planet all thanks to the last thing in Pandora’s box.
Even though a deep sense of hope or inner strength can be essential in survival, an outer strength and knowledge of one’s surroundings is important as well. There are few people who possess both things important to survival, but those that do shine above the rest. These are the people who, if they are stranded on a desert island, will eat spiders, or try to cut down trees. These are the people who will eat locusts in the wilderness and seek out wild honey. Having hope helps, but when it comes down to it, not knowing or being willing to learn about where you must live is the deciding factor in whether you will survive or not.
Many people have a skewed perception of the word "survivor". It is not what the media would make us think, it is a mixture of hope and God-given desire to keep living for whatever purpose you see in your life. Without both hope, strength, and the eventual recovery, it isn’t really surviving.
