I am this bleeding heart, pacifist, love addict, people-pleasing empath. I could never go screeching with joy into battle on a half-wild horse, my sword raised, my hair flying behind me, yelling “Fight me, I dare you!”
I’m also terrified of small insects. And hangnail-level pain is at the top of my tolerance level.
Am I doomed to be a coward?
Aren’t there some warrior-type things that Xena and Gabrielle do that I could do that don’t involve mayhem, headbutts, contacting the gods, and running around in the tick-infested outdoors?
So I’m reviewing the Xenaepisodes searching for ways to be a warrior given my small and dainty stature and given that I never got past Intro to Karate, even though I was the only adult in a class of 7 year olds.
This is what I found:
You can legally call yourself a Warrior Princess if you help others in an emergency. Previous is set to Is there a doctor in the house? (Season 1), where Xena channels all her enthusiasm, compassion and leadership skills to establish a kind of hospital and save many lives.
You can be a warrior if you do things for love and joy, even if these things don’t involve battles. The proof: A solstice carol (Season 2), where Xena and Gabrielle bring the spirit of goodwill to a miserly king.
in season 2 destinywe found that you can be a warrior if you can find a passion in your life; a reason to live; energy for your days and nights. It doesn’t have to be the sword, although Xena’s destiny was. The point here is that you can be a warrior if you are a civil rights lawyer, an animal rights activist, a frenetic songwriter, a matchmaker, a florist, or a Red Cross worker.
Doing the relationship dance can be very warlike.. Xena and Gabby do it in a comedy of eros (Season 2) and throughout the series. You can be a warrior if you are a leader. Xena was a leader, but you could be the heart of a family; a corporate CEO with a conscience and ideals; a political crusader like JFK and RFK; a warrior for others, like Dr. Martin Luther King; a warrior of bloodless ways of resolving conflicts, like Gandhi; I could hold spiritual book club meetings in her home once a week. You can be a warrior if you are an educated follower. Gabby was more of a follower, although she took the initiative when she had to or when she wanted to. You can sign petitions for your causes; work with grassroots environmental groups; write for a magazine that reflects your concerns; Meals-On-Wheels volunteer. Is there a warrior in you? I’m thinking that if I can get to where I’m not afraid to get up in the morning, I’m a Warrior Princess. But for some reason I can’t find documentation for that anywhere in the series.
Xena it was created by John Schulian and Robert G. Tapert.
